GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke graduate attackman Michael Sowers was named the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week, while his teammate, freshman face-off specialist Jake Naso earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week laurels in the latest ACC weekly honors, announced Tuesday.
Sowers nabbed Player of the Week honors for the second time this season (March 16).
Sowers registered six points from three goals and three assists to lead Duke to a 15-14 win over No. 4 Syracuse in the Blue Devils’ ACC opener. With Duke trailing 14-13 in the fourth quarter, Sowers assisted on the tying goal and then just over two minutes later scored what proved to be the winner. The native of Dresher, Pennsylvania, leads Duke with 50 points (21g, 29a) this season.
Naso was exceptional in his ACC debut, winning a career-best 24-of-32 faceoffs in the Blue Devils’ win over Syracuse. In addition to winning 75 percent of his restarters, the native of Holtsville, New York, picked up a career-high 14 ground balls and scored a goal in Duke's 7-0 run that put them up 12-5 in the second quarter. Naso also was named the US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Player of the Week.
ACC teams continue to hold half of the top 10 spots in the USILA poll this week: No. 1 Duke, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 Virginia and No. 9 Notre Dame. A No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown opens the league slate this week as UNC travels to Duke Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest on ACC Network. Syracuse entertains Notre Dame at noon Saturday on ESPNU, while Virginia plays host to No. 13 Richmond at 5 p.m. Saturday.
2021 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 9 – Chris Gray, Sr., A, North Carolina
Feb. 16 – Chris Gray, Sr., A, North Carolina
Feb. 23 – Matt Moore, Sr., A, Virginia
March 2 – Brendan Curry, Jr., M, Syracuse
March 10 – Chris Gray, Sr., A, North Carolina
March 16 – Michael Sowers, Gr., A, Duke
March 23 – Payton Cormier, So., A, Virginia
March 30 – Michael Sowers, Gr., A, Duke
2021 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 9 – Tyler Carpenter, So., D, Duke
Feb. 16 – Bobby Gavin, Fr., G, Virginia
Feb. 23 – Mike Adler, Gr., G, Duke
March 2 – Jakob Phaup, Jr., FO, Syracuse
March 10 – Mike Adler, Gr., G, Duke
March 16 – Collin Krieg, Fr., G, North Carolina
March 23 – Petey LaSalla, Jr., M, Virginia
March 30 – Jake Naso, Fr., FO, Duke