WASHINGTON, DC -- Graduate defender
Meghan Ball and goalkeeper
Emily Sterling were selected as two of the top-25 nominees for lacrosse's most prestigious honor, the Tewaaraton Award, the foundation announced Thursday.
Ball is the leader of the Maryland defense, which has held 11 of 16 opponents under 10 goals this season. The Raritan, New Jersey native, leads the team with 31 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers, standing second in the Big Ten in caused turnovers (1.88) and seventh in ground balls (1.94). Ball has had five games this season of at least three ground balls, four games of at least three caused turnovers and has been a pivotal part on the draw circle, standing second on the team and sixth in the Big Ten with 61 draw controls.
Sterling has been stellar as the last line of defense for the Terps through 16 games. She has tallied 150 saves allowing only 136. She owns the third-best save percentage in the country of .527. Sterling ranks second in the conference in saves per game with 9.31. The Bel Air, Maryland native, has posted seven games with at least 10 saves and has held opponents under ten goals, an impressive 11 times. Sterling is the backbone of the 'Defender U' Maryland defense that owns the second best scoring defense in the conference, averaging only 8.60 goals allowed per game.
This is Ball's second straight season being named a Tewaaraton nominee and Sterling's second of her career. Earlier this season, Ball was named to the watch list for the fourth consecutive season. The duo were named Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-Americans, Ball to the first team and Sterling to the second at the end of March. The reigning Big Ten Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year have each earned a conference Defensive Player of the Week award (March 12 & March 26).
Maryland has won eight of the last 13 Tewaaraton awards, with Megan Taylor becoming the first goalie in lacrosse history to win the award in 2019. Before that, Zoe Stukenberg took home the prestigious award in 2017, 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 eight-for-13 streak for Maryland, garnering the award in 2010.
Jen Adams won the inaugural Tewaaraton in 2001.
In the 19 years of the award, Maryland has won nine times, the most of any school and has had 26 finalists, including at least one in 16-of-17 seasons under head coach Cathy Reese. Most recently,
Aurora Cordingley was named a finalist in 2022, where she totaled 118 points (67 goals, 51 assists).
The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
Five men's and five women's finalists will be announced on May 9. The Tewaaraton Award recipients will be chosen after the conclusion of the collegiate lacrosse season.
Ball, Sterling and the Terps concluded their regular season with a 16-12 win at Princeton on Wednesday night. Big Ten Tournament seeding will be determined following the conclusion of conference play this weekend.
