Two Blue Devils Named to Tewaaraton Watch List

DURHAM, N.C. - Two Blue Devils have been named to the 2013 Tewaaraton Award Women's Watch List, as announced Friday by the Tewaaraton Foundation. Junior midfielder Maddy Morrissey and junior defender Taylor Virden each earned the early season recognition for the award, which is presented annually to the top male and female collegiate lacrosse players.

The watch lists include the top players across all three divisions of collegiate lacrosse and highlight early contenders for the 2013 Tewaaraton Award. Duke has had at least two players named to the Tewaarton Watch List each season since the award's inception in 2001 with former Blue Devil Katie Chrest earning the prestigious honor following the 2005 season.

Morrissey, a midfielder from Skaneateles, N.Y., is making her first appearance on the Tewaaraton Watch List this season. She has totaled eight draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers through the first four games of the spring, in addition to scoring two goals. The two-year starter finished the 2011 campaign with 35 points (25g, 10 a) and logged a team-high nine free position goals. Morrissey owns 44 points for her career on 32 goals and 12 assists.

Virden, a defender from Ellicott City, Md., is also making her first appearance on the Tewaaraton Watch List after garnering second team All-South Region honors in 2012. A three-year starter for the Blue Devil defensive unit, she ranked second on the team in caused turnovers (15) and ground balls (23) a year ago. Through four games this season, Virden is tied for fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in ground balls per game (3.00) and tied for fifth in caused turnovers per game (1.50). She corralled a career-high five ground balls in Duke's 18-10 victory over Richmond and matched a career-best with five draw controls in a win over William & Mary.

A selection committee comprised of top collegiate coaches will make additions to the list as the season progresses. In late April, both lists will be narrowed to 25 Tewaaraton Nominees. In mid-May, the five finalists in each category will be announced. These finalists will be invited to the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, which will take place on May 30, at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

The seventh-ranked Blue Devils face No. 4 Maryland Sunday, Feb. 24 in their first road game of the 2013 season. That contest begins at 1 p.m. in College Park.

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