University of North Carolina Athletics

Casey, Nicholas Added To Tewaaraton Award Watch List
March 9, 2023 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina women's lacrosse players Reilly Casey and Alecia Nicholas have found themselves on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, as announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation on Thursday afternoon. They join 14 other players nationally added to the initial list and are now eligible for the sport's highest individual honor.Â
Four Tar Heels in Olivia Dirks, Emily Nalls, Brooklyn Walker-Welch and Caitlyn Wurzburger were named to the first watch list released in February. With the addition of Casey and Nicholas, UNC's six selections is the most in the nation for the second year in a row. Â
The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by the Tewaaraton Foundation.
Now five games into the 2023 campaign, Casey is proving to have a breakout junior season as she leads the team on attack with 13 assists and 23 points in addition to ranking second with 10 goals. The Alexandria, Virginia native has recorded no fewer than three points in all contests so far, including a career-high six against No. 12 James Madison.Â
Her 11 points from six goals and five assists between the first two games of the season surpassed the nine points she accumulated during the entire 2022 season. Casey's 2.60 assists per game ranks third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.Â
A force between the pipes and an anchor of one of the best defenses in the country, Nicholas ranks second in both the ACC and NCAA with her 6.27 goals-against average. The sophomore's impressive .603 save percentage and 9.40 saves per game both rank third in the conference.Â
A native of Ithaca, New York, she made 14 saves in her first career start during the season opener, which marked the third 14+ save performance by a Tar Heel in the past five seasons. Nicholas was named the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 14, the first weekly honor of her career.Â
Nicholas and Walker-Welch are two of just 11 underclassmen on the 64-person Tewaaraton Award Watch List.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Four Tar Heels in Olivia Dirks, Emily Nalls, Brooklyn Walker-Welch and Caitlyn Wurzburger were named to the first watch list released in February. With the addition of Casey and Nicholas, UNC's six selections is the most in the nation for the second year in a row. Â
The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by the Tewaaraton Foundation.
Now five games into the 2023 campaign, Casey is proving to have a breakout junior season as she leads the team on attack with 13 assists and 23 points in addition to ranking second with 10 goals. The Alexandria, Virginia native has recorded no fewer than three points in all contests so far, including a career-high six against No. 12 James Madison.Â
Her 11 points from six goals and five assists between the first two games of the season surpassed the nine points she accumulated during the entire 2022 season. Casey's 2.60 assists per game ranks third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.Â
A force between the pipes and an anchor of one of the best defenses in the country, Nicholas ranks second in both the ACC and NCAA with her 6.27 goals-against average. The sophomore's impressive .603 save percentage and 9.40 saves per game both rank third in the conference.Â
A native of Ithaca, New York, she made 14 saves in her first career start during the season opener, which marked the third 14+ save performance by a Tar Heel in the past five seasons. Nicholas was named the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 14, the first weekly honor of her career.Â
Nicholas and Walker-Welch are two of just 11 underclassmen on the 64-person Tewaaraton Award Watch List.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Â
Players Mentioned
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