BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Army West Point and Lehigh earned two Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse weekly awards when the League office announced honors on Monday. Loyola Maryland had one honoree.
Lehigh senior attack Scott Cole was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week as he finished with a team-high four goals in Lehigh's 13-12 overtime win over then-No. 20 Boston University. Teammate sophomore defender Richard Checo recorded a game-high five caused turnovers in Lehigh's win to earn defensive player of the week laurels.
Army freshman faceoff specialist Robert Simone was named both the faceoff specialist and rookie of the week after he went 16-for-27 against Bucknell.
Loyola senior goalkeeper Luke Staudt earned goalkeeper of the week after a 12-save performance in the 12-10 win over Navy.
Army junior defender AJ Pilate, Colgate freshman defender John Carrabine, junior goalkeeper Matt LaCombe, and senior attack Michael Minicus and Lehigh senior faceoff specialist Sean Dow earned honorable mentions for their performances last week.
The Patriot League men’s lacrosse players of the week are selected in a vote by each school’s sports information director, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship
Army, Boston U., Colgate, Lehigh, Loyola, and Navy all clinched a berth in the 2024 Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The postseason will begin with the quarterfinal-round action on Tuesday, April 30. The semifinal round will be played on Friday, May 3. The Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, May 5. The quarterfinal games will be on ESPN+, while the semifinal and championship games will be televised on CBS Sports Network. The seedings will be announced when the regular season concludes on Friday night, April 26.
Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Scott Cole, Lehigh, Sr., A, Dallas, Texas/McDonogh
* Cole finished with a team-high four goals in Lehigh's 13-12 overtime win over then-No. 20 Boston University.
* The senior scored the game-tying goal with 28 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
* All four of his goals were scored in the second half, which helped Lehigh come back after being down 9-4.
Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Richard Checo, Lehigh, So., D, Oakton, Va./St. John’s
* Checo recorded a game-high five caused turnovers in Lehigh's 13-12 overtime triumph against then-No. 20 BU.
* The sophomore had the biggest caused turnover in overtime with 2:12 remaining to give the Mountain Hawks possession, which led to Lehigh's game-winning goal.
Men’s Lacrosse Faceoff Specialist and Rookie of the Week
Robert Simone, Army West Point, Fr., FO, North Caldwell, N.J./Lawrenceville
* Simone went 16-for-27 at the faceoff X as he filled in for starting faceoff specialist, Will Coletti in the team’s 19-11 victory at Bucknell.
* The freshman also collected 12 ground balls in the win.
Men’s Lacrosse Goalkeeper of the Week
Luke Staudt, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK, Camillus, N.Y./West Genesse
* Staudt recorded 12 saves and four ground balls in Loyola’s 12-10 win over Navy.
* The senior made four saves in the first quarter as Loyola jumped out to a 4-1 lead. He had five saves in the fourth quarter to seal the game.
Honorable Mentions
AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Jr., D, Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa
* Pilate forced three turnovers and recorded four ground balls in the Black Knights’ 19-11 triumph at Bucknell.
John Carrabine, Colgate, Fr., D, Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest
* Carrabine picked up a season-best four ground balls and tied his season high with two caused turnovers in the Raiders' 18-8 win versus the Crusaders. The freshman helped Colgate's defense hold Holy Cross to eight goals, which is the second-fewest goals the Raiders have allowed in League play this season.
Matt LaCombe, Colgate, Jr., GK, Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville Manlius
* LaCombe made 10 saves and allowed six goals in nearly 55 minutes of work in the Raiders' 18-8 win over Holy Cross. The junior posted a .625 save percentage as he picked up his eighth win of the season.
Michael Minicus, Colgate, Sr., A, Darien, Conn./Darien
* Minicus logged a career-best nine points, tying his career-high with five goals and logging four assists in an 18-8 victory over Holy Cross.
Sean Dow, Lehigh, Sr., FO, Simpsonville, S.C./The Christ School
* Dow went 16-of-29 at the stripe against two faceoff specialists for the Terriers in Lehigh's 13-12 overtime win over then-No. 20 BU. The senior also scored his first career goal at the 14:12 minute mark of the first quarter.
PAST WINNERS
Offensive Player
2.5 – Evan James, Loyola
2.12 – Vince D’Alto, Boston U.
2.19 – Scott Cole, Lehigh
2.26 – John Mathes, Lafayette
3.4 – Jackson Eicher, Army
3.11 – Vince D’Alto, Boston U.
3.18 – Jackson Eicher, Army
3.25 – Matthew Minicus, Loyola
4.1 – Evan Plunkett, Army
4.8 – Hunter Drouin, Colgate
4.15 – Quinn Armstrong, Lehigh
4.22 – Scott Cole, Lehigh
Defensive Player
2.5 – Max Yates, Colgate
2.12 – Patrick Morrison, Boston U.
2.19 – AJ Pilate, Army
2.26 – Patrick Morrison, Boston U.
3.4 – AJ Pilate, Army
3.11 – Roy Meyer, Boston U.
3.18 – Max Yates, Colgate
3.25 – Roy Meyer, Boston U.
4.1 – Jackson Bonitz, Navy
4.8 – Richard Checo, Lehigh
4.15 – Tommy McGee, Lafayette
4.22 – Richard Checo, Lehigh
Faceoff Specialist
2.5 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
2.12 – Will Coletti, Army
2.19 – Will Coletti, Army
2.26 – Matthew Fritz, Boston U.
3.4 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
3.11 – Matthew Fritz, Boston U.
3.18 – Will Coletti, Army
3.25 – Sean Dow, Lehigh
4.1 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
4.8 – Will Coletti, Army
4.15 – Sean Dow, Lehigh
4.22 – Robert Simone, Army
Goalkeeper
2.5 – Luke Staudt, Loyola
2.12 – Will Barnes, Boston U.
2.19 – Dawson Friers, Holy Cross
2.26 – Joe Doherty, Lafayette
3.4 – Matt LaCombe, Colgate
3.11 – Nick Pecora, Lehigh
3.18 – Will Barnes, Boston U.
3.25 – Will Barnes, Boston U.
4.1 – Sean Byrne, Army
4.8 – Matt LaCombe, Colgate
4.15 – Sean Byrne, Army
4.22 – Luke Staudt, Loyola
Rookie
2.5 – Liam Connor, Colgate
2.12 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
2.19 – Gavin Ouhrabka, Holy Cross
2.26 – Peter Grandolfo, Bucknell
3.4 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
3.11 – Hans Huber, Bucknell
3.18 – Zach Hayashi, Navy
3.25 – Joey Bucci, Navy
4.1 – Hans Huber, Bucknell
4.8 – Liam Connor, Colgate
4.15 – Nick Faccone, Lafayette
4.22 – Robert Simone, Army
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.