The National Lacrosse League recognized a pair of Washington Stealth players Wednesday for their performances over the weekend.
The NLL tabbed forward Lewis Ratcliff as the Offensive Player of the Week and Paul Rabil as Transition Player of the Week.
The two helped lead the Stealth to a pair of victories — a 13-11 win at home over the Buffalo Bandits on Friday, and a 16-15 road victory over the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday. The West Division-leading Stealth own the NLL’s best record at 4-0.
Ratcliff recorded 12 points in the two wins (eight goals, 4 assists) and chased down six loose balls. Against Buffalo, he scored two goals and assisted on another, while collecting a season-high six loose balls.
The following night in Calgary, Ratcliff shredded the defense of his former team with six goals and three assists. He scored the game-winning goal with 3:22 left in the contest.
The big weekend lifted Ratcliff, acquired by the Stealth in an offseason trade with Toronto, into the league lead in goals scored (12). He also ranks third in points (23) and 14th in assists (11).
Rabil recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) and picked up seven loose balls in the two victories. Against Buffalo, he assisted on four goals, including the game-winner. In the victory over Calgary, Rabil finished with a goal and four assists, and once again assisted on the game-winning tally.
In his second NLL season, Rabil already has 16 points (three goals, 13 assists). In his rookie year, Rabil recorded 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 16 games.
The award marks the second time this season Rabil has been named the NLL’s Transition Player of the Week.
Washington returns to action Saturday, facing the Colorado Mammoth in Denver. The face-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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