Kingsport, TN – A day after improving to 4-0 to start the season, including 17-5 win over #5 Columbia, the fourth-ranked Patriots men's lacrosse team swept the conference awards, the AAC conference office announced Monday.  Christian Vanover has been named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week, while Nik Kubik earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Vanover tallied his first weekly award of his career after consecutive four goal performances.  He opened the week with a team-best four goals and six points in the 15-5 win over Michigan Dearborn.  The Cincinnati, OH native netted a hattrick in the third quarter to give him a season-high four goals.  The sophomore added two caused turnovers in the game and dished out a pair of assists.  Vanover followed that up with four goals and an assist in the win over #5 Columbia.  Vanover got the scoring started with a goal and an assist in the first five minutes of action to put UC ahead 2-0.  For the second straight game, he netted a third quarter hattrick as the Patriots pulled away.  On the year, he has netted a team-high 12 goals and is second on the team with 17 points.



Kubik notched his first weekly honor after a pair of strong performance going 33-47 on faceoffs with 19 ground balls.  He opened the week going 15-22 with a career-high 10 ground balls in the win over Michigan Dearborn.  Kubik won 11 of the 15 faceoffs over the first three quarters to give the Patriots the possession as they jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the contest.  The senior transfer followed that up winning 18-25 faceoffs against #5 Columbia, while scooping seven ground balls.  Kubik went 13-14 on faceoffs in the first half as the Patriots jumped out to a 9-3 lead.  On the season he has won 56.3% of the faceoff taken.



UC returns to the field Saturday, March 11, when they host seventh-ranked Indiana Tech. Game is set for 7 p.m.

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