STAFF REPORTS
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Canisius junior midfielder Erica Evans has been selected as a 2017 Tewaaraton semifinalist, the foundation announced Friday.
Evans was named the first ever Canisius women’s lacrosse player to be selected to the Tewaaraton watch list on February 28, which highlighted the top 50 players in the nation.
“We are extremely proud of Erica for being chosen as a semifinalist for the Tewaaraton Award,” Canisius head women’s lacrosse coach Scott Teeter said. “This is a tremendous accomplishment for her personally, and for our entire women’s lacrosse program. This announcement today further proves that Erica is one of the premier players in the country, and I can’t think of a more deserving student-athlete in my time here to be our program’s first Tewaaraton semifinalist.”
Leading the Griffs to their fifth MAAC Championship in program history a season ago, the Peterborough, Ontario native was selected as the 2016 MAAC Midfielder of the Year for the second consecutive season, and was recognized as a member of IWLCA Third Team, becoming the first player in school history to earn All-America honors.
Other accolades from the 2016 campaign included a selection to the IWLCA All-West/Midwest First Team, MAAC Tournament MVP, and Canisius Female Athlete of the Year.
This season, Evans has excelled in all areas, leading the nation in goals (66), ranking second in the NCAA points (91), fifth in ground balls (60) and eighth in caused turnovers (39). She leads the MAAC in goals, points, caused turnovers, ground balls and game-winning goals (4). She also ranks fifth in the league in draw controls (54) and sixth in assists (25).
Evans set the program record for career goals scored on April 5 in the Griffs’ win over Siena when she notched her 155th career marker. In the regular-season finale victory over Niagara, Evans matched her own school record for points in a single-season with 91.
An Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American to start the 2017 campaign, Evans became only the fifth player in program history to reach the 200-point mark in an 18-3 win over Monmouth on April 8. Heading into next weekend’s MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, she holds one school career records and six single-season records.
Friday’s announcement marked the second round of cuts in the selection process, with the committee announcing its final five finalists on May 11. The 2017 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on Thursday, June 1.
Evans and her teammates will return to action on Friday, May 5, when the top-seeded Griffs play host to a MAAC semifinal game at the Demske Sports Complex. Canisius (13-4, 8-0 MAAC) won its third-straight MAAC regular-season championship last Saturday with a win at Farfield.
