Tewaaraton Stock Watch: The Race is Heating Up

As the regular season winds down, the race for the Tewaaraton Award heats up. College lacrosse’s stars are delivering stellar matchups, each making their case for the sport’s biggest award.

Northwestern’s three-headed monster of Erin Coykendall, Izzy Scane and Madison Taylor powered a takedown of a dominant Michigan team. Trinity McPherson and the Denver defense were electric against Yale, holding the Bulldogs to 11 goals. Boston College’s attack, led by Rachel Clark’s three goals, proved difficult for Syracuse to overcome.

Parity has been greater than ever in women’s lacrosse this season, as each weekend features splashy statement wins and nerve-racking upsets alike. This parity is trickling down to the race for the Tewaaraton Award. Players from 12 schools are highlighted in this edition of the Tewaaraton Award Stock Watch, led by three Northwestern players and two from Maryland.

Izzy Scane, A, Northwestern

Scane’s recent outings have firmly solidified her standing as the Tewaaraton frontrunner. The 2023 Tewaaraton winner has been dominant against the sport’s toughest opponents, posting six goals and an assist against Maryland plus a hat trick against Michigan. Her play, along with fellow attackers Taylor and Coykendall, has the Wildcats looking ready for a title repeat come May. The Michigan native is a thrill to watch, sending rockets from the top of the eight-meter arc and easily working her way past defenders.

Erin O’Grady, G, Michigan

O’Grady is engineering one of the strongest goalkeeping performances in recent memory. She leads the country with a 58.9% save rate and has excelled against top Big Ten opponents like Penn State and Johns Hopkins. The Wolverines’ defense has become a national powerhouse with O’Grady at the helm, leading the country with just 6.69 goals allowed per game.

Madison Taylor, A, Northwestern

Taylor enters the top five amid a string of standout performances, tallying 18 goals in her last four games — including six in the Wildcats’ rout of Maryland. The Long Island product has come into her own after a strong freshman season, looking every bit the heir apparent to Scane and Coykendall. Her efforts have shown on the stat sheet as well, ranking sixth in the country in points and points per game. A creative, athletic attacker, Taylor is a tough draw for any defender.

Jackie Wolak, A, Notre Dame

Wolak has long been a powerhouse for Notre Dame, but her game has reached new heights this season. She’s an excellent feeder with a high lacrosse IQ, constantly elevating her teammates’ play. The fifth-year star leads the ACC in points per game and when paired with teammates Madison Ahern and Kasey Choma, Wolak and the Irish offense are practically unstoppable.

Ellie Masera, M, Stony Brook

Masera has put up video game numbers throughout her career. That hasn’t changed this spring, as she’s put the final touches on a strong senior campaign, tallying 61 goals and 27 assists. The midfielder has posted 25 points — 15 goals and 10 assists — through her last three games. She’s crafty, creative and knows how to work her way through an opposing defense. The Seawolves, 8-0 in CAA play, look poised for a strong run in the CAA tournament with Masera at the helm.

Next five: Meghan Ball, D, Maryland; Isabella Peterson, A, James Madison; Erin Coykendall, A, Northwestern; Cassidy Spilis, M, Rutgers; Chase Boyle, M, Loyola

Five to monitor: Trinity McPherson, D, Denver; Rachel Clark, A, Boston College; Emily G, Sterling, Maryland; Katie Goodale, D, Syracuse; Katie DeSimone, A, Duke