Feb. 28, 2014
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Junior defender Barbara Sullivan of the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team was named on Thursday night to the 50-member preseason watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, annually presented to the nation’s top men’s and women’s collegiate lacrosse players. Sullivan is one of just five defenders named to the attack and midfield-heavy initial list of candidates.
Named a first-team All-American in 2013 and a first-team preseason All-American in 2014, Sullivan was also named to the 2013 Tewaaraton watch list and advanced to be a 2013 Tewaaraton nominee at mid-season. The last Irish Tewaaraton finalist was Jillian Byers in 2009. Sullivan was also both an IWLCA All-West/Midwest region selection and an All-BIG EAST pick after each of her first two seasons in South Bend.
Sullivan has controlled a total of 18 draws in her three games played, by far leading the Irish. Her 18 draw controls more than doubles the total of her next closest teammate, freshman Cortney Fortunato who has eight. Her 117 career draw controls rank fifth in school history while Sullivan is ninth in Irish lore with her 68 career caused turnovers. Sullivan also has 99 career ground balls in her 38 career games played, all of which she has started. The Garden City, N.Y. native is also serving as a team captain for Notre Dame this spring.
Names will be added to the list on March 20 and April 10 before being pared to 25 nominees on April 24. Finalists will be announced on May 8 with the trophy presentation set for May 29 in Washington, D.C. In all, 18 student-athletes from ACC schools were named to the Tewaaraton Watch List, more than double the total of any other conference.
The Irish (2-2, 0-2 ACC) are back in action on Sunday when they face Virginia Tech at noon in Blacksburg.