The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association released its 2024 Division I Blatant Lacrosse Team of the Week accolades on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Ten players earned recognition from the organization as they each posted exceptional performances in their programs games this past week.
The list of honorees are as follows:
1. Hank Bethel, Defense, Clarks Summit, Pa., Grad, NJIT
Hank Bethel backed NJIT to its first season-opening win since 2020, helping lock down St. John’s top scorer while collecting a ground ball.
2. Liam Brown, Goalie, Cedar Grove, N.J., Grad, NJIT
Liam Brown, named America East Defensive Player of the Week, made 20 saves in NJIT’s 10-8 win over St. John’s, his sixth career game with at least 20 saves. It was NJIT’s first season-opening win since 2020.
3. Connor Cmiel, Short Stick Defensive Midfield, Rocky River, Ohio, Senior, Ohio State
Connor Cmiel grabbed four ground balls and caused three turnovers, a career best, in an 11-8 Ohio State win over Utah.
4. Rory Jones, Midfield, Abingdon, Md., R-Junior, Hofstra
Rory Jones posted nine points with eight goals and one assist, leading Hofstra to a 21-9 win over Wagner. It was the second-most points for a Hofstra player since the 2021 season. Jones’ previous career bests were three goals and four assists.
5. Jake Naso, Faceoff, Holtsville, N.Y., Senior, Duke
Jake Naso won 18 of his 23 faceoffs, becoming the 15th player in NCAA Division I history to win 800 career faceoffs. Naso anchored the No. 2 Blue Devils with 11 ground balls, his 46th career game with at least 10 faceoff wins and 43rd with at least five ground balls.
6. Ross Scott, Attack, West Linn, Ore., Grad, Rutgers
Ross Scott scored five points on two goals and three assists for No. 14 Rutgers, including the game-winning goal in the fourth quarter to secure a 14-12 win over Lehigh, which received USILA votes in the preseason poll.
7. JJ Sillstrop, Attack, Encinitas, Calif., Grad, Denver
JJ Sillstrop scored six goals in No. 15 Denver’s come-from-behind win at No. 5 Johns Hopkins, scoring the last four goals for the win. He logged a natural hat trick over the final 3:29 of regulation, including a buzzer beater. It was the Pioneers’ first four-goal comeback win since 2010.
8. Joey Spallina, Attack, Mount Sinai, N.Y., Sophomore, Syracuse
Joey Spallina led No. 9 Syracuse to a pair of wins, scoring 16 points in two games, including a career-best tying nine points on four goals and five assists against No. 20 Colgate. He scored hat tricks in both wins for the Orange.
9. Parker Yearego, Midfield, Rochester, Mich., Sophomore, Cleveland State
Parker Yearego led Cleveland State and all point scorers with five and goal scorers with four as the Vikings picked up a 12-11 overtime win at VMI.
10. Luke Wierman, Faceoff, West Chester, Pa., Grad., Maryland
Luke Wierman became Maryland’s all-time career faceoff leader, winning 17 of his 29 chances as No. 5 Maryland outlasted No. 19 Richmond 12-11 in double overtime. Wierman won the double overtime faceoff and collected the final of his 10 ground balls to help the Terps secure the win.