VESTAL, N.Y. – For the third week in a row, the Binghamton men's lacrosse team has earned a weekly honor from the America East Conference, as the league announced Monday that
Anthony Bilello has been named its Defensive Player of the Week.
Bilello played a key role in helping the Bearcats shut down New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday. The junior tied for the team lead in ground balls with four and caused two turnovers in Binghamton's 9-4 victory. The four goals the Highlanders scored are the fewest the Bearcats have allowed in a game since May 4, 2017, when Binghamton defeated UMBC 9-4 in the semifinals of the America East men's lacrosse tournament.
Bilello ranks second on the team in caused turnovers with a career-high eight and is tied for fifth in ground balls with 13. He only needs two more ground balls to set a new career high in that statistic.
The Bearcats have now received three weekly awards from the America East this season, all within the last month.
Matthew Rincon was first named Defensive Player of the Week on March 10 after he collected 11 ground balls and caused four turnovers combined between Binghamton's games against Siena and Stony Brook. Then,
Gage Adams was chosen as Offensive Player of the Week on March 17 following his biggest game of the season, when the senior scored three goals and added three assists in Binghamton's 14-12 win at UMass Lowell three days prior. Adams was also selected by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) for its Division I Team of the Week on Wednesday.
The last time Binghamton earned a weekly honor from the America East three weeks in a row was in 2023. Quinn O'Hara was named Offensive Player of the Week on March 6 after he posted three goals and two assists in a 13-12 victory over St. John's on March 4.
Connor Winters was then selected as Rookie of the Week on March 13 after he made 11 saves and collected five ground balls in a 14-9 victory at Fairfield on March 11. The goalie followed that up by being named Defensive Player of the Week on March 20. That accolade was given to Winters after he stopped 13 shots and recorded three ground balls in Binghamton's 14-7 win at Merrimack on March 18.
Binghamton's next game is on Tuesday at 4 p.m., against St. Bonaventure at the Tom 80' and Michelle Marra Athletics Field Complex.
Station 45 American Chop House is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Men's Lacrosse.
