Three Terps Earn IWLCA All-American Honors
6/8/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Three members of the Maryland women's lacrosse team, Lizzie Colson, Grace Griffin and Hannah Leubecker, earned IWLCA All-America honors Tuesday.
Colson was selected to the First Team while Griffin and Leubecker were named to the Third Team. This is the 12th straight year that Maryland has had at least three All-Americans.
Colson has racked up honors all year as she solidified herself as the best defender in the nation in 2021. The redshirt senior was a Tewaaraton Finalist, the Big Ten Defender of the Year, a Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection. Colson finished her season leading the nation with 49 caused turnovers, the second-highest mark in program history, while standing third in the nation with 59 groundballs. The Manchester, Md. native is also third all-time in program history in draw controls with 324, this year winning 80, the 10th-highest mark in program history. Colson had more than three caused turnovers in nine-of-17 games this season and had six games of four-plus caused turnovers, while recording at least four groundballs in 10-of-17 games. This is Colson's third All-American nod of her career, being named to the third team in both 2018 & 2019.
Griffin was Maryland's on field leader all season, playing every minute in the midfield for the Terps. On offense, Griffin was second on the team with 48 points, scoring 29 goals and recording 19 assists. The senior also made an immense impact on the defensive end, standing second on the team with 19 caused turnovers and third on the team with 30 groundballs. A First Team All-Big Ten selection, Griffin secured career-highs in assists, groundballs and caused turnovers. The senior captain scored the game winning goal with 36 seconds left to lift Maryland over Johns Hopkins on April 14 and had an eight point performance (four goals, four assists) against Ohio State on March 18. Griffin was selected as the University of Maryland Student Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient for her work both on the classroom and the field. This is Griffin's first career All-American nod.
Leubecker led Maryland's offense as a sophomore, scoring 58 goals, 23 more than anyone else on the team. The sophomore's 58 goals were the third-most in the Big Ten and the 16th most in the country as she shot .500 on the season, the fourth-best mark in the Big Ten. A First Team All-Big Ten selection, Leubecker scored in all 17 games for Maryland, scoring at least two goals in all but three games and recording three-plus goals in nine of 17 games, including a game-winning goal in overtime to lift Maryland to a 9-8 win over Johns Hopkins on March 12. Leubecker's prolific season set Maryland records, as the sophomore scored the most goals through the first eight games of the season (35) in program history and tied the Terps all-time leading scorer Megan Whittle for the most goals through 10 games with 38. The Forest Hill, Md. native led Maryland in scoring in seven of 17 games and also made an impact around the draw circle, standing fourth on the team with 28.
The Terps have had 183 All-Americans in program history.
In total, the IWLCA honored 48 student-athletes from around the country with All-America honors. Their are 16 honorees in each of the first, second and third teams. The IWLCA will announce the 2021 National Player's of the Year (Overall, Attacker, Midfielder, Defender, Goalkeeper) on Thursday.
Colson was selected to the First Team while Griffin and Leubecker were named to the Third Team. This is the 12th straight year that Maryland has had at least three All-Americans.
Colson has racked up honors all year as she solidified herself as the best defender in the nation in 2021. The redshirt senior was a Tewaaraton Finalist, the Big Ten Defender of the Year, a Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection. Colson finished her season leading the nation with 49 caused turnovers, the second-highest mark in program history, while standing third in the nation with 59 groundballs. The Manchester, Md. native is also third all-time in program history in draw controls with 324, this year winning 80, the 10th-highest mark in program history. Colson had more than three caused turnovers in nine-of-17 games this season and had six games of four-plus caused turnovers, while recording at least four groundballs in 10-of-17 games. This is Colson's third All-American nod of her career, being named to the third team in both 2018 & 2019.
Griffin was Maryland's on field leader all season, playing every minute in the midfield for the Terps. On offense, Griffin was second on the team with 48 points, scoring 29 goals and recording 19 assists. The senior also made an immense impact on the defensive end, standing second on the team with 19 caused turnovers and third on the team with 30 groundballs. A First Team All-Big Ten selection, Griffin secured career-highs in assists, groundballs and caused turnovers. The senior captain scored the game winning goal with 36 seconds left to lift Maryland over Johns Hopkins on April 14 and had an eight point performance (four goals, four assists) against Ohio State on March 18. Griffin was selected as the University of Maryland Student Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient for her work both on the classroom and the field. This is Griffin's first career All-American nod.
Leubecker led Maryland's offense as a sophomore, scoring 58 goals, 23 more than anyone else on the team. The sophomore's 58 goals were the third-most in the Big Ten and the 16th most in the country as she shot .500 on the season, the fourth-best mark in the Big Ten. A First Team All-Big Ten selection, Leubecker scored in all 17 games for Maryland, scoring at least two goals in all but three games and recording three-plus goals in nine of 17 games, including a game-winning goal in overtime to lift Maryland to a 9-8 win over Johns Hopkins on March 12. Leubecker's prolific season set Maryland records, as the sophomore scored the most goals through the first eight games of the season (35) in program history and tied the Terps all-time leading scorer Megan Whittle for the most goals through 10 games with 38. The Forest Hill, Md. native led Maryland in scoring in seven of 17 games and also made an impact around the draw circle, standing fourth on the team with 28.
The Terps have had 183 All-Americans in program history.
In total, the IWLCA honored 48 student-athletes from around the country with All-America honors. Their are 16 honorees in each of the first, second and third teams. The IWLCA will announce the 2021 National Player's of the Year (Overall, Attacker, Midfielder, Defender, Goalkeeper) on Thursday.
Players Mentioned
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Wednesday, April 29
Sunday, April 19
