WASHINGTON – A season of surprises in NCAA lacrosse couldn’t have ended in a more fitting way.

Loyola (Md.) won the national championship after beginning the season unranked, and Massachusetts and Lehigh took away the spotlight from the nation’s top traditionally elite programs and rose to prominence.

On Thursday night, a season on unexpected outcomes continued on as another underdog was awarded the Tewaaraton Trophy. After leading the nation in both goals and points per game and thrusting Colgate into the center of college lacrosse’s best teams, attack Peter Baum was awarded the most prestigious individual award in college lacrosse.

‘What an unbelievable experience,’ Baum said. ‘I am so proud to be part of the Colgate family and could not be happier to win this award for my teammates, friends and Raider nation.’

Baum stood out among the five finalists because of the lesser-known school he was representing. Virginia attack Steele Stanwick and Duke longstick midfielder C.J. Costabile both come from traditional lacrosse powers, while Greyhounds attack Mike Sawyer and UMass attack Will Manny played for two of the top ranked teams this season.

While Baum’s Raiders were the No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament, Colgate still isn’t quite the same marquee name as the other four schools.

Additionally, no player born west of the Mississippi River had won the Tewaarton Trophy in the 12 year history of the award. But that all changed with Baum, a Portland, Oregon native, showing that lacrosse is gaining in popularity in the western part of the United States.

Lacrosse’s prevalence in the Pacific Northwest comes as no surprise to SU head coach Gary Gait, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, who worked with Baum at summer camps in the Pacific Northwest.

In Gait’s opinion, Baum serves as a great ambassador for the expanding popularity of the game.

‘It just shows that lacrosse players, again, can come from anywhere,’ Gait said. ‘And Peter loves the game and I’ve been fortunate to work with him over the past few years in Portland and (he’s) just a great kid.’

Schwarzmann given one more honor

Maryland added yet another piece of hardware to its crowded trophy case Thursday night as Katie Schwarzmann was awarded the Tewaaraton Trophy.

Schwarzmann joins Jen Adams and Caitlyn McFadden as Terrapins who have won the award to go along with the program’s record eight national championships.

‘It’s just a great experience,’ Schwarzmann said. ‘Not many people get to go through this, so I’m very thankful. … Being recognized amongst this group of girls is just an awesome accomplishment.’

Schwarzmann, a junior, was a finalist for the second consecutive season and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year. The midfielder led No. 3 seed Maryland to the final four this season where it lost to eventual national champion and second-seeded Northwestern in the NCAA tournament semifinals.

Michelle Tumolo, NU defender Taylor Thornton, North Carolina attack Becky Lynch and Florida midfielder Brittany Dashiell were the other finalists for the award.

Syracuse faced the Terrapins on March 10 and defeated them 10-9 as part of the Orange’s 15-game winning streak. But in that game, Schwarzmann scored two goals on 10 shots to go along with a draw control.

‘She’s a great player; exceptional,’ SU head coach Gary Gait said. ‘One of the best all around players, offense, defense, transition, ground ball player, just a true middy and I think a well deserved award.’

Schwarzmann finished second in the nation with 72 goals, behind only the Orange’s Alyssa Murray. She also also led Maryland in ground balls and was second in draw controls during the regular season.

In the offseason, Schwarzmann will compete with Tumolo and Syracuse assistant coach Katrina Dowd as members of the U.S. national team.

‘She’s such a great player,’ Tumolo said. ‘I’m so glad that I get to play with her on the U.S. team.’

dbwilson@syr.edu

Published on May 31, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact David: dbwilson@syr.edu | @DBWilson2