May 12, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) has been named one of the five finalists for the 2010 Tewaaraton Award, announced by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance. Dowd becomes the fourth Wildcat to be named a finalist for the sport's most prestigious honor, joining Kristen Kjellman, Hannah Nielsen and Christy Finch.
Dowd, who recently was named the American Lacrosse Conference's Player of the Year and Championship MVP, continues to be one of the country's top offensive threats. She leads the nation in points per game (5.83), while ranking second in points (94), third in goals per game (3.88) and fifth in goals (66). Dowd also leads the Wildcats in ground balls (37) while ranking second on the team in both draw controls (56) and caused turnovers (20).
The 2009 NCAA Championship MVP, Dowd has already put together one of the top individual seasons in Northwestern history. Heading into the NCAA tournament, her 66 goals are tied for the sixth-best single-season total in program history while ranking ninth in both points (94) and assists (28). She has recorded at least five points in 11 the 16 games she has played in, including a career-best nine (6G, 3A) against Penn State in the ALC semifinals.
Dowd has already made her impact known on the Northwestern record books as well, currently sitting fourth all-time in goals (198), sixth in points (251) and 10th in assists (53). But what has made Dowd such an elite player is her ability to be a factor all over the field, as she also ranks eight in program history in both draw controls (80) and caused turnovers (56) and ninth in ground balls (108).
Northwestern has become synonymous with the Tewaaraton Award in recent years, as the past four winners (Kjellman in 2006 and 2007; Nielsen in 2008 and 2009) have worn Wildcat uniforms. With Dowd's selection as a finalist, it marks the sixth-straight season Northwestern has had at least one finalist for the sport's top honor.
The selection process began with a list of over 100 of the nation's top men's and women's collegiate players, which was then narrowed down to selective list of fewer than 50. Of these, ten have been named as finalists, five men and five women, in which only two will be able to walk away with the sport's top honor.
All finalists will be invited to the June 3rd Tewaaraton Award Ceremony taking place in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. This is the third time that the ceremony has taken place in the Museum which includes an exhibit on the Native roots and history of lacrosse.
Dowd and her Wildcat teammates begin their pursuit of a sixth-straight NCAA title this weekend, hosting Notre Dame in the NCAA first round. Opening draw between the Wildcats and Irish is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at Lakeside Field.
2010 Women's Tewaaraton Award Finalists
Ali Deluca - Pennsylvania
Katrina Dowd - Northwestern
Brittany Kalkstein - Virginia
Caitlyn McFadden - Maryland
Jenn Russell - North Carolina
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