Hruby Earns Weekly Conference Honor
3/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Air Force attackman Nick Hruby and Richmond close defenseman Ryan Dennis have been named the Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 7-13 the league office announced Tuesday. Selections are made by the conference office.
Hruby led Air Force with a six-point performance on three goals and three assists in the Falcons' 13-8 win over Detroit Mercy on Saturday. His hat trick against the Titans was his third of the season and his six points are the most points by a Falcon in a single-game this season and tied for second-most among all SoCon players. Additionally, Hruby displayed his defensive ability by causing two Titan turnovers and picked up four ground balls.
The junior currently leads the Falcons with 24 points and 17 goals on the season and is second in the conference in goals per game (2.43). The offensive honor marks the first for Air Force this season and the first for Hruby since the Falcons joined the SoCon in 2016.
Dennis led Richmond to a 2-0 week, aiding the Spiders to pick up their first conference win of the season in a 13-8 defeat over intrastate foe VMI and a 6-5 upset over the defending national champions in North Carolina, which currently ranks No. 7 in the nation. Dennis, a senior, picked up four ground balls and caused seven turnovers on the week, three of which came in the Spiders' thrilling victory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Monday evening. Dennis held Tar Heel attackman Luke Goldstock, an All-American, scoreless on just one shot for the game.
The Peapack, New Jersey, native anchors a Spider defense that ranked first in goals allowed per game (5.62) and man-down defense (.882), sixth in caused turnovers per game (9.67) and 14th in ground balls per game (31.67) entering Monday's contest against UNC.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Matt Quinn (Mercer) and Peter Moran (Richmond).
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Brandon Jones (Air Force), Ben Gleichenhaus (Jacksonville), Bradley Hodoval (Mercer) and Joe Riccadonna (VMI).
2017 Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 14: Teddy Hatfield, Richmond
Feb. 21: Jake Nelson, Mercer
Feb. 28: Ryan Lee, Richmond
March 8: Lucas Wittenberg, Mercer
March 14: Nick Hruby, Air Force
2017 Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 14: Benny Pugh, Richmond
Feb. 21: Benny Pugh, Richmond
Feb. 28: Trent Harper, Air Force
March 8: Van de Bovenkamp, Furman
March 14: Ryan Dennis, Richmond
-www.SoConSports.com-
