Men’s Lacrosse: LaSalla garners ACC, USILA weekly honors

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia faceoff specialist Petey LaSalla was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Week in addition to being tabbed a USILA Division-I Team of the Week selection.

LaSalla went 19-of-28 at the faceoff-X in Virginia’s ACC opener, a 20-11 win over then-No. 9 Syracuse at Klöckner Stadium on Feb. 26. With his first faceoff victory of the game – also the 605th of his career – LaSalla became Virginia’s all-time leader in career faceoff wins. His 19 faceoff victories in last Saturday’ contest are a season best, and a career high in games against the Orange. LaSalla registered his fourth goal of the season in the waning seconds of the third quarter after picking up a ground ball on his own faceoff draw and scored with five seconds remaining in the period. The Miller Place, New York native finished last Saturday’s contest with five ground balls.

LaSalla joins UVA goalie Matthew Nunes as the second Cavalier to garner ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors. He is the first Virginia player this season to nab USILA Team-of-the-Week honors.

No. 2 Virginia (4-0, 1-0 ACC) resumes action on Saturday (March 5) when its hosts No. 14/15 Johns Hopkins (3-2). Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on ACCNX.