HPU’s Tuell and Piluso Sweep SoCon MLAX Weekly Honors

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Freshman Zach Tuell and junior Jamie Piluso of the High Point University men’s lacrosse team swept the Southern Conference Player of the Week awards, the league office announced on Tuesday.

In the second start of his career, Tuell made 16 saves and allowed just two goals in 56:26 minutes in goal to earn defensive player of the week accolades. He posted the highest single-game save percentage in program history (.889) as the Panthers broke the program record for fewest goals allowed in a game with three.

Piluso garnered the offensive award by leading HPU to a 10-goal performance. The Ridgewood, N.J. native went 11-of-14 (.786) at the face-off ‘X’ while leading the team with six ground balls. Along with constantly earning possession for the Purple & White, Piluso added his second goal of the season in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter.

It is the first time this season that High Point has swept the offensive and defensive player of the week awards. Tuell became the second Panther to win the defensive award joining senior Pat Farrell (Feb. 24). Meanwhile, Piluso is the fourth on the offensive side after sophomore Michael LeClair (Feb. 10), redshirt-junior Brad James (March 17) and freshman Connor Robinson (March 24) have won previously this year.

The Panthers (5-5, 1-1) will look to move back over .500 when they travel to Jacksonville on April 4 at 2 p.m.