NATIONALS MERRILL & BOLTUS HONORED WITH WEEKLY MLL AWARDS

8/1/11 3:30 PM

(Hamilton, August 1)… Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Monday its weekly award winners for the week ending July 31, 2011, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. Hamilton Nationals defenseman Brodie Merrill earned the MLL Defensive Player of the Week award, while attackman Jeremy Boltus was honored as the Cascade MLL Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. 

Merrill led the Nationals to a convincing 16-6 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks on Saturday night to earn the eighth Defensive Player of the Week award of his MLL career. He recorded a season-high three assists and had a game-high nine ground balls as the Nationals won for the fifth time in the last six games. The win also allowed the Nationals to avenge a pair of losses against the defending MLL champions earlier this year.

The five-time reigning Warrior Defensive Player of the Year, Merrill leads the MLL with 69 ground balls in 10 games and is also tied for sixth in the MLL with 11 assists. He leads all MLL defenders with three goals and 15 points.

Merrill ranks second in MLL history with eight Defensive Player of the Week awards. Goalkeeper Brian Dougherty holds the MLL record with nine Defensive Player of the Week citations.

Boltus scored two goals with two assists as the Nationals moved into second place in the MLL standings with their victory over Chesapeake. He scored a goal and added an assist during the Nationals’ nine-goal run in the first half that gave Hamilton a 10-2 lead at the intermission. The Army product also added a goal in the third quarter and contributed an assist in the fourth quarter. Boltus, who also earned MLL Rookie of the Week honors on May 23rd, leads all MLL rookies with 18 goals and nine assists. He also ranks ninth in the MLL with 27 points.

The Nationals (6-4) can clinch a playoff spot this Saturday with a win over the Boston Cannons (7-3). The game at Ron Joyce Stadium is a 7:00 p.m. start and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.

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