The Women's Tewaaraton Selection Committee has announced the five Finalists for the fourth annual Tewaaraton Trophy, the pre-eminent lacrosse award honoring the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States.

2004 Women's Finalists:

Amy Appelt, Virginia, Attack
Kelly Coppedge, Maryland, Midfield
Gail Decker, James Madison, Midfield
Michi Ellers, Georgetown, Defense
Theresa Sherry, Princeton, Midfield/Attack

Amy Appelt (Jr., Attack, Garden City, NJ; Garden City High School), the 2004 ACC Player of the Year, has led the nation in goals since the beginning of the season. A USA Team Member, she started the season with 13 consecutive hat tricks and has scored in every game of her collegiate career, a span of 59 consecutive games. Appelt has been honored by the conference in each of her three years playing, and was the ACC and the National Rookie of the Year in her first-year campaign. Appelt has been honored nationally both seasons as an All-American.

Kelly Coppedge (Sr., Midfielder, Annapolis, Md/St. Mary's) is a prolific scorer, she is one of the nation's leaders in goals and points, and this season became just the 22nd player in Division I history to score 200 career goals. She is also a two-time All-American, a three-time All-ACC pick, and was the 2003 ACC Player of the Year and 2003 IWLCA Midfielder of the Year. Coppedge is second all-time at Maryland for career goals with 211, third in points with 289 and seventh in assists with 78.

Gail Decker (Sr., Midfielder, Baltimore, Md., Mount de Sales Academy), the 2004 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, led her team to its second consecutive CAA championship in 2004. The 2003 All-American has broken or tied a number of school records including: goals (192), games started (73), game-winning goals (10) and free- position goals (36), season records for goals (73) and points (102), and the single-game record for goals (8). Decker, a three-time All-CAA selection, currently leads the nation in points (6.0) and goals average (4.2) and ranks seventh in assist average (1.76).

Michi Ellers (Sr., Defender, Swarthmore, PA/ Strath Haven), a 2003 First Team All-American and two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, is Georgetown's career leader in ground balls (208) and caused turnovers (196). Her tenacious defense has propelled her into the national lead in caused turnovers in each of the past two seasons (3.29 per game, 56 overall in 2003; 3.87 per game, 58 overall in 2004), and earned her a record five BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors this season. Also a contributor on the offensive end, Ellers has scored 12 goals during the regular season and has 35 in her career, which has helped Georgetown advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons as a member of the team.

Theresa Sherry (Sr., Midfield/Attack, Baltimore, MD/Bryn Mawr School) is a two-time first-team All-America selection and three-time first-team All-Ivy pick who ranks third all-time at Princeton with 155 career goals and fifth all-time at Princeton with 190 career points. A team captain in 2004, she has 42 goals and a team-leading 15 assists this season. Sherry's stellar play and leadership have led Princeton to an undefeated record and the top seed in the 2004 NCAA tournament.


Women's Selection Committee

Chris Sailer, Princeton University (Chair); Michael Daly, Stonehill College;
Missy Foote, Middlebury College; Jenny Graap, Cornell University; Suzanne Isador, Pennsylvania State University; Lisa Miller, Syracuse University; Julie Myers, University of Virginia; Cathy Swezey, Vanderbilt University


About The Tewaaraton Award Foundation:

The Tewaaraton Award Foundation, in conjunction with the University Club of Washington, D.C., formally established the "Tewaaraton Trophy" on August 29, 2000. Today, the Tewaaraton Trophy is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award honoring the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. The Foundation honors lacrosse, the original and oldest American sport, through the Tewaaraton name and by promoting the game through the award.

For more information on how you can attend this year's banquet, support the Foundation or if you have any questions or comments please contact:

Elizabeth Terry
Executive Director
Tewaaraton Award Foundation
1135 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 824-1395
Fax: (202) 318-8219
Elizabeth@Tewaaraton.com
www.Tewaaraton.com