Nardella on Tewaaraton Watch List
Feb 26 | Men's Lacrosse
Full Tewaaraton Release
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's lacrosse senior midfielder Joe Nardella was named to the 2015 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, it was announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation on Thursday night. Nardella is one of 50 men's players named in contention for the award. First presented in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States.
"This is a great honor for Joe to be recognized for this distinguished award," head coach Brian Brecht said. "Joe certainly has been a leader for our program over his career, both on the field at the face-off `X' and on campus. I am proud of him and the accomplishments he has had thus far in a Rutgers Lacrosse uniform."
The Cazenovia, N.Y. native is a two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, and is one of the top faceoff men in the nation. Last season Nardella posted a .632 (206-of-326) face-off winning percentage, which was the fifth best mark in the nation.
Through four games the season, Nardella is 51-of-80 (.638) on faceoffs, and leads the squad with 31 ground balls. He has also collected three assists. His 7.75 ground balls per game rank second in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation, while he currently sits 13th nationally in face-off winning percentage. Nardella was named a Preseason All-American (Second Team) by Inside Lacrosse, and was the 36th overall selection in the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Boston Cannons.
The last Rutgers player to be added to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List was Will Mangan in 2012. Justin Pennington, Chris O'Dougherty, and Greg Havalchak were also previously recognized on the award's watch list.
On April 23, the field will be narrowed to 25 men's and 25 women's 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 7 and invited to the ceremony. The Tewaaraton Award Ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 2015, at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.
The Scarlet Knights are back in action on Saturday, when they will host Monmouth at 12 p.m.
To learn more about the Tewaaraton Foundation, please visitwww.tewaaraton.com .
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