Neufeld, Akapnitis and Nesmith Named Men's Lacrosse Players of the Week
MAAC Sports
MAAC
Offensive Player of the Week
BRYAN
NEUFELD, SIENA
A, Sr.,
5-8, 182, Virgil, Ontario/Niagara District
Neufeld finished with
six points as the Saints won their fifth in a row Saturday over Jacksonville.
Neufeld recorded his NCAA leading 28th hat trick of his career and
also added three assists. In the process, Neufeld became just the third player
in program history and third active player in the NCAA to eclipse 200 career
points. Neufeld, who also added three groundballs against the Dolphins, has
amassed a whopping 33 points during the Saints’ current winning streak.
MAAC
Defensive Player of the Week
RICH
AKAPNITIS, MANHATTAN
G, So.,
6-2, 260, Hauppaguge, N.Y./Hauppauge
Sophomore goalkeeper
had yet another career day between the pipes for Manhattan as they defeated
MAAC rival Detroit 8-6 on Saturday. Akapnitis tied a career high with 19 saves,
eight in the fourth quarter, for his third win of the season. He also picked up
a career high 11 ground balls in the victory. Akapnitis is 3-2 on the season
for the Jaspers with a Goals Against Average of 10.00 and a save percentage of
59.5% while leading the squad with 30 ground balls.
MAAC
Rookie of the Week
DREW
NESMITH, MARIST
M, Fr.,
6-1, Montclair, N.J./Montclair
Nesmith played what was by far his best game of his young
collegiate career, scoring four goals and assisting on another, in Marist’s
comeback 15-11 win at VMI. The freshman midfielder more than doubled his season
goal and point total on Saturday while also taking 12 shots on the day, seven
of which were on goal, scooping up three ground balls and causing two
turnovers. In his first career multi-goal game, Nesmith scored three of his
goals after halftime, including the game winner with 9:52 remaining in the
game, in helping the Red Foxes erase a four-goal, second half deficit. Two of
his scores came on man-up situations, leading Marist to a perfect 4-4 day on
extra-man opportunities.