COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Redshirt senior Lizzie Colson has unanimously been named the Big Ten Defender of the Year, the conference announced on Monday.

Colson, who has made her mark over the course of the season as one of the best defenders in the country, leads the nation with 42 caused turnovers, 13 more than anyone else in the Big Ten, the third-highest single season mark in Maryland program history and the highest per game single season mark in program history (2.80). The redshirt senior has more than three caused turnovers in eight-of-15 games this season and has five games of four-plus caused turnovers. Colson made the biggest play of the weekend for the Terps in the Big Ten Tournament, intercepting a Hopkins pass with the Terps up one goal in the closing minute to give Maryland possession to seal the game. 

The team captain has also made her mark picking up groundballs, leading the Big Ten with 51, 11 more than anyone else in the league. Colson ranks fourth in the country, averaging 3.40 groundballs per game and has at least four groundballs in nine-of-15 games this season. A Tewaaraton nominee, Colson has also made an immense impact on the draw circle, tallying 69 this season, the third-most in the Big Ten. Colson ranks third all-time in Maryland history with 311 draw controls, the 13th-highest active mark in the nation. 

Colson has racked up awards all season in her sensational year, being named a Tewaaraton Nominee, Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, Inside Lacrosse Midseason First Team All-American, three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week (3/25) and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week (3/23).

Maryland has won the Big Ten Defender of the Year Award every year since the Terps entered the conference in 2015. Julia Braig is the last to win the award in 2018 & 2019, Nadine Hadnagy won in 2017, Alice Mercer took home the honors in 2016 and Megan Douty was the Defender of the Year in 2015. Each of Maryland's Big Ten Defender of the Year honorees would go on to win National Defender of the Year honors, with Braig winning once in 2019 and the rest winning in the same year as their Big Ten honor. 

Colson and the Terps will now learn their NCAA Tournament opponent next Sunday, May 9 at 9:00 p.m. on ESPNU with the Women's Lacrosse Selection Show.