NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Senior goaltender Samantha Giacolone and sophomore attacker Maddie Howe have been added to the 2019 Tewaaraton Award watch list, the foundation announced on Thursday (March 21).
The duo joins sophomore midfielder Andie Aldave and junior midfielder Savannah Buchanan on the watch list for the award, which honors the top women’s lacrosse player in the country.
Last week’s ACC Defensive Player of the Week, Giacolone has backstopped the Irish to nine victories while making 54 saves and a nation-leading 5.78 goals-against average.
Entering this week, Giacolone was leading the ACC and ranked fourth in the country with a .537 save percentage, which has since jumped to .551 after a 10-save performance vs. Vanderbilt on March 20.
On March 13 against VCU, Giacolone became the second goaltender in program history to reach the 500 career saves. She now sits at 521 career saves, just seven shy of tying Ellie Hilling for the all-time Irish mark.
Howe has collected a team-high 28 goals and 39 points in nine contests this year for the Irish. Howe has scored at least three goals in six games this season, including a six-goal, six-assist effort at Ohio State on February 22 which tied Jillian Byers (April 18, 2009 vs. Connecticut) for the most points recorded in a single game in Irish history.
Entering play this week, Howe’s .650 shooting percentage topped the ACC and ranked sixth in the nation.
Aldave ranks second on the Irish with 37 points (25G, 12A) and leads the team with 73 draw controls.
Last week, Aldave earned ACC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals, including the game-winner with 1:30 to play, to go with two assists in Notre Dame’s 10-9 victory at Virginia. She has collected at least five points in four of her last five games.
Entering play this week, Aldave’s average of eight draw controls per game ranked second in the ACC and fifth in the country. On February 22 at Ohio State, Aldave broke her own single-game school record with 16 draw controls.
Buchanan has recorded 17 points (6G, 11A) to go with 35 draw controls and 17 ground balls in the Irish midfield this season. A team captain and 2019 Preseason All-ACC honoree,
Buchanan has also caused seven turnovers.
Buchanan also earned IWLCA All West/Midwest Region First Team & Second Team All-ACC All-Star as a sophomore in 2018.
More watch list additions, if applicable, will be announced on April 11. On April 25, the field will be narrowed to 25 nominees. Nominees can be players on the watch lists or players not on the watch lists, effectively allowing for a third round of additions.
Five men’s and five women’s finalists will be announced on May 9 and invited to the 18th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, which will be held in Washington, D.C., on May 30.
Up Next
Notre Dame hits the road for a matchup against #4 Syracuse this Sunday, March 24 at noon ET. The contest is set to be played at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York, and will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra.
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