FGCU’s Shafer Earns PEARL Award

ATLANTA – After leading Florida Gulf Coast to a ranked win over the weekend, Eagles senior netminder Grant Shafer is the MCLA Division II PEARL Goalie of the Week for the period ending March 19.

Florida Gulf Coast went up against a hungry Minn.-Duluth outfit – ranked No. 23 and went on to beat No. 15 Florida Atlantic and No. 20 Miami later in the weekend – and Shafer was a wall.

The New Lenox, Ill., product finished with 17 saves in the crucial 9-8 victory. He posted a 68.0 save percentage in the contest.

For the season, Shafer is running at a 71.6 save percentage.

“Grant is the bonafide leader of our defense,” said Florida Gulf Coast coach Vinny Valentine. “He is a student of the game and it has been a pleasure to see the way he continues to grow as a player and a young man.

“He gives our team confidence going into any game knowing he is going to be in the cage.”

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

Jake Downing, Sr. – MSU Denver
In the Roadrunners victory over Utah Tech, the Denver product made an impressive 24 saves to pick up the victory.

Charlie Gamache, Jr. – Umass-Dartmouth
The Corsairs lost a tough one to Bridgewater State, but the Dartmouth, Mass., native made 23 saves for the Corsairs.

Hunter Heaston, Sr. – Montana
The Grizzlies took down a ranked UC San Diego squad thanks to the netminding of the Castle Rock, Colo., native who finished with 13 stops.

Nate Welcomer, Sr. – Saint Mary’s
The Lafayette, Calif., native turned away a dozen shots as the Gaels rolled to a big league win over San Jose State.