GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke graduate attackman Michael Sowers has been named the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, while Syracuse junior faceoff specialist Jakob Phaup earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in the latest ACC weekly honors, announced Tuesday by the conference.
Sowers spearheaded Duke’s overtime comeback win over No. 2 Notre Dame with four goals and an assist for five points. He scored the team's final two goals in regulation in a span of 20 seconds to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra session, the Tewaaraton nominee dished out the assist for the game winner. The Dresher, Pa., native registered three of his four goals in the second half after Duke trailed 7-3 at halftime. It was Sowers' eighth outing with at least five points and his seventh hat trick.
Phaup won a career-high 24 faceoffs on 27 attempts (89% ) and picked up nine ground balls in a road win over No. 5 Virginia. Entering the game, Virginia's Petey Lasalla was ranked sixth nationally and led the ACC in faceoff win percentage (.669), but the Souderton, Pa., native held him to 1-of-16 at the X.
ACC teams hold five of the top 10 spots in the USILA poll again this week: No. 2 Duke, No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 7 Virginia and No. 9 Syracuse. Conference play wraps up this weekend, with Syracuse playing at Notre Dame at noon Saturday and Duke traveling to North Carolina at 4 p.m. Sunday. Duke can clinch the outright ACC title with a win Sunday, while UNC can earn a share of the league crown with Duke with a victory.
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
April 6 – Pat Kavanagh, So., A, Notre Dame; Joe Robertson, Sr., A, Duke
April 13 – Matt Moore, Sr., A, Virginia
April 20 – Chris Gray, Sr., A, North Carolina
April 27 – 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
April 6 – Mike Adler, Gr., G, Duke
April 13 – Jack Kielty, Gr., D, Notre Dame
April 20 – JT Giles-Harris, Gr., D, Duke
April 27 – Jakob Phaup, Jr., FO, Syracuse