Players of the Week

Bryan Safarik, Wingate

Evan Schaller, Wingate

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Joe Weidman contributed this article.
Weidman is Player of the Week coordinator for the Deep South Conference. The DSC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week are selected by the conference's sports information directors.)

Wingate University senior midfielder Bryan Safarik (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) and sophomore defender Evan Schaller (Kirkville, N.Y.) have been honored as the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week award winners for the Deep South Conference this week. The Player of the Week voting includes games played the week of April 9 through April 15.

The DSC lacrosse league will have a new look in 2007, with five members: Saint Leo, Catawba College, Mars Hill College, Presbyterian College and Wingate University. One of the oldest and most prestigious lacrosse leagues in the South, the Deep South Conference is dedicated to the highest quality of competition and sportsmanship.

Safarik had a big week as the Bulldogs won three games and clinched a share of the DSC title. He posted season-highs of four goals and three assists in a 12-4 victory over the Catawba College Indians Saturday. He also had four goals in a thrilling 12-11 triple overtime win over Belmont Abbey Thursday.

On the season, Safarik has 27 goals and 13 assists. Safarik was named an honorable mention STX/United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association NCAA Division II All-American in 2006.

Schaller had a great week on the defensive end for the Bulldogs as Wingate won three games and clinched a share of the DSC title. Schaller held Catawba leading scorer Kurt Green scoreless on Saturday in a 12-4 Wingate victory.

Earlier in the week, he allowed his man one goal each in victories over Belmont Abbey and Wheeling Jesuit. The Bulldogs edged the Belmont Abbey Crusaders 12-11 in triple overtime Thursday. Schaller picked up 12 ground balls for Wingate this week.

Previous Winners

Wingate University senior midfielder Bryan Safarik (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) led the Wingate offense with a season-high four goals in a 16-6 DSC home victory over Mars Hill Tuesday afternoon (April 3) at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The contest was the final home game for Safarik and five senior teammates. For good measure, Safarik scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:42 mark of the first quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Safarik added one assist to his ledger against Mars Hill. On the season, Safarik has 18 goals and nine assists (both totals third on the Wingate team charts). Safarik was named an honorable mention STX/United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association NCAA Division II All-American in 2006.

Wingate University junior short-stick defensive midfielder David Olliver (Charlotte, N.C.) made an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field in Wingate’s 16-6 DSC home victory over Mars Hill Tuesday afternoon (April 3) at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. A short-stick defensive midfielder, Olliver scored a season-high three goals (all in the first half), helping Wingate to a 7-3 lead at halftime.

In addition, Olliver was part of a Bulldog defensive unit that held Lion sophomore attack David Hodgins to one goal and one assist Tuesday. The previous week’s DSC offensive player of the week, Hodgins entered the Wingate contest with league-leading totals of 31 goals and 27 assists.

Catawba College junior attack Kurt Green (San Diego, Calif.) recorded four goals and six assists to lead Catawba to a 1-1 overall record and a 1-0 DSC record last week. Green scored three goals, had three assists and tallied three groundballs as the Catawba Indians defeated DSC opponent Mars Hill College 12-9 Saturday. He also added one goal and three assists in the Catawba 14-8 loss to seventh-ranked Limestone. Green has been the DSC Offensive Player of the Week for two straight weeks.

Junior defender Matt Puccio (Oakton, Va.) totaled nine groundballs and seven takeaways this week for Catawba. He had five groundballs and four takeaways in a 12-9 victory over DSC opponent Mars Hill. Catawba currently holds first place in the DSC with a 2-0 record in DSC play. Against number seven Limestone, Puccio picked up four groundballs and had three takeaways.

Wingate University junior attack Kyle Costello (Wilmington, N.C.) recorded five goals and dished out a team-high four assists as Wingate defeated Presbyterian 21-6 in Deep South Conference action Saturday. On the season, Costello has six goals and six assists. In 2006, Costello started every game for the Bulldogs. He set and tied school records for points and assists, respectively. His 2.4 assists per game were a conference-best and fourth-best in the country. Costello also finished fourth in the conference with 4.47 points per game.

Mars Hill College sophomore goalie Nick Sigona (Auburn, N.Y.)helped lead Mars Hill to a 1-1 record last week. He made seven saves as the Lion defense held Seton Hill to just seven goals in the Lions 15-7 victory last week. For the week, Sigona had a .549 save percentage and made 28 saves.

Wingate University junior Mike Bayliss (Lorton, Va.) tallied three goals and one assist in an 18-4 Wingate victory over Lees-McRae College Saturday. Bayliss scored three goals on five shots, good enough for a .600 shooting percentage. In addition, the Lorton, Va. native picked up three ground balls. In 2007, Bayliss was moved to attack to best utilize his offensive skills and outstanding shooting ability. Bayliss will once again be a key member of the Bulldogs’ extra man unit, a unit that finished third in the conference in goals scored and second in scoring percentage in 2006.

As a short-stick defensive midfielder and the Bulldog face-off man, Wingate University junior Bob Chinn (Mooresville, N.C.) was a major contributor to a defense that allowed only four goals in an 18-4 Wingate victory over Lee-McRae Saturday. Chinn notched one goal, one assist, eight ground balls and won 10-of-15 face-offs for the Bulldogs. Chinn had an outstanding year for the Bulldogs in 2006. He improved his face-off win total, matched his percentage and nearly doubled his ground ball total from the previous season. His 6.4 ground balls per game were fourth best in the conference and seventh best in the country. Chinn is working on his lacrosse game full-time now after splitting time his first two years as a member of the successful Wingate football team.

Benjamin Brigham, Saint Leo
On the offensive side, Brigham scored four goals and assisted on two others to help Saint Leo notch a 14-5 victory over the Savannah College of Art & Design Saturday. Brigham led the Lions with six points. In 2006, Brigham started 11 of 12 games for the Lions. He was second on the team in goals scored (18) and points (24) and tied for second in assists (six).

Nick Masterpol, Saint Leo
As the defensive player of the week, Masterpol picked up six ground balls in the 14-5 Saint Leo victory over SCAD. His play on defense helped SLU hold the Bees to 18 total shots.