UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's lacrosse sophomore midfielder Olivia Dirks was named to the Tewaaraton Award Nominees List on Thursday. She is one of 25 members of the list, which was trimmed from the initial watch list made in March. The Tewaaraton Award is annually given to the top men's and women's college lacrosse players.
Dirks leads the Nittany Lions with 71 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers this season to go with 28 goals and 11 assists.
The Wayne, Pa. native has nine multi-point games this season and four games with five or more points.
On the season, Dirks ranks eighth in the Big Ten in points (39) and ninth in goals (28). She also sits fifth in caused turnovers per game (1.4). Dirks holds 24th in the country and second in the Big Ten averaging 5.9 draw controls per game.
Dirks has made a major impact in the draw circle, winning 10 or more draws against Rutgers (12, 10) and Northwestern (10, 14). She tallied a career-high nine points, including five goals and four assists at Rutgers on April 15.
Dirks has been named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week twice this season, on March 16 and April 20, and was selected Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on February 23 after leading Penn State to a 15-13 win over No. 7 Maryland. Dirks was tabbed IWLCA Offensive Player of the Week following the Maryland game.
She was also named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America Third Team selection on April 8.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, begins Big Ten Tournament play on Thursday, April 29. Penn State is ranked 18th in the IWLCA Poll.
Penn State is hosting the Big Ten Tournament. It will feature three quarterfinal games on Thursday, April 29, two semifinal games on Friday, April 30, and the Big Ten Championship game on Sunday, May 2.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
