May 31, 2006

College Park, Md. - Maryland's Joe Walters was awarded the Lt. Col. J.J. Turnbull Award as the nation's top attackman in men's college lacrosse at the USILA All-America Banquet last Sunday, May 28, in Philadelphia.

Walters, who has also been named one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy, is the first Terrapin player to take home the Turnbull Award since 1991 when Mark Douglas won the award. Walters is the eighth Terp overall to win attackman of the year.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Walters is Maryland's all-time leader in points and goals with 227 and 153, respectfully, and was the active career leader among Division I players in both statistical categories in 2006. He scored at least one point in 63 of 66 games as a Terp and averaged more than 3.4 points per game for his career. This season, Walters led the Terps with 60 points on 36 goals and 24 assists, becoming the first Maryland player to lead the team in total points in each of his four years.

The four-time All-American was named the ACC Player of the Year for the second time in his storied career earlier this season. Walters helped lead the Terps to a 12-5 record and an appearance in the Final Four for the third time in four seasons. He is one of only 19 players since 1971, the year men's lacrosse became an NCAA championship sport, to score 150 or more goals in his career.

Last summer Walters was the only current college player to be named to the 2006 U.S. National team that will compete at the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships in London, Ontario, from July 14-22.

Virginia's Matt Ward was named the National Player of the Year, while teammate Mike Culver was named the National Defensive Player of the Year. National Midfielder of the Year honors went to Cornell's Joe Boulukos and Virginia's Kyle Dixon. Alex Hewitt of Princeton was Goalie of the Year.

Maryland's Turnbull Award Winners
1954 - C. Rennie Smith
1958 - Richard Corrigan
1963 - Ray Altman
1967 - Jack Heim
1972 - John Kaestner
1979 - Bob Boniello
1991 - Mark Douglas
2006 - Joe Walters