Terp Named Women’s Lacrosse Big Ten Defender of the Year

Lizzie Colson, a redshirt senior on the Terps’ women’s lacrosse team, was unanimously named the Big Ten Defender of the Year, the conference announced on Monday.

Colson leads the nation with 42 caused turnovers, 13 more than anyone else in the Big Ten, the third-highest single-season mark in Maryland program history and the highest per-game single-season mark in program history (2.80). She caused at least three turnovers in eight of 15 games this season and has five games with at least four caused turnovers. Colson made the biggest play of the weekend for the Terps in the Big Ten Tournament, intercepting a Hopkins pass with the Terps up one goal in the closing minute to give Maryland possession to seal the game.

The team captain has also made her mark picking up groundballs, leading the Big Ten with 51. Colson ranks fourth in the country, averaging 3.4 groundballs per game and has at least four groundballs in nine games this season. She also made an immense impact on the draw circle, tallying 69 this season, the third-most in the Big Ten. Colson ranks third all-time in Maryland history with 311 draw controls, the 13th-highest active mark in the nation.

Colson this season was named a Tewaaraton Nominee, unanimous First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, Inside Lacrosse Midseason First Team All-American, three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week (3/25) and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week (3/23).

Maryland has won the Big Ten Defender of the Year Award every year since the Terps entered the conference in 2015.

Colson and the Terps will now learn their NCAA Tournament opponent at 9 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU during the Women's Lacrosse Selection Show.