NEC Player of the Week: Landon Whalen, CSU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Cooper St. Clair, UDM & Adam Norris, VMI
NEC Rookie of the Week: Landon Whalen, CSU
Previous NEC Releases: April 13 | April 6 | March 30 | March 23 | March 16 | March 9 | March 2 | February 23 | February 16 | February 9 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC MEN’S LACROSSE PLAYER & ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Landon Whalen, Cleveland State
Fr., A, Hilliard, OH/Hilliard Darby
Whalen had a standout performance for Cleveland State on Friday night, helping the Vikings lock up their first NEC postseason berth in program history with a 13-10 win over Le Moyne. The freshman tallied six points from four goals and two assists, adding two ground balls in the process. Whalen had a coming-out party against Le Moyne, setting career-highs in all three of the aforementioned categories. The Williard, OH native now sits at 23 points on the season from 15 goals and eight assists, ranking in the top-three in each stat for a Cleveland State squad that is on pace to have its best conference campaign in program history, in any league.

NEC MEN’S LACROSSE CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Cooper St. Clair, Detroit Mercy
R-Jr., G, Canton, MI/Detroit Catholic Central
St. Clair earned a second consecutive NEC Defensive Player of the Week nod thanks to a stellar effort between the pipes in Detroit Mercy's 11-6 win over Mercyhurst last weekend. The junior saved 14 shots for a .700 save percentage in the victory, keeping the Titans' postseason dreams alive. St. Clair stonewalled the Lakers in the first half, allowing just one goal and making eight saves in the first two periods. He continued a quality campaign that sees him rank atop the NEC and in a tie for fourth nationally in saves per game (14.00). 

Adam Norris, VMI
Sr., G, Yorktown, NY/Yorktown
Norris was impressive in goal during a crucial 13-6 win over Wagner. The Yorktown, NY product, who posted 14 saves for a robust .700 save percentage, helped skyrocket the Keydets' playoff chances. Norris split his save tally between the two halves, making seven in each. The senior helped bring his side to 3-3 in NEC play, allowing them to control their own postseason destiny with a win against Detroit Mercy this week. A playoff berth would be VMI's first as a member of the NEC and third all-time in any conference.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Seth Alejandrino, Cleveland State (D, So.) 
Picked up five ground balls and caused five turnovers against LIU.

Landon Whalen, Cleveland State (A, Fr.) 
NEC Player of the Week.

Cooper St. Clair, Detroit Mercy (G, R-Jr.)
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Luke Zajdel, Detroit Mercy (M, Fr.)
Registered his second-consecutive hat trick in Detroit Mercy's win against Mercyhurst. Added a ground ball.

Aidan Zuhoski, LIU (M, Jr.)
Posted four points from a hat trick and an assist against Robert Morris. Leads the NEC in points per game (3.82) and ranks third in the NEC in goals per game (2.64).

Brenton Paladino, Mercyhurst (D, So.)
Picked up six ground balls, caused three turnovers and scored a goal against Detroit Mercy.

Brady Carver, Robert Morris (D, So.)
Helped Robert Morris clinch the NEC regular season title by making 10 saves and posting a .769 save percentage over 40 minutes in a 14-10 win over LIU.

Graeme MacLennan, Robert Morris (A, Sr.)
Recorded four points from two goals and two assists against LIU.

Owen Tapper, Robert Morris (D, Jr.)
Picked up six ground balls and caused four turnovers. It marked his third game this season with six or more ground balls. Leads the NEC in caused turnovers (38).

Adam Norris, VMI (G, Sr.)
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Jack Rogers, VMI (FO, Sr.)
Went 17-of-23 (.739 percent), picked up seven ground balls and scored a goal against Wagner. Ranks third in the NEC in faceoff percentage (.545) and ground balls (5.42).

Dylan Popehn, Wagner (A, Fr.)
Netted a hat trick against VMI. Added a ground ball and caused a turnover as well.

2026 NEC MEN'S LACROSSE WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 9: Cameron Connolly, LIU
Feb. 16: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Feb. 23: Dayton Bagwell, VMI
Mar. 2: Ben McIsaac, LIU & Jack Rogers, VMI
Mar. 9: Jake Mitchell, WAG
Mar. 16: Thomas Berry, LEM
Mar. 23: Jack Duncan-Bloom, VMI
Mar. 30: Aidan Zuhoski, LIU
Apr. 6: Aidan Zuhoski, LIU
Apr. 13: Marcus Thundercloud, UDM
Apr. 20: Landon Whalen, CSU

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 9: Tyler Gresh, LIU
Feb. 16: Kyle Grant, UDM
Feb. 23: Tyler Davide, LIU
Mar. 2: Angus Snow, WAG
Mar. 9: Owen Tapper, RMU & Alex Seaton, VMI
Mar. 16: Seth Alejandrino, CSU
Mar. 23: Nate Fechter, RMU
Mar. 30: Angus Snow, WAG
Apr. 6: Lucas Winger, LEM
Apr. 13: Cooper St. Clair, UDM
Apr. 20: Cooper St. Clair, UDM & Adam Norris, VMI

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Feb. 9: Tommy Thompson, UDM
Feb. 16: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Feb. 23: Dylan Popehn, WAG
Mar. 2: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Mar. 9: Ethan Ostrowski, VMI
Mar. 16: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Mar. 23: Ethan Ostrowski, VMI
Mar. 30: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Apr. 6: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Apr. 13: Dylan Anderson, RMU
Apr. 20: Landon Whalen, CSU