Spillett, Merrill, Vallone, Colliniates Honored with MLL Weekly Awards

Published on June 25, 2007 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release

BOSTON, Mass. - Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional lacrosse league, announced Monday its weekly award winners for the week ending June 24, 2007, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. Rochester Rattlers attackman Brandon Spillett was named as the League's Offensive Player of the Week while teammate Brodie Merrill earned the Defensive Player of the Week award.

In addition, San Francisco Dragons goalkeeper Matt Vallone was honored as the League's Goalkeeper of the Week while New Jersey midfielder/face-off specialist Chris Colliniates earned his first Cascade MLL Rookie of the Week award.

Spillett led the Rattlers to their third straight win, a 16-11 victory over the defending MLL champion Philadelphia Barrage on Saturday night. He scored four goals, including a league-high three power-play markers, and added an assist as Rochester avenged a 21-17 loss to Philadelphia on June 2. Spillett has scored at least three goals in each of his first three MLL games. In addition, it marks the third straight week in which a Rochester player has been named as the Offensive Player of the Week.

Meanwhile, Merrill helped on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field in the Rattlers' victory over the Barrage on Saturday evening. He scored a goal along with two assists and had ten ground balls. Merrill ranks second in the league with 44 ground balls through five games and leads all defensemen with nine points this year, scoring three goals with six assists.

Vallone earned the Goalkeeper of the Week award after making 17 saves in the Dragons' 20-14 victory over Denver on Saturday afternoon. He made 10 of his saves during the second half as San Francisco limited Denver to just six second-half goals en route to the victory. Vallone has stopped 52.5 per cent of the shots he has faced this year.

Colliniates helped the New Jersey Pride to their second straight victory by winning 15 of 23 face-offs in their 13-10 victory over Boston on Saturday night. He also scored a goal in the first quarter, which gave the Pride a 2-0 lead. A 2007 graduate of Villanova University, Colliniates has scored one goal with one assist in three games this year and has won 44 of 92 face-offs.

Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 25, 2007

• Spillett, Merrill, Vallone, Colliniates Honored with MLL Weekly Awards - MLL
• Colliniates Named Cascade Rookie Of The Week - New Jersey Pride

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