Duke’s explosive offense generates headlines, but it’s the Blue Devils’ defense and goalie Mike Adler who stood out most in a convincing 17-8 win over defending NCAA champion Virginia last Thursday.

Duke became the first team this season to keep the Cavaliers under 10 goals, as Adler made 20 saves on 28 shots (71.4 percent) to earn USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I Men’s Player of the Week honors.

A graduate student and former Saint Joseph’s standout, Adler kept UVA at bay early with six saves in the first quarter and then closed the door with nine saves in the third as the Blue Devils pulled away. Cavaliers star and Tewaaraton candidate Connor Shellenberger shot just 0-for-7 against Adler, who leads all of Division I with 194 saves this season.

Duke has not lost to Virginia in ACC regular season play since 2004.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

• Feb. 8: Griffin McGinley, Mount St. Mary’s

• Feb. 15: Patrick Daly, Villanova

• Feb. 22: Jack Myers, Ohio State

• March 1: Aleric Fyock, Penn State

• March 8: Chris Gray, North Carolina

• March 15: Roy Meyer, Boston U

• March 22: Chris Brown, Princeton

• March 29: Conor Calderone, Boston U

• April 5: Jake Taylor, Notre Dame

• April 12: Brett Dobson, St. Bonaventure