Wingate's Austin Murphy is USILA/BSN Sports National Player of the Week

Perry, N.Y.----Wingate University senior attack Austin Murphy (Orillia, Ontario) is the USILA/BSN Sports National Player of the Week. Earlier this week, he was named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week. Murphy receives this national honor for the first time in his career.

Murphy had team-high totals of three goals and six assists as the 15th-ranked Bulldogs rallied for a 12-11 overtime victory over fourth-ranked Mercyhurst University in NCAA Division II men's lacrosse action from Day Field on the campus of Randolph-Macon Sunday. Mercyhurst led 5-0 late in the first quarter before Wingate mounted its comeback.

"Austin has been playing at a very high level all season," Wingate head men's lacrosse coach Tim Boyle says. "This past week, he put the team on his back and helped rally the team from being down 5-0 to take home the victory. He has shown great leadership on and off the field the entire year."

Murphy has tallied 51 total points on the season (22 goals, 29 assists). With his Sunday performance against Mercyhurst, Murphy passes the 100-goal mark for his illustrious career. He is only the second Bulldog (the other is Kyle Costello) to amass 100 goals and 100 assists in his WU career.

With the Sunday triumph, Wingate improves to 9-3 overall on the season. The Bulldogs avenge a 9-8, four-overtime loss to (then) 11th-ranked Mercyhurst last season on Feb. 21, 2016. Wingate returns to action this Saturday for the final regular season home contest versus Brevard on Senior Day from Graham Gill Field. First face-off is slated for a 3 p.m. start.