April 15, 2008

Erie, Pa. - The No. 7 Mercyhurst men's lacrosse team garnered two of the three East Coast Conference awards this week. Junior defender Matt Spahr was named Co-Player of the Week and Jason LaShomb was named Goalkeeper of the Week. The Lakers defeated Seton Hill 13-5 Wednesday and upset No.5 C.W. Post 8-1 Saturday.

Preseason Second Team All-American Spahr anchored a defense that posted a 3.0 GAA in a 2-0 week. He put forth pivotal defensive play in an 8-1 upset of No. 5 C.W. Post, holding the Pioneers' top scorer Greg Cerar to just two shots, and added a career high six ground balls with two caused turnovers. Cerar entered the game ranked third in the country in goals and fourth in points.

LaShomb, also a Preseason All-American, recorded a career-high 17 saves and picked up two groundballs in the No.7 Lakers 8-1 upset of No.5 C.W.Post. He also secured the 13-5 win against Seton Hill with 4 saves in 30 minutes. LaShomb has tallied 90 saves and 21 groundballs this season. He also ranks fourth in the country in goals against average (6.23) and sixth in save percentage (.625).This is LaShomb's second week in a row and seventh time in his career that he has been named ECC Goalkeeper of the Week.

The Mercyhurst defensive unit, led by LaShomb and Spahr, has only allowed one goal in the last 90 minutes of play.

The Lakers are now 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the East Coast Conference. Mercyhurst will return to Tullio Field Wednesday when it hosts Wheeling Jesuit at 4 p.m.