NEW YORK, N.Y. – University of Denver junior Wesley Berg (Coquitlam, B.C.) and sophomore Chris Hampton (Bethesda, Md.) were both named to the BIG EAST Honor Rolls for their efforts in helping the Pioneers to a 14-6 win over Providence College.
St. John’s Kieran McArdle was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Marquette’s Liam Byrnes was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Denver has now placed eight student-athletes on the BIG EAST Honor Roll. Four Pioneers have been named Offensive Player of the Week and three have taken Defensive Player of the Week honors.
This is the seventh week in a row that Denver has received either a Player of the Week honor, or been named to the Honor Roll.
Denver leads the BIG EAST with a 5-0 mark.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
KIERAN McARDLE, ST. JOHN'S Sr., A, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
McArdle capped off a seven-point performance by scoring the overtime game-winner 2:23 into the extra period to give the Red Storm a thrilling 11-10 win over Villanova and - more importantly - reignite their hopes of making the BIG EAST Tournament. His first goal of the game came in the first quarter to put St. John's up 2-1, and his second tied the game at 9-all with 5:11 remaining in regulation. McArdle's fourth assist of the contest was on Ryan Fitzgerald's marker with 2:46 to go to tie the game at 10-10. The Tewaaraton Trophy candidate has 35 goals and 39 assists on the season.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
LIAM BYRNES, MARQUETTE R-So., LSM, West Islip, N.Y.
Byrnes totaled five ground balls and three caused turnovers, including a pair during the Golden Eagles' second-half rally, in Marquette's 11-10 overtime win over Georgetown. His defensive plays enabled Marquette to hold the Hoyas at bay after they'd build a 9-3 lead, enabling Marquette to mount its comeback. Byrnes was also a key part of Marquette's defense that helped post a perfect 15-for-15 showing.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
WES BERG, DENVER Jr., A, Coquitlam, British Columbia
Scored four times and added two assists in Denver's 14-6 win at Providence, lifting the Pioneers to 5-0 in the BIG EAST. It was his fourth hat trick of the season and 16th of his career.
TYLER MELNYK, MARQUETTE R-Sr., A, Calgary, Alberta
Tallied a fourth-quarter hat trick and totaled four goals in Marquette's 11-10 overtime win over Georgetown that lifted the Golden Eagles into their first BIG EAST Tournament. Scored back-to-back goals late in regulation to erase a 10-8 deficit and force overtime.
JOE ADDONA, ST. JOHN'S Sr., D, Springfield, Pa.
Picked up six ground balls and caused one turnover to lead the Red Storm's defense in an 11-10 overtime win against Villanova. Led a defense that held the Wildcats to 28 total shots.
CHRIS HAMPTON, DENVER So., Bethesda, Md.
Went 13-of-19 on face-offs, including 6-of-7 in the decisive second half, to help Denver beat Providence 14-6. The Pios were up 6-5 at halftime before outscoring the Friars 8-1 in the second 30 minutes, thanks in large part to possessions created by Hampton's face-off wins. Also logged a career-high eight ground balls on the day.
DAN WILLIS, VILLANOVA Fr., GK, Moorestown, N.J.
Recorded a career-high 19 saves in Villanova's 11-10 overtime loss at St. John's. Has started all 12 games in the cage for the Wildcats.
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