NEC Co-Players of the Week: Chase Mahabir, UDM &
Bo Columbus, RMU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Fountain, LIU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Tyler Gresh, LIU
Previous NEC Releases: April 7 |
March 31 |
March 24 |
March 17 |
March 10 |
March 3 |
February 24 |
February 17 |
February 10 |
Preseason Poll Release
NEC MEN’S LACROSSE CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Chase Mahabir, Detroit Mercy
Sr., M, Midland, MI/Midland
It was a career day for Mahabir as the Titans defeated Wagner, 15-11, on Saturday. The senior found the back of the cage six times - four of which came in the first half - and dished out one assist. Mahabir, who leads UDM this season with 14 goals, eight assists and 22 points, now has six career hat tricks and 51 career points.
Bo Columbus, Robert Morris
Gr., FOS, Fergus, Ontario/Avon Old Farms
Columbus' tear at the faceoff X continued as he went 19-for-23 in the circle, an 82.6 win percentage, as the Colonials overtook VMI, 15-9, on Saturday. He also scooped up a program record-tying 18 ground balls, the highest single-game total in the nation this season. The graduate student leads the conference with a .644 faceoff win percentage and 8.08 ground balls per game. He sits sixth nationally in both categories.
NEC MEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Fountain, LIU
So., D, Massapequa, NY/Massapequa
Fountain delivered a dominant defensive performance in LIU's 15-7 win against Cleveland State on Saturday. The sophomore forced four turnovers and collected eight ground balls, both career-bests. He also dished out one assist on the day. Fountain ranks sixth in the NEC in caused turnovers (1.27) and eighth in ground balls (3.64) per game.
NEC MEN’S LACROSSE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Tyler Gresh, LIU
R-Fr., GK, Avon, CT/Avon
In his third collegiate start, Gresh backstopped an LIU team that returned to its winning ways, defeating Cleveland State, 15-7. The redshirt freshman posted 14 saves for a .667 save percentage on the day. He only allowed seven goals, while facing 35 shots. He also collected six ground balls.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Kyle Grant, UDM (D, Jr.)
In a 15-11 win against Wagner, Grant caused three turnovers and collected three ground balls in the Titans' second-consecutive victory.
Canton Lanham, UDM (FOS, Fr.)
Lanham's career-best day saw him go 15-of-24 in the circle, including 10-of-15 in the second half for a .625 win percentage on the day. The freshman's strong performance at the X also saw him collect five ground balls.
Chase Mahabir, UDM (M, Sr.)
NEC Co-Player of the Week
Lucas Winger, LEM (GK, So.)
In a 1-1 week for the Dolphins, Winger first tallied 13 saves in a midweek loss to Bucknell. Over the weekend, the sophomore backstopped an 8-7 conference win over Mercyhurst, recording 15 saves. He posted a .612 save percentage on the week and continues to lead the conference in goals against average (7.36) and save percentage (.653).
Tyler Gresh, LIU (GK, Fr.)
NEC Rookie of the Week
Ryan Fountain, LIU (D, So.)
NEC Defensive Player of the Week
Ben McIsaac, LIU (A, So.)
McIsaac's season-high five point performance led the Sharks to a 15-7 win against Cleveland State. The sophomore found the back of the cage four times, dished out one assist and collected three ground balls.
Brenton Paladino, MU (D, Fr.)
In a hard-fought loss to conference foe Le Moyne, Paladino caused three turnovers and scooped up four ground balls.
David Burr, RMU (A, Sr.)
Burr tallied a season-high eight points as the Colonials toppled the Keydets by a score of 15-9. The senior scored four goals and tallied four assists, adding four ground balls to his name as well. He sits third in the conference in two categories, averaging 1.58 assists per game and 3.75 points per game.
Bo Columbus, RMU (FOS, Gr.)
NEC Co-Player of the Week
Luke Rusterucci, VMI (A, Sr.)
Rusterucci recorded a hat trick in a loss to Robert Morris. He also dished out three assists and collected one ground ball. The senior has scored at least one goal in every game, spanning back to the final game of his freshman season in 2022, one of the longest scoring streaks in the nation. Rusterucci leads the NEC in goals (3.25 per game), assists (2.33 per game) and points (5.58 per game), and ranks among the top-10 nationally in each category.
Jake Mitchell, WC (A, Jr.)
Mitchell found the back of the cage three times and provided a pair of assists in a road loss to Detroit Mercy. The junior leads the Seahawks with 11 assists and 25 points on the season.
2025 NEC MEN'S LACROSSE WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10: Luke Rusterucci, VMI
Feb. 17: Luke Rusterucci, VMI
Feb. 24: Luke Rusterucci, VMI
Mar. 3: Calum Brennan, RMU
Mar 9: Dayton Bagwell, VMI
Mar 17: Shaun Hill, LIU
Mar 24: Mark Regan, LIU
Mar. 31: Bo Columbus, RMU
Apr. 7: Robbie Stewart, CSU & Ethan Loun, LEM
Apr. 14: Chase Mahabir, UDM & Bo Columbus, RMU
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10: Damian Levin, VMI
Feb. 17: Damian Levin, VMI
Feb. 24: Nate Fetcher, RMU
Mar. 3: Nate Fetcher, RMU
Mar 9: Damian Levin, VMI
Mar 17: Justin Dalum, CSU
Mar 24: Lucas Winger, LEM
Mar. 31: Lucas Winger, LEM & Owen Tapper, RMU
Apr. 7: Lucas Winger, LEM
Apr. 14: Ryan Fountain, LIU
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10: Joseph Weinburgh, VMI
Feb. 17: Brayden Wilcken, LIU
Feb. 24: Brayden Wilcken, LIU
Mar. 3: Brayden Wilcken, LIU
Mar 9: Brayden Wilcken, LIU
Mar 17: Creed McDonald, CSU
Mar 24: Joseph Weinburgh, VMI
Mar. 31: Marcus Thundercloud, UDM
Apr. 7: Marcus Thundercloud, UDM
Apr. 14: Tyler Gresh, LIU