NEW YORK -- Florida juniors
Caroline Fitzgerald and
Mollie Stevens are among 50 of the nation's top women's lacrosse athletes on the 2016 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation this week.
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The Tewaaraton Award, presented by Under Armour, 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 each year by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
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Florida has had at least one Tewaaraton Watch List honoree each of the last six years, while Fitzgerald and Stevens mark the Gators' sixth and seventh players in program history to be in contention for lacrosse's highest honor.
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Fitzgerald, a 2015 IWLCA All-American and 2015 BIG EAST First Teamer, and Stevens, an IWLCA All-South Second Team and BIG EAST First Team honoree last season, are key cogs for the Gators on defense and offense, respectively. Thus far in 2016, Fitzgerald and Stevens have aided the No. 3 Gators to a 3-0 start with two top-15 wins against Loyola and UNC. Fitzgerald ties for tops in the league in caused turnovers (6), while Stevens leads the BIG EAST in goals (11) and ranks second in draw controls (11) so far on the young season.
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Most recently former Gator great, Team USA and Team STX member
Shannon Gilroy was a two-time finalist for the Tewaaraton Award in 2014 and 2015. Brittany Dashiell was Florida's first finalist for the Orange and Blue in 2012, while Mikey Meagher followed in 2013.
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Additions to the
2016 Tewaaraton Watch List will be announced on both March 17 and April 7th as the season progresses. On April 28, the field will be narrowed to 25 men's and 25 women's nominees. Nominees can be players on the watch lists or players not on the watch lists, effectively allowing for a third round of additions. Five men's and five women's finalists will be announced on May 12 and invited to the ceremony. The 16th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on June 2.
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FLORIDA TEWAARATON AWARD HISTORYUP NEXTNext up, Florida returns home to the friendly confines of Donald R. Dizney Stadium for a match-up with Dartmouth Feb. 27 at noon before heading to No. Syracuse -- assistant coach
Becca Block's alma mater -- for a Tuesday mid-week road game March 1. Of note, Florida head coach
Amanda O'Leary needs just one more win to notch her 100th win as the Gators' head coach.
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