The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association released its 2024 Division III Blatant Lacrosse Team of the Week accolades on Wednesday, April 24. Players earned recognition from the organization as they each posted exceptional performances in their programs games this past week.
1. Thomas Cook, Goalie, Jr., Anthem, Ariz. (Cornell)
14 saves, 5.00 goals against average, .736 save percentage. Cook made 14 saves in Cornell College’s 12-5 win over Northland on Saturday to keep the Rams’ postseason hopes alive. Five of his saves came in the first quarter as Cornell jumped out to an early lead.
2. Eric Patterson, Defense, Fr., Stoughton, Wisc. (Capital)
14 ground balls, 6 caused turnovers. Patterson had a big week on defense for Capital, causing six turnovers and picking up 14 ground balls in two wins. In the 19-2 victory over Marietta, Patterson caused three turnovers and picked up a career-high eight ground balls. He followed it up with three caused turnovers and six more ground balls in a 16-13 win at Otterbein.
3. Wes Silver, Defense, Jr., Newton, Mass. (Ohio Wesleyan)
9 ground balls, 6 caused turnovers. Silver average 4.5 ground balls and 3.0 caused turnovers per game in two Ohio Wesleyan wins last week. He caused two turnovers and picked up six ground balls in a 12-3 NCA win over Wooster, then caused four turnovers and added three ground balls in a 15-8 win over Albion.
4. Justin Smith, Defense, Jr., East Syracuse, N.Y. (SUNY Morrisville)
14 ground balls, 9 caused turnovers, 1 goal. Smith averaged 4.5 ground balls and 3.0 caused turnovers in a 3-0 week for SUNY Morrisville. He recorded a season-best six ground balls in a 15-12 win over SUNY Canton and finished the week with four ground balls, four caused turnovers and a goal to help beat Thomas.
5. Matthew Lucozzi, Faceoff Specialist, Sr., Billerica, Mass. (UMass Boston)
96.4 faceoff percentage (27-of-28), 16 ground balls. In one game last week, Lucozzi went nearly perfect in 28 faceoff attempts, winning 27 while also securing 16 ground balls to help beat Southern Maine.
6. Jake Degnan, Midfield, Fr., Mahopac, N.Y. (Springfield)
11 goals, 3 assists, 1 ground ball.
7. Kyle Kolano, Midfield, Sr., Babylon, N.Y. (Farmingdale State)
10 goals, 2 assists, 2 ground balls. Kolano led the midfield unit for Farmingdale State in two wins last week. He registered career-highs of seven goals and eight points on Wednesday at Manhattanville, and then added a hat trick and one assist on Saturday versus Purchase.
8. Parker Beaudry, Attack, Sr., Sherwood Park, Alta. (Concordia Wisconsin)
20 goals, 5 ground balls. Beaudry averaged over six goals per game in three contests for Concordia Wisconsin last week. He broke the school single-game scoring record with 10 goals in a win over Marian on Monday.
9. Zach Nestor, Attack, Sr., Manlius, N.Y. (SUNY Morrisville)
4 goals, 31 assists, 8 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers. Nestor had a record-breaking week for the Mustangs in three victories, averaging nearly 12 points per game. He had a two-goal, six-assist performance in a 15-12 win over Canton, netting the game winner, and followed with a 10-point performance (one goal, nine assists) against MCLA. He finished the week with 16 assists versus Thomas to set a new NCAA men’s lacrosse single-game record.
10. Jayden Wilson, Attack, Sr., Lewiston, Maine (Maine Maritime)
16 goals, 14 assists, 9 ground balls.