Mullen Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week
2/3/2026 3:31:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Syracuse University junior John Mullen was named ACC Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced its first weekly honors Tuesday afternoon.
Mullen backed No. 2 Syracuse to a 13-6 win over No. 16 Boston University in the season opener on Sunday. The Norwell, Massachusetts native proved that the best defense is ball possession, winning nearly 74 percent of his draws (14-of-19) alongside eight ground balls.
A Preseason Second Team All-America selection, Mullen tacked on a goal as well, scoring just eight seconds after Luke Rhoa midway through the third quarter to put more separation between the Orange and the Terriers.
Winning his second ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor, Mullen's dominance at the X helped Syracuse's offense as the Orange scored six times on the possession directly following one of his faceoff wins. Last spring, Syracuse scored 98 times in a similar scenario.
Duke's Max Sloat was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday as well.
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for a Saturday showdown against Saint Joseph's. Game time on ACC Network Extra is set for noon. The Hawks were idle last weekend after their season-opener against NJIT was cancelled due to extreme weather in New Jersey.
Tickets for Saturday's game, which will also air locally on ESPN Radio Syracuse, are available at Cuse.com/lacrosse-tickets.
Mullen backed No. 2 Syracuse to a 13-6 win over No. 16 Boston University in the season opener on Sunday. The Norwell, Massachusetts native proved that the best defense is ball possession, winning nearly 74 percent of his draws (14-of-19) alongside eight ground balls.
A Preseason Second Team All-America selection, Mullen tacked on a goal as well, scoring just eight seconds after Luke Rhoa midway through the third quarter to put more separation between the Orange and the Terriers.
Winning his second ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor, Mullen's dominance at the X helped Syracuse's offense as the Orange scored six times on the possession directly following one of his faceoff wins. Last spring, Syracuse scored 98 times in a similar scenario.
Duke's Max Sloat was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday as well.
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for a Saturday showdown against Saint Joseph's. Game time on ACC Network Extra is set for noon. The Hawks were idle last weekend after their season-opener against NJIT was cancelled due to extreme weather in New Jersey.
Tickets for Saturday's game, which will also air locally on ESPN Radio Syracuse, are available at Cuse.com/lacrosse-tickets.
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