The National Lacrosse League earlier this week named Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares as its Player of the Month for March.

The NLL also announced that Toronto Rock forward Ryan Benesch has been selected as the Rookie of the Month.

Tavares led the Bandits to a perfect 4-0 record in March, highlighted by a 19-15 upset of the Colorado Mammoth late in the month.

Over the four games, Tavares scored fifteen goals, handed out 16 assists, and scooped up 19 loose balls.

Tavares also won Overall and Offensive Player of the Week honors twice, earning each award in Weeks Ten and Thirteen.

This is Tavares' record-extending ninth Player of the Month award and the first in two years. One game into April, he needs just seven more goals to establish another record, that of career goals scored (Gary Gait, 596).

Benesch, the first-overall pick in the 2006 NLL Entry Draft, tallied fourteen goals and nine assists as the Rock produced a 2-3 record in March.

Benesch netted Rookie of the Week honors twice in March, doing so in Weeks Twelve and Thirteen.

This is Benesch's first monthly award, to go along with a total of three Rookie of the Week awards this season.

JOHN TAVARES
Sun 4 Mar, at Minnesota (W, 16-15): 5 goals, 4 assists
Sat 17 Mar, at New York (W, 11-8): 1 goal, 3 assists
Sat 24 Mar, COLORADO (W, 19-15): 7 goals (2 PP, EN, GW), 6 assists
Sat 31 Mar, CHICAGO (W, 15-10): 2 goals (GW), 3 assists

RYAN BENESCH
Sat 3 Mar, at New York (L, 10-13): Did not play
Fri 16 Mar, at Edmonton (L, 9-12): 2 goals, 2 assists
Sat 17 Mar, COLORADO (L, 12-13, OT): 4 goals, 3 assists
Fri 23 Mar, at Minnesota (W, 13-6): 4 goals (PP), 1 assist
Fri 30 Mar, PHILADELPHIA (W, 15-6): 4 goals (2 PP, GW), 3 assists