ATLANTA – After lifting Georgia Southern to a clutch Top 20 victory over the weekend, Eagles sophomore netminder Ben Demchak has been named the Division II PEARL Goalie of the Week for the period ending Feb. 5.

Matched up against preseason No. 22 Coastal Carolina in the season opener, the Grovetown, Ga., product turned away 21 shots in Georgia Southern’s 9-8 upset.

For the day, Demchak saved 72.4 percent of the shots that came his way.

“Ben is the heart and soul of this team,” said Georgia Southern coach Chris Hendricks. “As a second-year starter, he has really developed as a player, leader and young man. The performance from this Saturday is a culmination of all the hard work put in during the off-season.

“He was awarded the No. 0 jersey this week by the coaching staff, which goes to the player who worked the hardest, exemplified leadership and grit that week leading up to the game. He clearly proved that he was deserving on Saturday. I know with Ben in net, we have confidence going into any matchup.”

For earning the PEARL’s Goalie of the Week, Demchak 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

Gunner Arens, Soph. – St. Thomas
The Tommies squared up with a Top 10 D-I outfit in the opener and the Stillwater, Minn., product made 24 saves in UST’s triumph over Minnesota.

Anthony Steele, Jr. – Loyola Marymount
The Woodland Hills, Calif., product turned away 12 of the 17 shots that he faced, helping the Lions post a 17-5 season-opening win against Long Beach State.

Nicholas Meola, Jr. – Florida Atlantic
The backstop from Flemington, N.J., made 11 stops while giving up just seven markers (61.5 percent) in the Owls comfortable victory over North Florida.