SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Richmond’s Mitch Savoca and Sean Menges have been named the Southern Conference men’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all games Feb. 4-10. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Menges was also named to the USILA Team of the Week.

Savoca and Menges nearly led the Spiders to an upset of No. 4 Maryland on Saturday. Richmond led the Terrapins by three at halftime and 11-7 heading into the final quarter only to see the Terps score twice in the last five minutes to force overtime and then get the golden goal with 2:12 left in double overtime for the 14-13 win. Despite the loss, the result vaulted Richmond into the national rankings, as the Spiders debuted at No. 19 in the USILA (tied) and Inside Lacrosse Maverik polls.
 
Savoca notched a hat trick against Maryland, scoring the Spiders’ first two goals of the season to stake them to a 2-0 lead before four minutes had elapsed. The junior midfielder from Newtown, Connecticut, scored just 2:04 into the contest to set a program record for the fastest goal to start a season. He would complete his hat trick in the second period.
 
Menges recorded a career-high six caused turnovers against Maryland, tied for the third-most in a game in program and SoCon history and surpassing the five he had against Duke last season. The senior long stick midfielder from Richmond, Virginia, also had six ground balls on the day.
 
Richmond (0-1) puts its national rankings to the test for the first time this season when it hosts Marist on Friday at 6 p.m. at Robins Stadium.
 
Other offensive nominees: Trey Lervick (Air Force), Brayden Brown (Bellarmine), Jarrett Birch (Furman) and Sean Goldsmith (Mercer).
 
Other defensive nominees: Braden Host (Air Force), Alec Van de Bovenkamp (Furman), Parker Green (High Point) and Colin Kelley (Mercer).
 
2020 Southern Conference Men’s Lacrosse Players of the Week
Offense
Feb. 4      Brandon Dodd, Air Force
Feb. 11    Mitch Savoca, Richmond
 
Defense
Feb. 4      Braden Host, Air Force
Feb. 11    Sean Menges, Richmond