The Bees Swarm Final Men’s Lacrosse Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week Honors for 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mason Hickman and Lucas Martinez led the SCAD Savannah (Ga.) men’s lacrosse hive to its highest regular-season finish ever in Appalachian Athletic Conference action, heading into the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed, as Hickman and Martinez swept the final installment of the NAIA Men’s Lacrosse Offensive and Defensive honors for 2026.
The senior from Stone Harbor, N.J., Hickman had a historic week on the field. In the first of two games, the attackman warmed up with one goal and three assists at home against No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.). He picked up three ground balls and caused one turnover as he fired 3-of-7 shots on the cage. The Bees’ leader in goals (68) and points (84) wasn’t done there. Two days later, he turned up the heat against Montreat (N.C.), where he put 13-of-17 shots on frame with eight goals and three assists. His eight goals against the Caviliers tied the program record for goals in a single game. Hickman wasn’t finished there; he wanted a record of his own and got it. With his second goal against Montreat, he now sits at the top of the leader board for most goals in a single season.
Defensively, Martinez had the hive on the same page. The Aurora, Ohio native, was truly a faceoff specialist, securing possession on 25-of-28 faceoffs for the Bees against Cumberlands, then turning around two days later and winning 21-of-26 faceoffs against Montreat. The senior also helped clean the turf as well, securing 20 total groundballs on the week, 13 of which came against the Patriots. As the Bees Faceoff Get Off specialist, he did his job all week, winning a total of 46 faceoffs out of the 54 he took.
The SCAD Savannah Bees are on a mission this season under head coach Moe as they prepare for AAC tournament action. SCAD will have a first-round bye in the conference tournament as they rest up and get set to face the highest remaining seed between No. 6 Tennessee Wesleyan vs. No. 3 Reinhardt or No. 4 Life (Ga.) vs. No. 3 Cumberlands (Ky.) on Friday, May 1 at 4 p.m. from Marietta, Ga. on the campus of Life (Ga.).
Hickman and Marinez weren’t the only Bees to have stellar weeks; their counterparts on the women’s side also swept the women’s lacrosse national player of the week honors for the final installment of the 2026 season: Ellen Benintendi and Maddy Hahn. Check out more on Benintendi and Hahn’s outstanding week here.
