Wings and Swarm players earn Player of the Week honors

The National Lacrosse League announced its Players of the Week for week 6 of the 2012 season on Wednesday.

Philadelphia's Dan Dawson was named the Offensive Player of the Week for his one goal, nine assist performance in the Wings 14-13 victory over Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.

Brodie Merrill, also of Philadelphia, was named the league's Transition Player of the Week for his performance in that same game. Merrill collected 10 loose balls to go with a hat-trick and two assists.

Dawson and Merrill helped the Wings improve to 3-2 on the season and have them in a first-place tie in the NLL's East Division.

Rookie goalkeepers Tyler Carlson and Evan Kirk of the Minnesota Swarm were also honored by the league. Carlson was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Carlson saved 32 of 41 shots in the Swarm's 10-9 overtime victory over Edmonton on Friday night.

Kirk was named the league's Rookie of the Week for saving 46 of 52 shots in the Swarm's 9-6 victory over Rochester on Sunday.