Men’s Lacrosse: For third year in a row, Shellenberger named Tewaaraton finalist

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

For the third straight year, Virginia attackman and Charlottesville native Connor Shellenberger has been named one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, which annually honors the top college lacrosse player in the United States, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced Thursday. Shellenberger becomes the first UVA player in school history to be named a three-time finalist.

Yale’s Matt Brandau (attack), Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh (attack) and Liam Entennman (goalie) and Duke’s Brennan O’Neill (attack) rounded out the list of five Finalists. Shellenberger and Kavanagh are two of eight three-time finalists since the award’s inception in 2001.

With Thursday’s announcement, a UVA men’s lacrosse player has now been named a Tewaaraton Award Finalist for the 13th time in program history, which is second most among all collegiate programs. Former Virginia standouts Chris Rotelli (2003), Matt Ward (2006) and Steele Stanwick (2011) are past recipients of the trophy.

“We are incredibly proud of these talented student-athletes,” said Tewaaraton Foundation President Andy Phillips. “They’ve given us memorable performances and have distinguished themselves as the best in college lacrosse. It’s with great excitement that we look forward to hosting them at the Tewaaraton Ceremony on May 30.”

This year, Shellenberger was named an All-ACC selection and a USA Lacrosse First Team All-American after leading the Hoos to the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Shellenberger currently leads all ACC players in assists per game (3.00), good for third nationwide, and is second in the conference in points per game (4.93).

Shellenberger quarterbacks a UVA offense that is ninth in the country in scoring (14.27) and third in man-up offense (53.8). With three goals and seven assists in the Cavaliers’ 19-15 win at Towson (March 9), Shellenberger tied his career high of 10 points. He also set a career high in points against an ACC foe with nine at Syracuse (April 20) after recording four goals and five assists.

Earlier this week, Shellenberger was selected second overall by the New York Atlas in the 2024 PLL College Draft. He is the ACC’s all-time assists leader and program record holder in points.

Shellenberger and the sixth-seeded Cavaliers (10-5) host Saint Joseph’s (12-3) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for noon on ESPNU. Tickets and parking passes for Saturday’s first round contest are on sale now at UVAtix.com.

The Tewaaraton Award winners will be chosen at the conclusion of the 2024 college lacrosse season by selection committees comprised of premier college coaches who are appointed annually by the Tewaaraton Foundation.

The Finalists will be honored and this year’s recipients announced live on May 30 at the Tewaaraton Ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. To attend the event, visit: https://TEWAARATON2024.eventbrite.com

For more information on the Tewaaraton Foundation, visit tewaaraton.com. Like and follow The Tewaaraton Foundation at facebook.com/tewaaraton,twitter.com/tewaaraton andinstagram.com/tewaaraton.

Men’s 2024 Tewaaraton Award Finalists
Matt Brandau, Yale – Sr., Attack
Liam Entennman, Notre Dame – Gr., Goalie
Pat Kavanagh, Notre Dame – Gr., Attack
Brennan O’Neill, Duke – Sr., Attack
Connor Shellenberger, Virginia – Gr., Attack

ABOUT THE TEWAARATON FOUNDATION

Founded at the University Club of Washington, DC and first presented in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Endorsed by the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders and USA Lacrosse, the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse’s centuries-old roots in Native American heritage.

The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity and advances the mission of this award. Each year, the Tewaaraton Award celebrates one of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora – and presents two scholarships to students of Native American descent. To learn more about The Tewaaraton Foundation, please visit www.tewaaraton.com.