COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior Jared Bernhardt has been named one of five finalists in Men's Division I Lacrosse for the 2019 Tewaaraton Award as announced by the organization's offices Thursday. The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States.

Bernhardt along with the four other finalists are invited to Washington, D.C., for the 18th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on May 30.

Bernhardt is just the fourth Maryland player in history to be selected as a finalist, joining Connor Kelly (2018), Matt Rambo (2017) and Joe Walters (2006). Rambo became the first recipient of the award in program history in 2017. The award was first presented in 2001.

Maryland has now had a Tewaaraton Finalist for three straight seasons, joining Yale as the only other program in Division I lacrosse with a streak of three or more seasons with a finalist.

The 2019 First Team All-Big Ten selection has established himself as one of the nation's most productive players, leading the Terps in goals (45) while ranking second in points (70). The Longwood, Fla. native's 70 points and 45 goals both rank 11^th on the Maryland single season list heading into the team's First Round NCAA Tournament game, while his 4.67 points per game average is good for 13^th in the country.

The junior attackman has three game-winning goals to his name this season, including the OT winner in Maryland's 10-9 victory over Ohio State on April 20. The two-time USILA All-American put together a streak of six consecutive hat tricks from March 9 to April 14, the longest hat trick streak by a Terp since 2001.

Bernhardt helped lead Maryland (11-4) to its 17^th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the longest streak of its kind in the nation. The Terps face No. 6 seed Towson in the First Round Sunday, May 12.

About The Tewaaraton Foundation

Founded at the University Club of Washington, DC and first presented in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Endorsed by the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders and U.S. Lacrosse, the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse's centuries-old roots in Native American heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity and advances the mission of this award. Each year, the Tewaaraton Award celebrates one of the six tribal nations of the Iroquois Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora – and presents two scholarships to students of Native American descent. To learn more about The Tewaaraton Foundation, please visit www.tewaaraton.com.

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