Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Ohio State and Rutgers Win Weekly Men’s Lacrosse Accolades

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Lacrosse Awards for the week of Feb. 18-25, 2025.  

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

• Scored a season-high five goals and added two assists for a season-best seven points
• Had a hand in each of Hopkins’ last five goals in the game with three goals and two assists in the last 25 minutes of the game
• Also tallied one ground ball in the narrow 13-12 loss to UNC Melendez’s second Offensive Player of the Week Award. Last: Feb 4, 2025 

Defensive Player of the Week 
Jack McDonald, Maryland 
Graduate – LSM – Rockville Centre, N.Y. – Major: Philosophy, Politics, & Economics 

• Was a key part of Maryland’s defensive effort in a 13-9 win at No. 5 Princeton
• Helped hold Princeton’s starting midfield unit to just three goals combined
• McDonald followed up a seven-groundball performance with three more GBs
• Last Maryland Defensive Player of the Week Award: Ajax Zappitello (February 20, 2024) 

Specialist of the Week 
Caleb Fyock, Ohio State 
Sophomore – Goalie – Bowie, Md.  – Major: Sport Industry 

• Made a season-high 12 saves in the Buckeyes’ 14-5 upset win over #12 Virginia to improve to 5-0 on the year
• This was Ohio State’s first win against Virginia since 2013 and second all-time Fyock also recorded three ground balls
• Last Ohio State Specialist of the Week Award: Skylar Wahlund (March 28, 2023) 

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

• Had a game-high 5 points in a win over Loyola Maryland marked his third career hat trick and first career multi-assist game
• Aiello led Big Ten freshman with goals and points this week
• Aiello’s second Freshman of the Week Award. Last: Feb. 4, 2025 

2024-25 Men’s Lacrosse Players of the Week 

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

Feb. 11 
O: Eric Spanos, MD 
D: Cullen Brown, OSU 
S: Jack Fracyon, PSU 
F: Tyler Eye, JHU 

Feb. 18 
O: Eric Spanos, MD/Alex Marinier, OSU 
D: Bobby Van Buren, OSU 
S: Logan McNaney, MD 
F: Hunter Aquino, PSU 

Feb. 25 

O: Russell Melendez, JHU 
D: Jack McDonald, MD 
S:  Caleb Fyock, OSU 
F: JJ Aiello, RU