May 30, 2007
by Matt DaSilva and Clare Lochary, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
MEN'S FINALISTS
Matt Danowski, Duke
Year: Senior
Position: Attack
2007 stats: 44g, 52a
Career stats: 139g, 127a
Expect a bigger presence around Danowski tonight after the NCAA's announcement that 2006 Duke players will be granted an extra year of eligibility. Nevertheless, the senior attackman's numbers would be even gaudier had Duke not been robbed of the remaining games in its 2006 season. Danowski has to be considered the favorite, although Rabil had a much bigger impact on the national championship game, a 12-11 Johns Hopkins victory. Rabil had a Danowski-like performance out of the midfield with a goal and five assists, in control, while Danowski was held to a goal and an assist. Danowski is also the odds-on No. 1 pick in Thursday's Major League Lacrosse draft - not a bad two-fer, if it happens, to make him forget Memorial Day and realize fertile pastures ahead.
Paul Rabil, Johns Hopkins
Year: Junior
Position: Midfield
2007 stats: 27g, 26a
Career stats: 75g, 53a
Not even the customary offensive shackles of Hopkins head coach Dave Pietramala could keep the junior midfielder from going off this year. Because of their athleticism, and because they practice shooting together every week, comparisons will be made to 2005 Tewaaraton Trophy winner Kyle Harrison. Harrison's numbers that year (24g, 20a) were similar, but he was a senior. Hopkins' second-leading scorer in '05 was a freshman - Rabil. Might be another year for him. Pietramala said Monday, after Rabil's stunning performance in the NCAA championship win, that Rabil does not know yet how great he can be. Looking around him tonight would be a good start.
Frank Resetarits, Albany
Year: Senior
Position: Attack
2007 stats: 57g, 23a
Career stats: 158g, 83a
It's tempting to draw the parallel between the Danes' Resetarits and Merrick Thomson and Duke's Danowski and Zack Greer - just swap roles for the Canadians on those attack lines, and it's a virtual mirror. And while Danowski has assembled better numbers for his career (266 points), Resetarits (241) gets a nod for helping put Albany on the map, and in the NCAA quarterfinals, in 2007.
Ben Rubeor, Virginia
Year: Junior
Position: Attack
2007 stats: 46g, 22a
Career stats: 98g, 62a
The junior attackman cooled a bit after a smoking-hot start to the season after which everyone wanted to hand him the trophy. As he simmered, so did the Cavs, whose first-round loss to Delaware in the NCAA tournament (Rubeor was scoreless) did not help his stock, statistically or by perception. As a senior, he'll be an immediate Tewaaraton candidate in 2008, as he will have had another year under coach Dom Starsia's adjusted offense that generates from the attack-out, as opposed to the midfield-in. Sky's the limit.
Max Seibald, Cornell
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfield
2007 stats: 17g, 20a
Career stats: 36g, 34a
Twice the sophomore midfielder was hampered by injury in the NCAA tournament, including one in the semifinal loss to Duke on a hit after which, head coach Jeff Tambroni said, "he was never the same." That's kind of why you want to root for him here. Seibald is a throwback, putting his body on the line and playing both ways as a midfielder. In any other offense, you could camp him up top and let him fire his 100-plus mph shot, but Seibald does more. He's just the fourth sophomore to be named a Tewaaraton finalist, joining Michael Powell (2002), Kyle Harrison (2003) and Danwoski (2005). If Danowski takes the trophy tonight, Seibald should feel pretty confident in his company.
WOMEN'S FINALISTS
Caroline Cryer, Duke
Year: Junior
Position: Attack/Midfield
2007 stats: 71g, 18a
Career stats: 122g, 40a
Cryer broke the Blue Devils' single-season scoring record, formerly held by 2005 Tewaraaton winner Katie Chrest, with her four goals in Duke's semifinal loss to Virginia. She more than doubled her goal total from the 2006 season with 71, helping to lift Duke to an average 15.42 goals per game. The Cherry Creek native is the first Tewaraaton finalist from Colorado.
Dana Dobbie, Maryland
Year: Junior
Position: Midfield
2007 stats: 53g, 16a
Career stats: 124g, 43a
Dobbie transferred from Ohio to Maryland at exactly the right time - the Bobcats' lacrosse program folded just as the Terps found new life with first-year coach Cathy Reese. The 5-9 midfielder slightly trailed Krista Pellizzi in scoring, but led her team with 39 ground balls and 79 draw controls. The Guelph, Ontario, native was named ACC Player of the Year.
Mary Key, Johns Hopkins
Year: Senior
Position: Attack
2007 stats: 67g, 54a
Career stats: 234g, 149a
Key holds 24 school records at Hopkins, including career points, goals and assists. She is third on the NCAA all-time career points (383) list and second in all-time career assists. Key has been nominated for the Tewaraaton award four consecutive years, but 2007 marks her first time as a finalist.
Kristen Kjellman, Northwestern
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield
2007 stats: 66g, 24a
Career stats: 250g, 99a
Coaches across the country are breathing sighs of relief, knowing that Kjellman has played her last game of collegiate lacrosse. Last year's Tewaraaton winner typically drew the best defender on every team she played, and still managed to set a school record for career goals and points. The three-time ALC Player of the Year also had 80 draw controls this season, boosting her career total to 268, an NCAA record. The senior team captain led the Wildcats to a third straight national championship.
Hannah Neilsen, Northwestern
Year: Sophomore
Position: Attack
2007 stats: 50g, 69a
Career stats: 64g, 78a
Neilsen switched from midfield to attack this season, with dazzling results. The Aussie attacker had a team-leading 119 points, more than five times her 2006 points total. Her precision passes were key to the Wildcats' offense, which led the nation with 16.58 goals per game.
Got a personal favorite among Tewaaraton Trophy finalists? Vote in LMO's fan poll.
