GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke junior midfielder Brad Smith has been named this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week, while Duke sophomore close defenseman JT Giles-Harris and Notre Dame junior defenseman Hugh Crance share ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Duke’s Smith turned in a career-high six points from a career-high matching four goals and two assists to lead the Blue Devils to a 13-9 victory over No. 6 Loyola Saturday. Smith kept the Blue Devils close in the first two quarters, scoring each of Duke’s three goals. Smith’s third tally of the day – at 7:50 of the second quarter – sparked Duke’s 7-0 run that put the Blue Devils ahead 9-4. After pulling Duke within one with a goal, Smith provided the assist on the game-tying goal. Late in the third quarter Smith tacked on a 10th goal for Duke, in what proved to be the game winner. He is third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points.
Fellow Blue Devil JT Giles-Harris helped anchor an outstanding defensive performance in keeping Loyola more than four goals below its scoring average in the win on Saturday. Giles-Harris caused three turnovers and picked up one ground ball as Duke held Loyola to fewer than 10 goals for the first time this season. His three caused turnovers are a season-best and matches his career high. Giles-Harris and the Duke defense held the Greyhounds scoreless for 21:31 to allow the Blue Devils to go on their 7-0 run and jump ahead 9-4.
Notre Dame’s Crance played a major role in the Irish defense as Notre Dame took down No. 5/4 Denver 11-9 on Saturday. The junior anchored a defense that held Denver to a season-low nine goals. Even more impressive, Notre Dame gave up just six goals to Denver in even-man situations. The Irish have now held opponents to single-digit goal totals in three of the four games this season.