New Hampshire sophomore sweeper Brendan Hankard (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) and Boston University goalkeeper Zak Thompson (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) were named Adidas America East Player adn Rookie of the Week, respectively, for the final week of the regular season (November 5).
Hankard led the Wildcats to a conference championship berth. With the Wildcats needing two wins on the weekend to qualify for the tournament, and trailing 2-0 to Drexel late in the second half on Friday, Hankard moved up to forward and scored at 80:23 to make it a one-goal game. New Hampshire then tied the game and won it in overtime. On Sunday with the Wildcats again trailing, this time to Hofstra, Hankard moved up front and scored two goals, including the game-winner at 117:28 to lift New Hampshire to a 5-4 win and the No. 6 seed in the America East Championship.
Thompson is the America East Rookie of the Week for the second-straight week. Thompson posted back-to-back shutouts to help lead the Terriers to the America East regular-season title and the conference championship's No. 1 seed. Thompson had seven saves in a 6-0 win over Delaware Friday night, then made five saves in a 1-0 win over Towson to clinch first place. Included among Thompson's saves in the win over the Tigers was when he smothered a shot by Todd Lauber, who had dribbled in alone on the keeper in the 35th minute of a scoreless game.