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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia midfielder Colin Briggs and goalie Adam Ghitelman have been named Atlantic Coast Conference men’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for games played through Sunday, April 10.

Briggs had five points and three goals en route to lifting the ninth-ranked Cavaliers to a thrilling 11-10 overtime victory past the fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels last Saturday. The triumph halted a two-game Virginia losing streak, a regular season first for the Cavaliers since 2004. Briggs scored his three goals on five total shots and dished out two assists – both times his helpers increased UVa’s lead from one goal to two goals. The five points marked a career-high for Briggs. The redshirt junior from Narragansett, R.I., scored his second goal of the game with 10 seconds left before intermission with an unassisted score, sending UVa into the break with a 5-3 lead. After Carolina cut its deficit down to one goal again, Briggs rallied to score his third and final goal with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter, lifting the Cavs back to a two-goal lead, 7-5.

Against UNC, Ghitelman tied his season best with 15 saves, including various point blank shots. One of Ghitelman’s impressive stops came on an uncontested Billy Bitter attempt in the fourth quarter, which jump-started a Virginia clear and maintained a two-goal lead. The senior from Cold Spring, N.Y., picked up eight ground balls, the second-best mark of his career. In addition, Ghitelman helped Virginia start many clears and strong offensive possessions. The victory gave the senior his 45th career win between the pipes, passing UMBC’s Jeremy Blevins (2006-09) and tying Cornell’s Matt McMonagle (2004-07) for No. 5 all-time in NCAA Division I history.

The award for Briggs is the first of his career. Ghitelman’s nod is his second of the season after being named ACC defensive player of the week on March 15 as he helped UVa defeat Cornell. The honor is Ghitelman’s third ACC weekly accolade of his career. Before the ACC instituted the defensive player of the week award this season Ghitelman earned ACC player of the week honors after making 12 saves against the same Tar Heels program in 2010.

Briggs, Ghitelman and the Cavaliers return to action on Saturday at No. 10 Duke. The game will be televised live on ESPNU and faceoff is set for noon.

Virginia’s ACC Offensive player of the week
• Chris Bocklet (Feb. 20)
• Steele Stanwick (March 1)
• Colin Briggs (April 12)

Virginia’s ACC Defensive player of the week
• Rob Fortunato (Feb. 20)***
• Adam Ghitelman (March 15)
• Adam Ghitelman (April 12)

*** – first-ever awarded by league

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