Week 4 of the National Lacrosse League was the busiest week yet as it featured seven games over three days and all nine teams in action. Several players stood out including Calgary Roughnecks Shawn Evans (three goals, nine assists in two games), Cody Bremner of the Vancouver Stealth (3 G, 3 A in one game) and Buffalo Bandits Dhane Smith (4 G, 2 A in one game).
Minnesota Swarm goaltender Zach Higgins was also a standout this weekend as he was called to action twice in relief of starter Tyler Carlson. Higgins played 57 minutes on Friday versus the Philadelphia Wings where he made 38 saves and picked up his first career NLL win.
John Grant Jr. was up to his old tricks with the Colorado Mammoth, scoring one of the greatest goals in lacrosse history in a 14-13 overtime loss against the Vancouver Stealth. If you missed the goal you can check out it right here https://inlacrossewetrust.com/?p=16338.
The above mentioned all had stellar performances but only three players can crack this list; here are the Three Stars for Week 4 of the NLL.
First Star—Jordan Hall of the Philadelphia Wings (2-3)
The Wings split a home and home series with the Minnesota Swarm over the weekend and Jordan Hall was outstanding in both games. In Philly’s 11-10 home loss Hall had four goals on four shots while adding two helpers. The magic stick stayed with Hall the entire weekend as he popped four more goals Sunday to go along with four assists in a 15-8 pounding against Minnesota. Hall leads all Wings scorers with 28 points (15 G, 13 A) in five games this season.
Second Star—Steve Priolo of the Buffalo Bandits (3-1)
Priolo is not normally a goal scorer but you would never know that if Saturday was the first time you had seen him play. The beastly 6’5″, 235 lb defender was on fire in Buffalo’s 16-9 win over the Colorado Mammoth, scoring three goals on three shots to go along with an assist and four loose balls. Priolo’s previous season high was two goals and his career total coming into the 2014 campaign was four goals. This season he already has five goals in just four games and 10 points on the year, shattering his previous seven-point season high that he set for himself in his 2010 rookie season and then once again last year.
Third Star—Aaron Bold of the Edmonton Rush (3-0)
Bold backstopped the Rush to a huge 15-8 home win over the Calgary Roughnecks at home on Friday night. Bold made 38 saves in the victory while keeping the reigning MVP and scoring leader, Shawn Evans, from finding the back of the net. Bold’s solid play allowed the Rush to remain as the only unbeaten team in the West and one of just two undefeated teams in the National Lacrosse League (the other team is the two time defending champion Rochester Knighthawks).
