WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four members of the No. 2 Maryland women's lacrosse team, the most in the country, were named to the 25-player Tewaaraton Award nominee list, as announced by the foundation Thursday.
Seniors Julia Braig, Jen Giles and Megan Taylor as well as junior Kali Hartshorn were all selected as nominees, tied with Boston College for the most from any school on the 25-player list. The four Terps selected to the list have played an integral part in leading Maryland to an undefeated 16-0 record and at least a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Championship.
Braig is the leader of the second ranked Maryland defense, which is holding opponents to just 6.94 goals per game and has held 12 of their 16 opponents to under 10 goals this season, as well as six opponents to under five goals. The senior, who usually defends the opposing team's top player, has 18 groundballs and 11 caused turnovers this season. This is the second year in a row Braig was named a Tewaaraton nominee.
Giles leads Maryland with 47 goals, 19 assists and 66 points this season, while standing second with 26 groundballs and also tallying 23 draw controls and nine caused turnovers. Giles has scored in each game this season and has eight games with over three goals and only three games without an assist. Shooting at a .511 percentage, Giles is second in the league in goals and third in points. The senior has led Maryland in goals and points in eight games this season and in assists in nine games. This is the first time Giles has been a Tewaaraton nominee.
Taylor currently leads the nation with a .589 save percentage, while posting a 7.37 goals against average against one of the toughest schedules in the country. With only 104 goals allowed to 149 saves, Taylor has had over a 50-percent save percentage in 14-of-16 games this season and has seven contests with double digit saves. The senior earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for six consecutive weeks from March 5 to April 9 and was named the IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week on three seperate occasions. This is the third consecutive year Taylor has been a Tewaaraton nominee.
Hartshorn leads Maryland with 106 draw controls this season, leading the Terps effort in the circle which stands at a Big Ten best .599 percentage. The junior is also crucial to the Maryland attack, standing second on Maryland's team with 48 points (34 goals to 14 assists). Hartshorn has come up huge in big moments, scoring the game tying goal against #3 North Carolina and the game winning goal against #4 Syracuse. Hartshorn has at least three goals in seven different games this season and has led Maryland in draw controls in 11 of 16 contests. This is Hartshorn's first time selected as a Tewaaraton nominee.
Maryland has won seven of the last nine Tewaaraton awards, with Zoe Stuckenberg last taking home the presitgious award in 2017. 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. Last season, attacker Megan Whittle was one of five finalists for the award.
Five men's and five women's finalists will be announced on May 9 and invited to the ceremony. The 18th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on May 30.
