April 26, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three members of the ACC Champion Maryland men's lacrosse team have been named as nominees for the fourth annual Tewaaraton Award, the most coveted and prestigious award a varsity lacrosse player can receive and a symbol of excellence in college lacrosse. Senior defenseman Chris Passavia (Stony Brook, N.Y.), sophomore attacker Joe Walters (Rochester, N.Y.) and senior defenseman Lee Zink (Rowayton, Conn.) have all be named as candidates. The Terps are the only team with more than two selections.

In early May, 5 players from this list will be named the Trophy Finalists.

The Tewaaraton Trophy is awarded each year to the top male and female college varsity lacrosse player, as chosen by the selection committee. The trophy will be presented in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2004 at a banquet honoring the finalists and trophy winners. The ceremony will be held at the National Geographic Society Auditorium and broadcast by CSTV.

Passavia is a two-time USILA All-American and earned his third All-ACC selection this season. The senior captain leads the Terps in forced turnovers with 39 and had grabbed 33 groundballs. He has started all 12 games this season and also has three assists. Passavia has consistently defended opponents' top attackers throughout his career leading to many takeaways. He has led the Terps' defense which has been ranked No. 1 for most of the season. Passavia was a preseason first-team All-American this season and was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team last weekend.

The 2004 ACC Tournament MVP, Walters is the ACC's leading scorer with 51 points and leader in goals with 36. His 4.25 points per game ranks fifth nationally and his 3.0 goals per game is third. Walters, who was an honorable mention All-American as a freshman and the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year, has nine hat tricks this season in 12 games and has scored in every game in 2004. Overall, he has 69 goals and 94 career points in just 28 career games. He netted a career-high six goals in the ACC Tournament Championship and an overall ACC Tournament record nine goals last weekend.

A 2003 All-American, Zink earned his first All-ACC honor in 2004 after a sensational regular-season. The senior captain is second on the Terps in both caused turnovers with 32 and in groundballs with 40. He has been a key to the Terps' defense which has allowed just 7.50 goals per game in 2004 and has been ranked the nation's best for most of 2004. Along with Passavia, Zink was also a preseason first-team All-American this year.

Here is the full listing for nominees.

Tewaaraton Nominees 2004
School, Name, Position
Army, John Walker, Attack
Georgetown, Walid Hajj, Midfield
Georgetown, Brodie Merrill, Defense
Johns Hopkins, Kyle Barrie, Attack
Johns Hopkins, Kyle Harrison, Midfield
Maryland, Chris Passavia, Defense
Maryland, Joe Walters, Attack
Maryland, Lee Zink, Defense
Navy, Ian Dingman, Attack
North Carolina, Jed Prossner, Attack
Notre Dame, Pat Walsh, Attack
Princeton, Ryan Boyle, Attack
Rutgers, Greg Havalchak, Goalie
Syracuse, Michael Powell, Attack
Virginia, Tillman Johnson, Goalie

Men's Selection Committee

Dick Edell, University of Maryland (Chair); Dave Urick, Georgetown University; Erin Quinn, Middlebury College; Dom Starsia, University of Virginia; Scott Anderson, Harvard University; Tom Postel, C.W. Post College

About The Tewaaraton Award Foundation:

The Tewaaraton Award Foundation, in conjunction with the University Club of Washington, D.C., formally established the "Tewaaraton Trophy" on August 29, 2000. Today, the Tewaaraton Trophy is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award honoring the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. The Foundation honors lacrosse, the original and oldest American sport, through the Tewaaraton name and by promoting the game through the award.