via press release – photo via SoCon web site   Freshman Louie Yovino, formerly of St. Thomas Aquinas, has been named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week following his 4-goal performance against Air Force on Saturday.  Interesting to note that former Ponte Vedra star Eric Applegate was also nominated!   SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman midfielder Lou Yovino and Air Force close defenseman Brandon Jones have been named the Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for games played April 4-10, the league office announced Tuesday. Selections are made by the conference office. Yovino led all SoCon players for the week with four goals in Furman’s 8-7 win over Air Force on Saturday at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina. Yovino’s four goals were crucial in dealing the Falcons their first-ever SoCon loss since joining the conference in 2016. The freshman scored the first goal of the game, two minutes into the first quarter, on an assist from Paladin midfielder Zach Scott. After Furman fell behind 3-1 late in the first period, Yovino cut the Paladin deficit to one goal on an assist from Jonah Moore. Yovinio notched his third hat trick of the season two minutes into the second period on an assist from attackman Graham Dabbs to once again cut the Falcon lead (4-3) to one goal. The Parkland, Florida, native scored his fourth goal of the game midway through the second period on another assist from Scott, giving the Paladins a 5-4 advantage. From there, the Falcons would not regain the lead. Yovino currently ranks fourth in the SoCon in goals per game (1.91), which is the best average among all freshmen in the conference, and is tied for 10^th in points per game (2.00), which is good for second-best among SoCon freshmen. Furman (5-6, 4-0 SoCon) is back in action Saturday, April 15, traveling to High Point, North Carolina, for a noon (ET) SoCon matchup. If the Paladins clinch a win in one of their next three SoCon contests, it would guarantee them a spot in the SoCon postseason tournament for the second time in program history, which will come to fruition in Richmond, Virginia, on May 4 and 6. Jones garners his second straight SoCon Defensive Player of the Week recognition after nabbing a game-high and career-high 10 ground balls in the Falcons’ loss at Furman on Saturday. The 2016 Freshman of the Year also registered his first career goal, which was unassisted, with 35 seconds remaining in the first period, giving the Falcons a 4-2 cushion heading into the second quarter. Jones also added one caused turnover in the game – his 14^th of the season. The Upper Arlington, Ohio, native anchors an Air Force defense that averages 7.83 goals allowed per game, which is good for eighth in the country. Jones also ranks fourth in the SoCon in ground balls per game (4.25) and ninth in caused turnovers per game (1.17). Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Brian Wall (Bellarmine), Eric Applegate (Jacksonville) and Michael Quinn (Mercer). Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Jordan Dondoyano (Bellarmine), Chase York (Jacksonville), Bradley Hodoval (Mercer) and Brendan Hynes (Richmond).   2017 Offensive Players of the Week Feb. 14: Teddy Hatfield, Richmond Feb. 21: Jake Nelson, Mercer Feb. 28: Ryan Lee, Richmond March 8: Lucas Wittenberg, Mercer March 14: Nick Hruby, Air Force March 21: Chris Walsch, Air Force March 28: David Williamson, Furman April 4:  Chris Rahill, Mercer April 11: Lou Yovino, Furman 2017 Defensive Players of the Week Feb. 14: Benny Pugh, Richmond Feb. 21: Benny Pugh, Richmond Feb. 28: Trent Harper, Air Force March 8: Alec Van de Bovenkamp, Furman March 14: Ryan Dennis, Richmond March 21: Benny Pugh, Richmond March 28: Benny Pugh, Richmond April 4:  Brandon Jones, Air Force April 11: Brandon Jones Air Force