Two weeks after becoming the first goalkeeper to take home the Tewaaraton Award as college lacrosse’s top player, Maryland’s Megan Taylor was recognized Thursday by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association as Division I’s Player of the Year.
The Terps’ Julia Braig was named Defender of the Year.
Taylor, a Glenelg graduate, finished her senior year ranked second in the nation in both save percentage (.551) and total saves (217) and fifth in goals-against average (8.44) while sparking Maryland to its 14th NCAA championship and fifth since 2010. She was the Big Ten’s Goaltender of the Year for all four seasons, was named the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player on Sunday, and wrapped up her career ranked second in program history in total saves with 740.
Braig, a Reisterstown resident and St. Paul’s graduate, wrapped up her senior year helping Taylor anchor a defense that ranked fifth in the country at 8.1 goals allowed per game and held 15 of 23 opponents to fewer than 10 goals. She paced the Terps in caused turnovers (27) and picked up 30 ground balls. She was the Big Ten’s Defender of the Year for the second time in as many seasons.
At the Division II level, Florida Southern senior Samantha Keesey, a Bel Air graduate, was named the Defender of the Year. She set career highs in draw controls (110), caused turnovers (48) and assists (five) in her final season.
And York senior Nicole Clauter, a Bel Air resident and John Carroll graduate, was named Division III’s Defender of the Year. The two-time Capital Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year amassed 116 draw controls, 55 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers this past season.
Varsity girls soccer: Ada Clare Tempert of Mercy was named Gatorade Maryland Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The 5-foot-3 senior forward had 28 goals and 10 assists this past season, leading the Magic (14-5) to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference tournament semifinals. Also a standout on the Mercy High girls lacrosse team and a five-sport athlete as a senior, Tempert has volunteered locally at a theater, as a camp counselor and as a youth soccer coach.
Major League Soccer: After a 2-1 win in extra time over the Philadelphia Union in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, D.C. United will host NYCFC on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Audi Field. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+.
National Women’s Soccer League: The Washington Spirit signed midfielder Grace Cutler to a national team replacement contract. Cutler, the 22nd pick in the 2019 NWSL draft by the Houston Dash, was named All-Big 12 at West Virginia.
College swimming: Matt Harris is stepping down as head men's and women's swimming coach at Washington College to accept a position at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del.
— From Sun staff and news services