LANCASTER, Pa. - Coming off a big week that saw the now 11th-ranked Dickinson men's lacrosse team pick up two wins over Centennial Conference rival Gettysburg College and Saint Mary's College of Maryland, Ryan Backus was rewarded for his performance by being named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

The native of Fairfield, Connecticut, served a key part in helping the Red Devils notch wins over Gettysburg and St. Mary's (Md.) last week, winning 21 of his 34 faceoff attempts (61.8%). In a conference showdown against 10th-ranked Gettysburg last Wednesday, he won 10-of-22 faceoffs and collected eight ground balls in the process. One of his biggest moments in the game came right after Gettysburg cut the margin to 11-10 with 7:03 to play, as he won the ensuing faceoff leading to Luke Whalen scoring the eventual game-winner in the 12-11 victory. On Saturday, he won 11-of-12 faceoffs and ran down four ground balls in an 11-5 non-conference triumph over St. Mary's. He started the game with a bang, winning the opening faceoff and ripping the ball past the keeper just five seconds in, before claiming the following draw that allowed Ramsey Huggins to strike only 34 seconds later. 

Backus and the rest of the Red Devils return to action tomorrow night at 7pm when they take on Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster.