Buffalo’s Touhy is PEARL Goalie of Week

ATLANTA – After leading his team to a split against a pair of Top 15 programs, Buffalo senior netminder Sean Touhy earned MCLA Division I PEARL Goalie of the Week honors for the period ending March 1.

The Bulls opened the season on Saturday against No. 12 New Hampshire and the East Islip, N.Y., product kept the powerful Wildcat offense in check in an 8-6 setback. Touhy turned away 17 shots in the 8-6 loss (68.0 save percentage).

On Sunday, Buffalo squared off with No. 15 UConn and Touhy was a wall. He made 18 saves to lift the Bulls to the 8-7 overtime upset of the Huskies.

“Throughout the weekend, Sean made several momentum changing saves on shooters who got within five yards of the cage, including two huge man down saves to start our overtime period versus UConn,” said Buffalo coach Ryan Crawford. “It’s safe to say without Sean’s exceptional play, we would have come away from the weekend with a completely different feeling about our team.

“Sean is a four-year starter, a team captain and the team president. He is the unquestioned leader of not just the defense, but our whole team. He assumes the most responsibility for running the team off the field and his teammates are constantly inspired by his performances on the field.”

For his efforts in earning the Pearl’s Performance of the Week, Touhy will receive a prize package from Guardian Pearl, a ball that lasts longer than the rest and never greases. Guardian Pearl is the proud partner of the MCLA.

PEARL Honor Roll

Theodore Cranley, Sr. – USC
Cranley turned away 18 shots in the Trojans’ 14-7 win over UCSB before stopping another 19 in USC’s win over SDSU, 7-5.

Hunter LeClaire, Jr. – Virginia Tech
The Hokies wrapped up a bid to the SELC tournament thanks to a pair of wins this weekend. LeClaire made 24 saves and allowed just eight goals (75.0%).

Grant Palmer, Soph. – Georgia
The Bulldogs went to California and came home 2-0, including a Top 10 win over Concordia-Irvine. Palmer combined for 39 saves against 17 goals against (69.6%).

Liam Peck, Jr. – South Carolina
The Moorestown, N.J., product had a pair of 18-save performances. The first came in a 12-9 win over No. 12 Michigan State. The second was in a 14-2 victory over NC State.

Joe Whitmore, Jr. – Colorado State
The Rams hosted Northeastern and Centennial, Colo., native was on his game, turning away 14 shots in an 11-5 win for CSU.