Johns Hopkins, Michigan and Rutgers Garner Weekly Men’s Lacrosse Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men's Lacrosse Awards for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 4, 2025.  

Offensive Player of the Week 
Russell Melendez, Johns Hopkins 
Senior – Attack – Severna Park, Md. – Major: Political Science 

• Led the eighth-ranked Blue Jays to a 13-10 win at ninth-ranked Denver 
• Scored four goals on six shots 
• Also recorded two assists and a ground ball 
• Last Johns Hopkins Player of the Week Award: Jacob Angelus (March 26, 2024) 

Defensive Player of the Week 
Pace Billings, Michigan 
Grad Student – SSDM – Islip, N.Y.  – Major: Labor Studies and Employment Relations 

• In his first game at Michigan, helped the defense allow only one goal to Marquette
• Caused two turnovers and five groundballs
• Marked up against Marquette’s top offensive player and shut him out Last Michigan Defensive Player of the Week Award: Beau Pederson (March 26, 2024)

Specialist of the Week 
Hunter Taylor, Michigan 
Junior – Goalie – Rockville, Md. – Major: Business Administration 

• Made 10 saves and gave up just one goal in an 11-1 win against
• Marquette Also added two groundballs in the winning effort Tallied his 16^th career game with double-digit saves
• The one goal allowed is the least goals allowed in Michigan program history
• Last Michigan Specialist of the Week Award: Justin Wietfeldt (March 26, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week 
JJ Aiello, Rutgers 
Freshman – Attack – Bayport, N.Y. – Major: Undeclared 

• Made his collegiate debut as a starter on attack and helped the Scarlet Knights earn a ranked win at No. 20 Lehigh
• Scored his first collegiate goal in the first quarter for Rutgers to take a 2-1 lead
• Added an assist to Shane Murphy and two ground balls
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week Award: Cardin Stoller (April 9, 2024) 

2024-25 Men’s Lacross Players of the Week 

Feb. 4 
O: Russell Melendez, JHU 
D: Pace Billings, MICH 
S:  Hunter Taylor, MICH 
F: JJ Aiello, RU