Top-Ranked Spartans Sweep SSC Weekly Awards
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The top-ranked University of Tampa men's lacrosse team was presented with a trio of weekly awards as the Sunshine State Conference awarded Ben French the SSC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Blake Ulmer was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week, while Ross Dickerson was tabbed as the Specialist of the Week.
French tallied 12 points across two conference wins to garner Offensive Player of the Week honors. In a 22-7 win at No. 15 Florida Southern, French found the back of the net a game-high five times. He added an assist, three ground balls, and a caused turnover in the victory. The Toronto native then scored a game-high six goals in a 16-7 win against Florida Tech. French fired off 27 shots for the week, 16 on goal, for a .583 shot on goal percentage.
Ulmer is selected Defensive Player of the Week for his effort in Tampa's victories over No. 15 Florida Southern and Florida Tech last week. The Naples, Florida product tallied eight saves and allowed six goals while facing 25 shots in UT's 22-7 win against FSC in Lakeland. Ulmer followed up with 11 saves and four goals allowed while facing 31 shots in a 16-7 victory against FT. For the week, Ulmer posted a 5.00 goals-against average, and a .655 save percentage in 105 minutes of play.
Dickerson earns his 13th career weekly award, third straight, following a 33-for-43 faceoff record across two SSC games. The Berlin, Maryland product began the week 18-for-23 at the X in Tampa's 22-7 win at No. 15 Florida Southern. He followed up with a 15-for-20 faceoff performance in a 16-7 win against Florida Tech. Dickerson also provided the Spartans with 23 ground balls and an assist last week. The senior is now for second all-time among Tampa's weekly award winners. He is tied for first among men's lacrosse athletes.
Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of March 29 - April 4, 2021. Athletes are nominated by Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions.