BOSTON (July 5, 2018) – Atlanta Blaze faceoff specialist Joe Nardella has been named Warrior Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11. Nardella was instrumental in providing the Blaze with key possessions in their 16-10 win over the Charlotte Hounds Saturday, in a game played in Charleston, S.C. 

Nardella, acquired May 31 from the Boston Cannons, dominated the faceoff X, winning 22-of-29 against Charlotte's Jake Winters and Noah Rak. He also picked up nine ground balls. The Rutgers University graduate has won 56.1 percent of his faceoff since joining Atlanta. Nardella also has scored three goals, added three assists and has collected a total of 35 ground balls since his arrival. 

Nardella, 25, also was selected to the MLL All-Star Game and won 9-of-17 faceoffs against Team USA stars Greg Gurenlian and Trevor Baptiste. The game was held at Harvard Stadium, which is very familiar to Nardella as he is an assistant coach for the Crimson.