GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame senior attackman Pat Kavanagh and Syracuse freshman attackman Joey Spallina shared Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Fighting Irish defender Chris Fake earned Defensive Player of the Week.
Named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, Kavanagh led the Notre Dame attack with eight points off three goals and five assists in a 17-12 win over No. 1 Duke on Saturday. The native of Rockville Centre, New York, became the first player in over a year to record eight or more points against the Blue Devils’ defense. Kavanagh was the catalyst of Notre Dame's 7-1 run in the second quarter, totaling five points during that span. He also led the Irish in ground balls on the day with five and added a caused turnover while recording no turnovers. With the eight points on the day, Kavanagh now has 195 points in his career, moving into third place on Notre Dame’s all-time career point list.
Spallina had a career day, leading the Orange to a 16-13 win at No. 14 Princeton. He was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. A native of Mount Sinai, New York, Spallina accounted for nine points on four goals and five assists, contributing to over half of the Orange’s total score. His nine points are tied for the fourth-most all-time by a Syracuse freshman in a single game, while his five assists are the third-most by a Syracuse rookie. Spallina added a caused turnover in the ride as well. His nine-point effort moved him up in the SU freshman single-season charts, rising to sixth in total points and fifth in goals and assists.
Fake turned in one of the best defensive performances of the season on Saturday in Notre Dame’s 17-12 win over No. 1 Duke. The native of Allentown, New Jersey, was the primary defender on Brennan O’Neill and held the standout to just one point on the day, coming off a goal on the EMO when Fake was not guarding the attackman. His performance snapped O’Neill’s streak of 21 consecutive games of recording three or more points. Fake tied for the team lead in caused turnovers with two and scooped up three ground balls to complete his impressive day.
All five ACC programs are ranked in the USILA top 20 this week, with Notre Dame returning to No. 1 following its win over then-No. 1 Duke. ACC teams hold the top three positions, as Duke is ranked No. 2 and Virginia is No. 3. North Carolina is No. 12 this week, while Syracuse returned to the top 20 at No. 18.
There are a pair of league games on the schedule Saturday. Virginia travels to Duke at noon on ACC Network, while Syracuse and North Carolina play a neutral-site game in Olney, Maryland, at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.
2023 ACC Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 7 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke
Feb. 14 – Joey Spallina, Fr., A, Syracuse
Feb. 21 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke; Connor Shellenberger, Jr., A, Virginia
Feb. 28 – Payton Cormier, Sr., A, Virginia
March 7 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke
March 14 – Xander Dickson, Sr., A, Virginia
March 21 – Pat Kavanagh, Sr., A, Notre Dame
March 28 – Connor Shellenberger, Jr., A, Virginia
April 4 – Brennan O’Neill, Jr., A, Duke
April 11 – Pat Kavanagh, Sr., A, Notre Dame; Joey Spallina, Fr., A, Syracuse
2023 ACC Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 7 – Will Mark, Sr., G, Syracuse
Feb. 14 – Grayson Sallade, Gr., SSDM, Virginia
Feb. 21 – Jake Naso, Jr., FO, Duke; Petey LaSalla, Gr., FO, Virginia
Feb. 28 – Wilson Stephenson, Gr., LSM, Duke; Cade Saustad, Sr., D, Virginia
March 7 – Liam Entenmann, Sr., G, Notre Dame
March 14 - Liam Entenmann, Sr., G, Notre Dame
March 21 – William Helm, Gr., G, Duke
March 28 – Cole Kastner, Jr., D, Virginia
April 4 – William Helm, Gr., G, Duke; Will Lynch, So., FO, Notre Dame
April 11 – Chris Fake, Gr., D, Notre Dame