After a dominating 13-5 win over Cornell College on Thursday, the Monmouth College men’s lacrosse team swept the Midwest Lacrosse Conference weekly awards on Monday. Attacker Jeff Knapp (Nolensville, Tennessee) was named Offensive Player of the Week and defender James Nowicki (Westchester, Illinois) was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Knapp broke the program’s single-game scoring record with eight goals against Cornell. The senior put 14 shots on goal overall and scored four times in each half. In two games so far this season he has 14 goals and one assist for 15 total points. He is tied for fourth in the MLC in goals and eighth in points despite missing the first game of the season. He is tied for fourth in the MLC in goals and eighth in points despite missing the first game of the season.
This is the second time in his career that Knapp has won the MLC Offensive Player of the Week award. He also took home the honors for the week of February 25 – March 3, 2019. He is the first player in Fighting Scots history to win the award twice. Nowicki, a sophomore, led the Scots defensive effort in limiting Cornell to five goals in Thursday’s win. He forced a team-best four turnovers and added five ground balls. Both numbers represented career highs for Nowicki. He ranks third in the MLC in caused turnovers on the season.
Nowicki’s win marks the second time in three weeks in which a Scots defender has been honored by the conference. Nick Thomas won the award after the March 20 home opener. The Scots are next in action against the University of Northwestern Minnesota on Friday at 5 p.m. at April Zorn Stadium.
Nathan Baliva - Sports Information Director