INDIANAPOLIS – Walsh and Wheeling shared the first announcement of Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Players of the Week as announced on Tuesday morning.
 
The Cavaliers and Cardinals started their spring against Roberts Wesleyan and Chowan. Alderson Broaddus was the first team to debut earlier this month while most teams are slated to be in action this upcoming weekend.
 
Mercyhurst and Seton Hill were picked as No. 1 and 2 in the Great Midwest Preseason Coaches Poll and both programs are stacked at 3 and 4 in the USILA Poll.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
Colby Bowman
Walsh
Attack
Freshman
Nanaimo, British Columbia
 
Bowman is one of 10 freshmen on the spring roster for the Cavaliers and head coach Alex Skarvch. Walsh officially broke the seal on the new season at home on Sunday against Roberts Wesleyan.
 
Despite the outcome, Bowman made a strong first impression by scoring three goals on five shots attempted. The Cavaliers were out of the gates fast with a 7-1 lead early into the second period.
 
Bowman scored Walsh’s first two goals of the season for an early 2-1 lead, unassisted in the 12th minute, and helped by teammate Evan Bradley a minute later.
 
He led Walsh in the scoring column while the team put up seven goals on 22 shots.
 
Walsh is back on the field this weekend for another non-conference matchup, this time vs. Frostburg State with a noon start.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Mathew Anderson
Wheeling
Defense
Junior
Gorham, Maine (Gorham HS)
 
Wheeling’s program was back in business under head coach Nick Anagnostis against Chowan. Previously Wheeling Jesuit, the Cardinals were first associate members of the conference in 2018 and enter their third year with the sport in the Great Midwest.
 
Similar to Walsh, it was about knocking the rust off and getting back into game shape.
 
Anderson led the defensive effort on the back line and was credited with three caused turnovers and picked up a pair of ground balls.
 
Anderson transferred into Wheeling from Division I Rutgers and this marked his first contest as a Wheeling student-athlete.