WASHINGTON, D.C. – University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse senior Pat Kavanagh has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2023 Tewaaraton Award, as announced Thursday by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
The attackman is the first player in program history to be named a finalist multiple times as he previously earned the distinction during the 2021 season as a sophomore.
The Irish now have had five Tewaaraton finalists in program history, as Kavanagh has achieved the honor twice (2023 & 2021), joining his older brother Matt (2015), defenseman Matt Landis (2016) and attackman Tom Glatzel (2001).
The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States.
The winner will be announced in Washington, D.C., at the annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on June 1.
The four other finalists are Tucker Dordevic (Georgetown), CJ Kirst (Cornell), Brennan O’Neill (Duke) and Connor Shellenberger (Virginia).
From Rockville Centre, New York, Kavanagh is one of two players on the men’s side this season to be named a finalist for the second time, joining Connor Shellenberger.
Kavanagh has been the preeminent playmaker in the country in 2023, leading the country in assists per game with an average of 3.75. The senior broke his own Notre Dame program records for assists in a season for the second straight season, as he currently has 45 assists on the year. Kavanagh also tied his program record for points in a game with 10 in the win against Michigan, totaling four goals and six assists.
The attackman has added 20 goals to his 45 assists, totaling 65 points through the regular season. Kavanagh’s 5.42 points per game ranks second in the country, despite being covered by the top defensemen week in and week out.
Another aspect of the senior’s game that differentiates him from other top attackmen is his tenacity on the ride and his elite ability in the ground ball game. Kavanagh finished the regular season leading the ACC in ground balls per game for attackmen (2.83) and caused turnovers for attackmen (.67).
Kavanagh and Irish teammates Liam Entenmann and Chris Kavanagh (brother) were among 25 Tewaaraton nominees earlier in the 2023 season.
The Tewaaraton recipients will be chosen at the conclusion of the 2023 college lacrosse season by selection committees comprised of premier college coaches who are appointed annually by the Tewaaraton Foundation. The Finalists will be honored and this year’s recipients announced live June 1 at the Tewaaraton Ceremony at the University Club of Washington, D.C. To attend this exciting event, please visit: https://TEWAARATON2023.eventbrite.com
For more information on the Tewaaraton Foundation, visit tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at facebook.com/tewaaraton, twitter.com/tewaaraton and instagram.com/tewaaraton.
About The Tewaaraton Foundation
Founded at the University Club of Washington, DC and first presented in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Endorsed by the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders and USA Lacrosse, the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse’s centuries-old roots in Native American heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity and advances the mission of this award. Each year, the Tewaaraton Award celebrates one of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora – and presents two scholarships to students of Native American descent. To learn more about The Tewaaraton Foundation, please visit www.tewaaraton.com.