Florida Gators

WASHINGTON -- Florida redshirt senior midfielder Nicole Graziano and junior defender Caroline Fitzgerald are two of 25 women's student-athletes still in contention for the 2016 Tewaaraton Award, presented by Under Armour. The nominees for lacrosse's highest honor were narrowed Friday to a list of 25 and announced at halftime of the first ACC Tournament men's semifinal game Friday evening on ESPNU.
 
The Tewaaraton Award is given annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation to the most outstanding men's and women's American college lacrosse player. The 16th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held June 2, 2016, at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.
 
READ: Grandma Graziano Delivers Clutch Senior Day Performance (Scott Carter)
 
Thanks to the leadership of Graziano and Fitzgerald, the No. 2 Gators head into postseason play 16-1 overall on the season after running the table in the BIG EAST for the program's sixth consecutive conference title, second straight in the BIG EAST. Florida heads to Washington, DC, May 5-7 for the four-team league tournament at Georgetown's Cooper Field.
 
Five men's and five women's finalists will be announced on May 12 and invited to the ceremony. 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. Florida has had eight players recognized on at least The Tewaaraton Award Watch List since the program's inception.
 
HIGHLIGHTING NICOLE GRAZIANO

• 2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominee
• Five-time 2016 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week
• Marked Taylor Cummings vs. No. 1 Maryland (held to one goal)
• Became just the sixth player in Florida history to hit 100 career goals (4/24)
• Has scored in 16 straight games and has led UF against ranked opponents in goals (14), points (20), ground balls (12), draw controls (18) and caused turnovers (12) this season
• Tied a UF single-game record with five CT vs. No. 17 Towson
• Has already had a career year in goals (37), points (51), GB (26) & CT (19) – all of which lead the Gators (second in CT)
• 2016 Team Captain

HIGHLIGHTING CAROLINE FITZGERALD

• 2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominee
• Leads Florida with a career high 39 ground balls, ranks third with 20 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers on the season overall
• Paced the Gators in BIG EAST play with team-high 17 ground balls
• Has three goals this season on fast breaks to contribute to eight goals scored by UF defenders in 2016
• Marked Jackie Froccaro, Villanova's leading goal and point scorer, held her to one goal in a 14-4 Gators win
• Marked Georgetown's Kelsey Perselay, second-leading draw control leader, held her to zero goals and two draw controls

2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Finalists

Nina Corcoran, Penn - Sr., Attack

Maddie Crutchfield, Duke - Soph., Midfield

Taylor Cummings, Maryland - Sr., Midfield

Madison Cyr, Penn State - Sr., Midfield

Ellie DeGarmo, Princeton - Jr., Goalie

Dene DiMartino, Hopkins - Sr., Midfield

Kelsey Duryea, Duke - Sr., Goalie

Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida - Jr., Defense

Cortney Fortunato, Notre Dame - Jr., Attack

Nicole Graziano, Florida - Sr., Midfield

Nadine Hadnagy, Maryland - Jr., Defense

Molly Henrick, UNC - Jr., Attack/Midfield

Olivia Hompe, Princeton - Jr., Attack

Sarah Mannelly, Boston College - Sr., Midfield

Marie McCool, UNC - Soph., Midfield

Alice Mercer, Maryland - Sr., Defense

Michaela Michael, USC - Jr., Attack

Kay Morissette, Louisville - Sr., Midfield

Courtney Murphy, Stony Brook - Jr., Attack

Kylie Ohmiller, Stony Brook - Soph., Attack

Zoe Stukenburg, Maryland - Jr., Midfield

Barbara Sullivan, Notre Dame - Grad., Defense

Courtney Tarleton, USC - Sr., Defense

Kayla Treanor, Syracuse - Sr., Attack

Megan Whittle, Maryland - Soph., Attack

UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue will enjoy a short break before competition in the BIG EAST Tournament May 5-7 at Georgetown's Cooper Field. The Gators secured the No. 1 overall seed in the BIG EAST Tournament and solidified a spot in the first semifinal Thursday, May 5, in Washington, D.C.

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