2021 Tewaaraton watch list released

[DMac]

Nope, fellas, no ands or ors. You're the final and determining vote on the board, you have to pick just one (unless we're going co-winners ala Thompson brothers). I haven't seen Scane or Ortega enough to make a call, just a little of Ortega and less of Scane. Of the players I've watched this year, North is the most unstoppable. Speed, quickness, stick, velocity and repertoire of shots, grit, toughness, competitive nature....she's got it all and is just tough as nails. Very impressive player, I'd sure want her on my team (and I think the selfish play just isn't so much anymore, she's a pretty darn good distributor too). So that's my unqualified call.
TBC

[Laxfan500]

Nope, fellas, no ands or ors. You're the final and determining vote on the board, you have to pick just one (unless we're going co-winners ala Thompson brothers). I haven't seen Scane or Ortega enough to make a call, just a little of Ortega and less of Scane. Of the players I've watched this year, North is the most unstoppable. Speed, quickness, stick, velocity and repertoire of shots, grit, toughness, competitive nature....she's got it all and is just tough as nails. Very impressive player, I'd sure want her on my team (and I think the selfish play just isn't so much anymore, she's a pretty darn good distributor too). So that's my unqualified call.
TBC

Gotta pick 1 - Ortega shooting 70% and SOG 91% in a big game id want her . Also carried team on her back in ND game - what a true leader does. Not flashy but gets job done. And tough? 12 YC in 14 games on kids trying to take her out. Terrific role model humble while breaking records left and right . Let’s see ACC tourney should be amazing

[hsllax]

Nope, fellas, no ands or ors. You're the final and determining vote on the board, you have to pick just one (unless we're going co-winners ala Thompson brothers). I haven't seen Scane or Ortega enough to make a call, just a little of Ortega and less of Scane. Of the players I've watched this year, North is the most unstoppable. Speed, quickness, stick, velocity and repertoire of shots, grit, toughness, competitive nature....she's got it all and is just tough as nails. Very impressive player, I'd sure want her on my team (and I think the selfish play just isn't so much anymore, she's a pretty darn good distributor too). So that's my unqualified call.
TBC

I think that whoever leads their team to the 'ship will win it and all 3 presumed favorites are worthy candidates. If I had to pick one I think I'd go with Ortega. She just makes the game look so easy.

[Cletus]

the most unstoppable. Speed, quickness, stick, velocity and repertoire of shots, grit, toughness, competitive nature....she's got it all and is just tough as nails. Very impressive player, I'd sure want her on my team ... (she's a pretty darn good distributor too).

All these things are true of Izzy Scane. It occured to me as I was reading your post, D. I'm thinking yup, yup, yup, going through all the things you said about North. They all apply to Scane too. Going to be very tough on the committee to pick a winner this year. Anyway--that's my 2 cents.

[Can Opener]

No surprise here, but my vote and my money is on North. In a season with very little conference crossover, I think those top three attackers wind up looking very similar on paper. The key differentiators for North, I think, will be her highlight reel goals and her draw controls. As I mentioned the committee historically has really liked that. If they are all roughly even in points, I think the DCs will separate her. One wildcard to consider is that the Duke head coach is on the Tewy committee. There is zero chance she casts a vote for North to be in the top five. No disrespect whatsoever to Izzy, but she does not display the same physical dominance, creativity and explosiveness. Love the kid and love the Michigan backstory, but I would be interested if Cletus can produce links to two or three highlights that come close to equaling North’s. Also, given her shot percentage numbers, realistically Northwestern needs to win the national championship for Izzy to win the Tewaaraton. I am very hesitant to say anything negative about these talented and hard-working young women, and I am not trying to tear down one player to build up another.

[Bart]

No surprise here, but my vote and my money is on North. In a season with very little conference crossover, I think those top three attackers wind up looking very similar on paper. The key differentiators for North, I think, will be her highlight reel goals and her draw controls. As I mentioned the committee historically has really liked that. If they are all roughly even in points, I think the DCs will separate her. One wildcard to consider is that the Duke head coach is on the Tewy committee. There is zero chance she casts a vote for North to be in the top five. No disrespect whatsoever to Izzy, but she does not display the same physical dominance, creativity and explosiveness. Love the kid and love the Michigan backstory, but I would be interested if Cletus can produce links to two or three highlights that come close to equaling North’s. Also, given her shot percentage numbers, realistically Northwestern needs to win the national championship for Izzy to win the Tewaaraton. I am very hesitant to say anything negative about these talented and hard-working young women, and I am not trying to tear down one player to build up another.

Are highlight producing goals worth more than ho-hum off hip goals? If not, production is production and the flash of a point is meaningless.

That being said, Ms North currently has a more rounded resume. As one poster is more than likely to point out, the award is not for the biggest scorer but the best all around player and at this point it appears Ms North’s all around play with the DC is slightly better than the others resume’s. However, since I don’t have a vote so my opinion is meaningless.

[Laxfan500]

No surprise here, but my vote and my money is on North. In a season with very little conference crossover, I think those top three attackers wind up looking very similar on paper. The key differentiators for North, I think, will be her highlight reel goals and her draw controls. As I mentioned the committee historically has really liked that. If they are all roughly even in points, I think the DCs will separate her. One wildcard to consider is that the Duke head coach is on the Tewy committee. There is zero chance she casts a vote for North to be in the top five. No disrespect whatsoever to Izzy, but she does not display the same physical dominance, creativity and explosiveness. Love the kid and love the Michigan backstory, but I would be interested if Cletus can produce links to two or three highlights that come close to equaling North’s. Also, given her shot percentage numbers, realistically Northwestern needs to win the national championship for Izzy to win the Tewaaraton. I am very hesitant to say anything negative about these talented and hard-working young women, and I am not trying to tear down one player to build up another.

Halfpenny on that committee too and I’d be shocked if she votes for North after getting pummeled .

[njbill]

It’s too early. The most important part of the season, conference playoffs and the tournament, are still ahead. How the respective candidates do from here on out will determine the winner. Not saying the regular season is unimportant, but it is less important than the games still to come.

[wlaxphan20]

The Tewaaraton Committee has never been one to choose flash. Kayla Treanor, even after becoming a DC specialist, still lost to Taylor Cummings 3 straight years. They have been breaking with tradition recently, though. Apuzzo was just the 2nd attacker to win in 13 years in 2018 and Taylor was the first goalie to win it all in 2019. There is also no dominant Cummings/Schwarzmann-like midfielder that I can think of off the top of my head playing this year.

This year, we also haven't been able to see some of these contenders match up against each other because of abbreviated or conference-only schedules. I agree with njbill, it's too early to tell, but if UNC wins it all, I think the Tewaaraton goes to a Tar Heel.

[Laxallday]

The Tewaaraton Committee has never been one to choose flash. Kayla Treanor, even after becoming a DC specialist, still lost to Taylor Cummings 3 straight years. They have been breaking with tradition recently, though. Apuzzo was just the 2nd attacker to win in 13 years in 2018 and Taylor was the first goalie to win it all in 2019. There is also no dominant Cummings/Schwarzmann-like midfielder that I can think of off the top of my head playing this year.

This year, we also haven't been able to see some of these contenders match up against each other because of abbreviated or conference-only schedules. I agree with njbill, it's too early to tell, but if UNC wins it all, I think the Tewaaraton goes to a Tar Heel.

Agree on your idea but I'll go a little further. First, it is way too early and the current debates are fun but pointless. Here is my prediction. If the natty goes to UNC, NU, SU, BC or ND (please don't anyone suggest SB has a natty chance...cmon), then the Tewaaraton goes to Ortega/Hoeg combo/Moreno depending on who had better final four, Scane, Goldstock, Deeghan or North. That's it, that's all. You win the natty, somebody gets the T. Nobody is sufficiently separated from the others to win it as a consolation prize.

[seacoaster]

The Tewaaraton Committee has never been one to choose flash. Kayla Treanor, even after becoming a DC specialist, still lost to Taylor Cummings 3 straight years. They have been breaking with tradition recently, though. Apuzzo was just the 2nd attacker to win in 13 years in 2018 and Taylor was the first goalie to win it all in 2019. There is also no dominant Cummings/Schwarzmann-like midfielder that I can think of off the top of my head playing this year.

This year, we also haven't been able to see some of these contenders match up against each other because of abbreviated or conference-only schedules. I agree with njbill, it's too early to tell, but if UNC wins it all, I think the Tewaaraton goes to a Tar Heel.

Agree on your idea but I'll go a little further. First, it is way too early and the current debates are fun but pointless. Here is my prediction. If the natty goes to UNC, NU, SU, BC or ND (please don't anyone suggest SB has a natty chance...cmon), then the Tewaaraton goes to Ortega/Hoeg combo/Moreno depending on who had better final four, Scane, Goldstock, Deeghan or North. That's it, that's all. You win the natty, somebody gets the T. Nobody is sufficiently separated from the others to win it as a consolation prize.

"Pointless," according to my spouse, is my specialty. And these notions about "it's too early" are the type of totally reasonable talk that a pointless bastard like me should -- really must -- ignore. So...Ortega or North should win this. As to Ortega, every game she faces the best conference competition in the country, gets the best defender put on her, is doubled and tripled, and still scores her four or five, while picking dirt and those little black rubber bits from turf fields out of her teeth. Absent a do-it-all midfielder like Schwartzman or Cummings, she's the winner, even if someone picks off UNC.

The same is pretty much true of CN. Only add draws.

And no, I'm not Mr. Ortega or Mr. North, or even a UNC fan (although I do like BC; I'm a Syracuse fan). And all of this assumes Ortega is not injured after yesterday's impact with the turf. How's that for pointless?

[Cletus]

If the natty goes to UNC, NU, SU, BC or ND (please don't anyone suggest SB has a natty chance...cmon)

ND belongs right there with SB like two peas in a pod. Neither one of them has a chance.

[DMac]

Truth be told, the entire forum is pointless, no?
At least we're not talking pre-season T Award candidates, could be worse.
Am sure there's unanimous agreement in too early, but just an exercise of funsies.

[Laxallday]

The Tewaaraton Committee has never been one to choose flash. Kayla Treanor, even after becoming a DC specialist, still lost to Taylor Cummings 3 straight years. They have been breaking with tradition recently, though. Apuzzo was just the 2nd attacker to win in 13 years in 2018 and Taylor was the first goalie to win it all in 2019. There is also no dominant Cummings/Schwarzmann-like midfielder that I can think of off the top of my head playing this year.

This year, we also haven't been able to see some of these contenders match up against each other because of abbreviated or conference-only schedules. I agree with njbill, it's too early to tell, but if UNC wins it all, I think the Tewaaraton goes to a Tar Heel.

Agree on your idea but I'll go a little further. First, it is way too early and the current debates are fun but pointless. Here is my prediction. If the natty goes to UNC, NU, SU, BC or ND (please don't anyone suggest SB has a natty chance...cmon), then the Tewaaraton goes to Ortega/Hoeg combo/Moreno depending on who had better final four, Scane, Goldstock, Deeghan or North. That's it, that's all. You win the natty, somebody gets the T. Nobody is sufficiently separated from the others to win it as a consolation prize.

"Pointless," according to my spouse, is my specialty. And these notions about "it's too early" are the type of totally reasonable talk that a pointless bastard like me should -- really must -- ignore. So...Ortega or North should win this. As to Ortega, every game she faces the best conference competition in the country, gets the best defender put on her, is doubled and tripled, and still scores her four or five, while picking dirt and those little black rubber bits from turf fields out of her teeth. Absent a do-it-all midfielder like Schwartzman or Cummings, she's the winner, even if someone picks off UNC.

The same is pretty much true of CN. Only add draws.

And no, I'm not Mr. Ortega or Mr. North, or even a UNC fan (although I do like BC; I'm a Syracuse fan). And all of this assumes Ortega is not injured after yesterday's impact with the turf. How's that for pointless?

Well well now that takes pointless to another level. I am also not Mr Dad of any of the candidates to be clear. I am not selling on Ortega (best finisher in the game and reminds me of Cummings in that regard) and what you say actually has some merit, however, whether we all like it or not the T award in all likelihood will go to a team winner. That eliminates North. If Ortega and Scane go head to head and UNC wins she wins. If NU beats UNC and Scane does her thing against Trenchard (personally one of the best defenders I have seen in many years), she wins. If Cuse beats either or both of them and Goldstock stands on her head, she wins.

[hsllax]

With all due respect, there is almost no way that Goldstock wins it. She was spectacular against Stony Brook and Duke early in the season but has been solidly average ever since. Her current save percentage is 46% and since Duke, she has only had 2 games at or above 50%. Unless she plays out of her mind from here on out and leads Cuse to a championship, I'll eat my lacrosse stick if she is the best player in the college game. Moreno is the best keeper in the country and it isn't even a little bit close.

[Can Opener]

Below are the Tewaaraton stats beginning in 2005. Not sure if this will display correctly, but here goes. I think this shows some pretty clear tendencies, but you can draw your own conclusions. I really don't like the fact that this basically goes to a player on the #1 or #2 team in the country. That doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the award. That's not the way they do the Heisman or the men's Tewaaraton.

As a BC fan, that doesn't bother me much this year. The Eagles are white hot right now. Laxallday is entitled to his opinion, but to say BC has no chance at winning it all is not accurate. The natty is unlikely, given UNC's dominance, but far from impossible. BC has been in the finals in each of the last three tournaments. Their record is basically a carbon copy of #3 Cuse's and #2 NU is untested outside the B1G. Apuzzo won the Tewy playing on the runner-up BC team in 2018. That is a realistic path for the Eagles and North.

BTW, continued good wishes to Ortega for a speedy recovery. I just heard on a podcast that when asked what trait she hopes her teammates see in her, she said "kindness." Who doesn't want that kid as a daughter!?!?!?

[Laxallday]

Below are the Tewaaraton stats beginning in 2005. Not sure if this will display correctly, but here goes. I think this shows some pretty clear tendencies, but you can draw your own conclusions. I really don't like the fact that this basically goes to a player on the #1 or #2 team in the country. That doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the award. That's not the way they do the Heisman or the men's Tewaaraton.

As a BC fan, that doesn't bother me much this year. The Eagles are white hot right now. Laxallday is entitled to his opinion, but to say BC has no chance at winning it all is not accurate. The natty is unlikely, given UNC's dominance, but far from impossible. BC has been in the finals in each of the last three tournaments. Their record is basically a carbon copy of #3 Cuse's and #2 NU is untested outside the B1G. Apuzzo won the Tewy playing on the runner-up BC team in 2018. That is a realistic path for the Eagles and North.

BTW, continued good wishes to Ortega for a speedy recovery. I just heard on a podcast that when asked what trait she hopes her teammates see in her, she said "kindness." Who doesn't want that kid as a daughter!?!?!?

I will happily revisit my BC statement following the results of this weekend's doubleheader. Nothing would make me happier than a BC sweep. I am both surprised and impressed by how quickly that Team has turned it around from last year and how hard they play. I just think it unlikely that they beat Cuse.

[laxagainsthumanity]

FTR I am every bit as awed by Scane's and Ortega's highlights as I am with North's, and just as impressed by the 98% of their game that doesn't end up on the reel. Are they as social media friendly, maybe not, but they are by no means any less skilled. All three of them do things nobody else can. All three have many times been unstoppable. Plus, as has been alluded to, if the committee cared about flair, Treanor would have won the award over Cummings, probably multiple times. If North wins the Tewaaraton over these other two, it will be for her DCs, but IMO she's fighting an uphill battle to catch up with Ortega and to a lesser extent Scane, as North more recently elevated her game to earn consideration in this conversation. She would have to give the committee no excuse.

[Can Opener]

FTR I am every bit as awed by Scane's and Ortega's highlights as I am with North's, and just as impressed by the 98% of their game that doesn't end up on the reel. Are they as social media friendly, maybe not, but they are by no means any less skilled. All three of them do things nobody else can. All three have many times been unstoppable. Plus, as has been alluded to, if the committee cared about flair, Treanor would have won the award over Cummings, probably multiple times. If North wins the Tewaaraton over these other two, it will be for her DCs, but IMO she's fighting an uphill battle to catch up with Ortega and to a lesser extent Scane, as North more recently elevated her game to earn consideration in this conversation. She would have to give the committee no excuse.

Admittedly, I haven't followed UNC and NU as closely as BC, but I have seen a couple of complete games and lots of highlights/recaps. I posed this question to Cletus earlier and didn't get a response from a man who is a top 1% Googler and masterful curator of all things women's lacrosse. Can one of you post links of Scane and Ortega that show something like the jaw-dropping dodges and rocket shots of North? Not trying to be a wise guy. Sincerely interested in seeing them.

[Lax247]

FTR I am every bit as awed by Scane's and Ortega's highlights as I am with North's, and just as impressed by the 98% of their game that doesn't end up on the reel. Are they as social media friendly, maybe not, but they are by no means any less skilled. All three of them do things nobody else can. All three have many times been unstoppable. Plus, as has been alluded to, if the committee cared about flair, Treanor would have won the award over Cummings, probably multiple times. If North wins the Tewaaraton over these other two, it will be for her DCs, but IMO she's fighting an uphill battle to catch up with Ortega and to a lesser extent Scane, as North more recently elevated her game to earn consideration in this conversation. She would have to give the committee no excuse.

Admittedly, I haven't followed UNC and NU as closely as BC, but I have seen a couple of complete games and lots of highlights/recaps. I posed this question to Cletus earlier and didn't get a response from a man who is a top 1% Googler and masterful curator of all things women's lacrosse. Can one of you post links of Scane and Ortega that show something like the jaw-dropping dodges and rocket shots of North? Not trying to be a wise guy. Sincerely interested in seeing them.

I mean...you sound like a wise guy whether you mean to or not . We all know you love CN and want her to win!! I doubt you are on the committee and probably neither is anyone else on this forum. So our opinions are great but don’t really matter...I bet Scane and Ortega could care less if they have a “rocket” shot ...they are probably more concerned with helping their team win than making “highlight” shots every time. Of course this is only my opinion