CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels swept the season’s first set of weekly honors in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) lacrosse as announced by the league on Monday.
Attackman Steve Pontrello was named Offensive Player of the Week, and teammate Jake Matthai, a short-stick defensive midfielder, was named Defensive Player of the Week.
A three-year starter in the midfield, Pontrello opened his senior season with his first-ever starting assignment on attack and excelled with a career-high finish in goals (four) and points (five) in the Tar Heels’ 20-10 victory over Michigan.
Matthai led the Tar Heels defensively, and helped limit the Michigan midfield corps to just three goals in the game, led Carolina in a 13-for-14 clearing effort, and had a team high five ground balls as the Tar Heels dominated the ground ball game 44-24.
He also scored his first goal of the season in the fourth quarter to finish off a strong offensive effort by Carolina.