Three Terps Named Tewaaraton Nominees
4/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse, Terrapin Athletics
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three members of the No. 3 Maryland women's lacrosse team were named to the 25-player Tewaaraton Award nominee list, as announced by the foundation Thursday.
Senior attacker Megan Whittle, junior defender Julia Braig and junior goalkeeper Megan Taylor were all named Tewaarton nominees. The three Terps selected to the list have played an integral part in leading Maryland to a current 15-1 record, which includes an undefeated 5-0 mark in Big Ten play and a current 13 game winning streak.
Whittle has had an incredible senior season, leading the Terrapins in goals (61) and points (73). The senior leads the Big Ten and ranks top-ten nationally in free position goals per game (1.81), shots per game (7.88) and goals, with 61. A captain on this year's team, Whittle became the program's all-time leading goal scorer on April 15 at Ohio State, scoring her 268th career goal to surpass Maryland great Jen Adams. Whittle currently stands with 275, good for third all-time in NCAA history. The Glenwood, Md. native has been named to the Tewaaraton 25-player nominee list in all four years of her Terrapin career.
Braig has played a key role on a Maryland defense that has held their opponent under 10 goals in eight of their last 10 games, and ranks ninth nationally with just 9.06 goals allowed per game. The junior has tallied 17 groundballs and forced six turnovers. Braig, like Whittle is a team captain and has played an crucial part in Maryland's 15-1 (5-0 B1G) record this season, starting in all 16 games.
Taylor leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally with a 9.03 goals-against average, holding opposing offenses to just 9.06 goals per game. The junior has been especially superb over the past 10 games, totaling 78 saves with only 69 goals allowed, a .531 save percentage and only 7.39 goals allowed per game. One of the top goalies in the nation, Taylor has made 123 saves this season and has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times. This is the second year in a row Taylor has been named to the 25-player nominee list.
Maryland has won six straight Tewaaraton Awards and seven of the last eight. Zoe Stuckenberg took home the prestigious award for the Terps last season. Before that, Taylor Cummings won three straight from 2014-16 and Katie Schwarzmann became the first two-time winner for Maryland in 2012-13. Caitlyn McFadden started the seven-for-eight streak for Maryland, garnering the award in 2010. Jen Adams won the inaugural Tewaaraton in 2001.
Five men's and five women's finalists will be announced on May 10 and invited to the ceremony. The 18th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on May 31.
