April 10, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior captain Margaret Smith of the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team has been added to the candidates list for the Tewaaraton Award, annually presented to the nation’s best men’s and women’s lacrosse players.
Smith has proven to be one of the top players in the country on defense this year, leading the ACC in both ground balls and caused turnovers. The senior ranks eighth nationally with her 3.23 ground balls per game and 12th in the country with 2.00 caused turnovers per game. Smith has also controlled 28 draws in the team’s 13 games.
Playing a critical leadership role as the team’s lone senior starter, Smith has moved from a midfield role in 2013 to a defensive one in 2014 and has helped the Irish post some solid numbers as a team. Overall, Notre Dame leads the ACC in both ground balls and caused turnovers, ranking fifth and 15th nationally, respectively, in those categories.
Smith was named a second-team midseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse for her efforts thus far in 2014. In 2012, she was named a third-team All-American by the IWLCA while Smith made the US Lacrosse All-West/Midwest region first team in both 2012 and 2013. Smith was a first-team All-BIG EAST pick in each of the past two years as well.
Finalists for the Tewaaraton Award will be announced on May 8 with the trophy presentation set for May 29 in Washington, D.C. Preseason selection Barbara Sullivan of Notre Dame remains on the watch list as well but the junior and 2013 first-team All-America pick will miss the remainder of the season with a back injury after seeing time in just six games.
The Fighting Irish (8-5, 1-4 ACC) will be back in action on Friday night when they play host to No. 7 Duke (8-5, 2-3 ACC) at 7:00 p.m. Arlotta Stadium in a game with significant postseason implications.