BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year Nicole Graziano added another honor Sunday as a Tewaaraton Award Finalist.
Nicole Graziano One of Five Finalists for The Tewaaraton Award
Sunday, May 15, 2016 | Lacrosse
Graziano is Florida's fourth player to ever be named a finalist for lacrosse's highest honor.
WASHINGTON -- Redshirt senior veteran Nicole Graziano saved her best for last. The 2016 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, IWLCA All-South Region First Team selection and conference tournament MOP was named one of five women's finalist in the nation for the prestigious Tewaaraton Award, presented by Under Armour.
The five finalists for lacrosse's highest honor on both the men's and women's sides were announced at halftime of the Syracuse vs. Albany NCAA Men's First Round Tournament game Sunday evening on ESPNU. Graziano is Florida's fourth finalist (Gilroy, Meagher, Dashiell) for the award and joins Taylor Cummings (Maryland), Alice Mercer (Maryland), Barbara Sullivan (Notre Dame) and Kayla Treanor (Syracuse) as the women's top-five finalists.
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.
In what was a banner year for Graziano as Florida went 18-2 and swept both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles, the fifth-year Gator became just the sixth player in program history to notch 100 career goals, doing so in Senior-Day fashion as Florida won the BIG EAST regular-season title against UConn April 24.
Graziano set career highs this season in goals (44), assists (17), points (60), ground balls (31), caused turnovers (22) and draw controls (45) -- including a season high five draw controls against Penn State Sunday.
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.
FLORIDA TEWAARATON AWARD HISTORY
The five finalists for lacrosse's highest honor on both the men's and women's sides were announced at halftime of the Syracuse vs. Albany NCAA Men's First Round Tournament game Sunday evening on ESPNU. Graziano is Florida's fourth finalist (Gilroy, Meagher, Dashiell) for the award and joins Taylor Cummings (Maryland), Alice Mercer (Maryland), Barbara Sullivan (Notre Dame) and Kayla Treanor (Syracuse) as the women's top-five finalists.
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.
In what was a banner year for Graziano as Florida went 18-2 and swept both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles, the fifth-year Gator became just the sixth player in program history to notch 100 career goals, doing so in Senior-Day fashion as Florida won the BIG EAST regular-season title against UConn April 24.
Graziano set career highs this season in goals (44), assists (17), points (60), ground balls (31), caused turnovers (22) and draw controls (45) -- including a season high five draw controls against Penn State Sunday.
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.
FLORIDA TEWAARATON AWARD HISTORY
| Nicole Graziano | Finalist | 2016 |
| Caroline Fitzgerald | Top-25 Nominee | 2016 |
| Mollie Stevens | Nominee | 2016 |
| Shannon Gilroy | Finalist | 2015 |
| Nora Barry | Nominee | 2015 |
| Shannon Gilroy | Finalist | 2014 |
| Kitty Cullen | Nominee | 2013 |
| Brittany Dashiell | Nominee | 2013 |
| Shannon Gilroy | Nominee | 2013 |
| Mikey Meagher | Finalist | 2013 |
| Kitty Cullen | Nominee | 2012 |
| Brittany Dashiell | Finalist | 2012 |
| Kitty Cullen | Nominee | 2011 |
- 2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-Five Finalist
- 2016 IWLCA All-South First Team
- 2016 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team -- unanimous selection
- MOP and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team (5G, 7PTS, 3GB, 6DC, 3CT, 3-4 FPG)
- 2016 Team Captain
- Notable Marks: Taylor Cummings (Maryland), Erica Bodt (Syracuse)
- Eclipsed 100 career goals on Senior Day vs. UConn
- Ended her career with a goal in 19 straight games and a draw control in nine straight
- Led UF against ranked opponents this season in goals (13), points (23), draw controls (23) and caused turnovers (12)
- Entered the NCAA Tournament ranked 44th in NCAA in goals, 61st in points, 66th in FPG/game, 75th in goals/ game & 85th in points/game
- Tied the single-game UF record with five CT vs. Towson
Players Mentioned
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