Colorado University Athletics
Paige Soenksen and Darby Kiernan
Kiernan, Soenksen Named To Tewaaraton Award Top 25 List
April 28, 2017 | Lacrosse
BOULDER — A pair of Buffaloes, Darby Kiernan and Paige Soenksen, have been named to the Tewaaraton Award's top 25 list of nominees, as announced on Friday morning.
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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. Five women's finalists will be selected from this group on Thursday, May 11 and will be invited to the 17th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on Thursday, June 1 in Washington, D.C.
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Kiernan is a junior attacker for the Buffs. Earlier this week she earned her second All-MPSF honor as a member of the all-conference first team. She leads the Buffs in points, goals, assists and draw controls. Kiernan is second in the MPSF with 6.18 draw controls per game, which is the 13th best in the NCAA. In total, she has 105 draw controls on the season, which is tied for fourth all-time in a single season. She recorded an MPSF record 19 against Stetson, which earned her MPSF Offensive and NCAA National Player of the Week honors.
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Soenksen, a senior goalkeeper, was named to her fourth all-conference team earlier this week, her third time to the All-MPSF First Team. She leads the MPSF with a .545 save percentage, which is fourth in the NCAA, and is first in the league with 7.31 goals against average, second in the NCAA. In 17 games, she has allowed five goals or less four times, 10 goals or less 14 times. Soenksen tied a career-high 19 saves in CU's 11-10 OT win against No. 9 Northwestern, which is tied for fifth in the NCAA this season. This season she was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week twice and earned the Alpha Lacrosse National Player of the Week award as well as the U.S. Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week.
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The two have helped the Buffs to a 15-2 overall record this season, as well as a 7-1 mark in the MPSF, which was good for second place. CU is currently ranked eighth in the Cascade/Inside Lacrosse media poll and is ninth in the IWLCA Coaches and Nike/U.S. Lacrosse Magazine polls.
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This year's list of women's nominees features players from 15 different schools, led by the University of Maryland's four and University of Florida's three. Ten players return from the 2016 Tewaaraton list of nominees.
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THE 25 WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Sam Apuzzo, Boston College - Soph., Attack
Sammi Burgess, Florida - Sr., Attack
Madison Carter, Penn State - Soph., Attack
Alex Condon, Penn - Jr., Midfield
Ellie DeGarmo, Princeton - Sr., Goalie
Riley Donahue, Syracuse -Â Jr., Attack
Erica Evans, Canisius - Jr., Midfield
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida - Sr., Defense
Cortney Fortunato, Notre Dame - Sr., Attack
Nadine Hadnagy, Maryland - Sr., Defense
Molly Hendrick, North Carolina - Sr., Attack
Olivia Hompe, Princeton - Sr., Attack
Darby Kiernan, Colorado - Jr., Attack
Steph Lazo, Penn State - Sr., Attack
Sarah Martin, Albany - Sr., Midfield
Marie McCool, North Carolina - Jr., Midfield
Michaela Michael, USC - Sr., Attack
Kylie Ohlmiller, Stony Brook - Jr., Attack
Catie Smith, Cornell - Sr., Defense
Paige Soenksen, Colorado - Sr., Goalie
Mollie Stevens, Florida - Sr., Attack
Zoe Stukenberg, Maryland - Sr., Midfield
Megan Taylor, Maryland - Soph., Goalie
Dorrien Van Dyke, Stony Brook - Sr., Midfield
Megan Whittle, Maryland - Jr., Attack
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This year's initial Tewaaraton Watch Lists were announced on Feb. 28 and included the top 50 men's and women's college lacrosse players in the country. Two rounds of additions to the Watch Lists were announced, on March 16 and April 6.
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Under Armour returns as the proud presenting sponsor of the Tewaaraton Award in honoring the top collegiate lacrosse players in the United States.
Â
For more information on the Tewaaraton Award, how to donate to this non-profit or to attend these exciting events, visit Tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at Facebook.com/Tewaaraton, Twitter.com/Tewaaraton and Instagram.com/Tewaaraton.
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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. Five women's finalists will be selected from this group on Thursday, May 11 and will be invited to the 17th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on Thursday, June 1 in Washington, D.C.
Â
Kiernan is a junior attacker for the Buffs. Earlier this week she earned her second All-MPSF honor as a member of the all-conference first team. She leads the Buffs in points, goals, assists and draw controls. Kiernan is second in the MPSF with 6.18 draw controls per game, which is the 13th best in the NCAA. In total, she has 105 draw controls on the season, which is tied for fourth all-time in a single season. She recorded an MPSF record 19 against Stetson, which earned her MPSF Offensive and NCAA National Player of the Week honors.
Â
Soenksen, a senior goalkeeper, was named to her fourth all-conference team earlier this week, her third time to the All-MPSF First Team. She leads the MPSF with a .545 save percentage, which is fourth in the NCAA, and is first in the league with 7.31 goals against average, second in the NCAA. In 17 games, she has allowed five goals or less four times, 10 goals or less 14 times. Soenksen tied a career-high 19 saves in CU's 11-10 OT win against No. 9 Northwestern, which is tied for fifth in the NCAA this season. This season she was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week twice and earned the Alpha Lacrosse National Player of the Week award as well as the U.S. Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week.
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The two have helped the Buffs to a 15-2 overall record this season, as well as a 7-1 mark in the MPSF, which was good for second place. CU is currently ranked eighth in the Cascade/Inside Lacrosse media poll and is ninth in the IWLCA Coaches and Nike/U.S. Lacrosse Magazine polls.
Â
This year's list of women's nominees features players from 15 different schools, led by the University of Maryland's four and University of Florida's three. Ten players return from the 2016 Tewaaraton list of nominees.
Â
THE 25 WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Sam Apuzzo, Boston College - Soph., Attack
Sammi Burgess, Florida - Sr., Attack
Madison Carter, Penn State - Soph., Attack
Alex Condon, Penn - Jr., Midfield
Ellie DeGarmo, Princeton - Sr., Goalie
Riley Donahue, Syracuse -Â Jr., Attack
Erica Evans, Canisius - Jr., Midfield
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida - Sr., Defense
Cortney Fortunato, Notre Dame - Sr., Attack
Nadine Hadnagy, Maryland - Sr., Defense
Molly Hendrick, North Carolina - Sr., Attack
Olivia Hompe, Princeton - Sr., Attack
Darby Kiernan, Colorado - Jr., Attack
Steph Lazo, Penn State - Sr., Attack
Sarah Martin, Albany - Sr., Midfield
Marie McCool, North Carolina - Jr., Midfield
Michaela Michael, USC - Sr., Attack
Kylie Ohlmiller, Stony Brook - Jr., Attack
Catie Smith, Cornell - Sr., Defense
Paige Soenksen, Colorado - Sr., Goalie
Mollie Stevens, Florida - Sr., Attack
Zoe Stukenberg, Maryland - Sr., Midfield
Megan Taylor, Maryland - Soph., Goalie
Dorrien Van Dyke, Stony Brook - Sr., Midfield
Megan Whittle, Maryland - Jr., Attack
Â
This year's initial Tewaaraton Watch Lists were announced on Feb. 28 and included the top 50 men's and women's college lacrosse players in the country. Two rounds of additions to the Watch Lists were announced, on March 16 and April 6.
Â
Under Armour returns as the proud presenting sponsor of the Tewaaraton Award in honoring the top collegiate lacrosse players in the United States.
Â
For more information on the Tewaaraton Award, how to donate to this non-profit or to attend these exciting events, visit Tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at Facebook.com/Tewaaraton, Twitter.com/Tewaaraton and Instagram.com/Tewaaraton.
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Players Mentioned
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