ECAC names Ozycz Defensive Player of the Week for third time this spring

CENTERVILLE, Mass. - Endicott face-off man Sam Ozycz (Cheshire, Conn.) was named ECAC DIII New England's Defensive Player of the Week for this third time this spring for his efforts in setting up the Gulls men's lacrosse team as the top-seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament.

Ozycz and his Endicott teammates battle the #4 seed University of New England on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in the CCC Semifinals.  The winner will take on either #2 Western New England or #3 Roger Williams on Saturday, May 4th with the conference title and automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line.  

Ozycz remained the nation's leader in groundball average (13.8) and moved into second place behind Mitchell's Demetre Lyras in face-off winning percentage (.745) after posting career-high numbers in a 13-12 victory over Western New England last Wednesday.  After dropping the game's opening face-off, Ozycz went on to win the next 27 straight while scooping 26 groundballs.  The victory jumped the Gull over the Golden Bears in the conference standings heading into the playoffs. 

Along with Defensive Player of the Week honors, Ozycz was also recognized by the CCC as their Defensive Player of the Year as he leads the conference in face-offs and groundballs.