May 20, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Women's Tewaaraton Selection Committee recently announced the five finalists for the third annual Tewaaraton Award, one of the most coveted and prestigious honors a varsity lacrosse player can receive, and Maryland's Kelly Coppedge was among the five finalists.
The finalists include Coppedge (Midfield; Jr.), Lauren Aumiller (University of Virginia; Midfield; Sr.), Rachael Becker (Princeton University; Defense; Sr.), Suzanne Eyler (Loyola College; Defense; Sr.) and Lisa Staedt (James Madison University; Midfield; Sr.). The finalists and winner will be honored at the Tewaaraton Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 4th at the National Geographic Building in Washington, DC.
Coppedge (Annapolis, MD/St. Mary's) led the Terps with 95 points from 73 goals and 22 assists. The Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year, she was a major force behind the Terrapins' resurgence and return to the Final Four in 2003.
Aumiller (Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame Prep) helped the Cavaliers advance to the NCAA Semifinals this weekend with an NCAA record eight-goal performance against Georgetown. She has 63 goals on the season and 216 for her career, which ranks her 17th all-time in Division I-A.
Becker (Broomall, PA/Maple Newton) has helped lead the Tigers to 13 wins in their last 14 contests. Princeton has also advanced to this weekend's NCAA Semifinals against top-seeded Loyola. She was named the 2003 Ivy League Player of the Year and earned her third straight unanimous First Team All-Ivy selection.
Eyler (Street, MD/North Harford) scored a team high 63 points as she netted 56 goals and dished out 7 assists. Loyola is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Semifinals this weekend against Princeton.
Staedt (Springfield, PA/Springfield) tied the school record for most career goals with 161, as she scored two goals against Georgetown in the NCAA tournament. She is the CAA Player of the Year, All CAA First Team and CAA Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Tewaaraton Trophy is presented annually to the top male and female varsity collegiate lacrosse players in the United States at the conclusion of the season during the annual awards dinner. The men's finalists will be announced on Monday, May 19th at 9:00 EST on CSTV, channel 610 on DirecTV.
Every qualified male and female college varsity player in Divisions I, II and III is eligible for the Award. Nominations are requested from all varsity coaches. A selection committee comprised of coaches for both male and female candidates oversees the voting process.
The Tewaaraton Award Foundation, in conjunction with The University Club of Washington, DC, formally established the "Tewaaraton Trophy" on August 29, 2000. Today, the Tewaaraton Trophy is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award honoring the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. Simply, it is the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The Foundation committee honors Native American heritage with the name "Tewaaraton," the name the Mohawk nation gave to their game and the progenitor of present day lacrosse and has received approval from the Mohawk Council of Elders.
The Tewaaraton Award Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization and relies on the support of past and present lacrosse players, coaches and enthusiasts, as well as corporations to fund its efforts. The University Club and the Tewaaraton Award Foundation are proud to promote the sport of lacrosse and to sponsor this distinctive award for young men and women attending our nation's colleges and universities.
