March 2, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia's Shamel Bratton was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, March 1. Bratton led the Cavaliers to two victories last week, keeping his squad undefeated on the young season (5-0).

Against Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, the sophomore from Huntington Station, N.Y., scored two goals and added an assist to lead UVa to a 10-2 win. His three points tie for the team lead, while his two goals were the squad's second-highest total. The midfielder also scooped up a career-high six ground balls to lead the team.

Bratton had a breakout game on the road at top-ranked and previously unbeaten Syracuse Friday night in the Carrier Dome. He scored a career-high four goals and added one assist as Virginia upset the Orange, 13-12. The loss is only the 25th for Syracuse in their 29 years of playing in the Dome. Bratton had a hand in all four goals that helped push UVa's lead from 7-5 to 11-6 in the fourth quarter. He scored three of his four goals in the second half, as well as recording an assist, to help Virginia break a four-all tie and build the lead to 13-8. Things got tense as Syracuse scored four straight with a crowd of 16,595 going crazy, but the Cavaliers held off the Orange, 13-12.

Virginia men's lacrosse returns to action Tuesday at VMI. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.