Clark Hamilton and Sam Hughes Earn Big 12 Player of the Week Honors
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | Lacrosse
Hamilton and Hughes earned their honors from their performances against #19 Loyola and No. 8 Clemson
GAINESVILLE, Fla – Sophomore Attacker Clark Hamilton and Junior Defender Sam Hughes each earned Big 12 Player of the Week awards, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.
Hamilton was named the Big 12 attacker of the week and Hughes was named the Big 12 defender of the week. These honors are the first conference awards earned by the Gators this season and are earned after the Gators went 2-0 this past week, with a 17-13 win over No. 19 Loyola and a 14-13 win over No. 8 Clemson.
Hamilton posted 17 points (11 G/6 A) and scored the game winning goal in both of the ranked wins. Against Loyola, the Powder Springs, Ga. native tallied 11 points, which became the most by a sophomore in a game and the third player in program history to score 11 points in a game. Her seven goals tied a sophomore record as she became the third sophomore to score seven goals in a game. This is Hamilton's third Big 12 player of the week award, as she earned Big 12 freshman of the week honors three times last season.
Hughes tallied two ground balls and one caused turnover over the two ranked matchups, but her impact extended beyond the stat sheet. Against Loyola, the Castle Rock, Colo. Native locked down the Greyhounds top offensive Ava Kane, holding her to zero points, Kane's only scoreless game of the season. Against Clemson, Hughes was tasked with guarding Alexa Spallina, who entered the game leading the nation in assist (20) and third in points per game (7.5). Hughes was able to hold Spallina to just one goal and one assist, her lowest output of the season. This is Hughes first Big 12 player of the award.
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Hamilton was named the Big 12 attacker of the week and Hughes was named the Big 12 defender of the week. These honors are the first conference awards earned by the Gators this season and are earned after the Gators went 2-0 this past week, with a 17-13 win over No. 19 Loyola and a 14-13 win over No. 8 Clemson.
Hamilton posted 17 points (11 G/6 A) and scored the game winning goal in both of the ranked wins. Against Loyola, the Powder Springs, Ga. native tallied 11 points, which became the most by a sophomore in a game and the third player in program history to score 11 points in a game. Her seven goals tied a sophomore record as she became the third sophomore to score seven goals in a game. This is Hamilton's third Big 12 player of the week award, as she earned Big 12 freshman of the week honors three times last season.
Hughes tallied two ground balls and one caused turnover over the two ranked matchups, but her impact extended beyond the stat sheet. Against Loyola, the Castle Rock, Colo. Native locked down the Greyhounds top offensive Ava Kane, holding her to zero points, Kane's only scoreless game of the season. Against Clemson, Hughes was tasked with guarding Alexa Spallina, who entered the game leading the nation in assist (20) and third in points per game (7.5). Hughes was able to hold Spallina to just one goal and one assist, her lowest output of the season. This is Hughes first Big 12 player of the award.
Follow the Gators:
#FLax
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