Crotty Selected as Tewaaraton Trophy Finalist

DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University senior Ned Crotty has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy. The Tewaaraton Trophy is awarded to the nation's top men and women's lacrosse player.

A 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy finalist as well, Crotty is joined by Ken Clausen (Virginia), Kevin Crowley (Stony Brook), Curtis Dickson (Delaware) and Joel White (Syracuse). This marks the fifth time a Blue Devil has been selected as a finalist with Matt Danowski bringing home the honor in 2007.

Crotty helps lead the Blue Devil attack with 17 goals and 51 assists for 68 points. He currently leads the nation in assists (3.19/gm) and is sixth in points (4.25/gm). The native of New Vernon, N.J., captured All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season and has scored at least one point in 14 of the 16 games this season. He most recently tied the Duke single-game record for assists (8) and points (11) in the win over Sacred Heart. The 2009 USILA Attackman of the Year, Crotty has registered three-plus assists in 10 games this season and has six games with at least five points.

In his second year as an attackman, Crotty became just the ninth Blue Devil to reach the 200-point mark in his career. He currently ranks second in Duke history in career assists with 135 and is fifth in points with 221. Crotty is equally visible on the Duke single-season record lists. The two-time All-America choice owns two of the top-10 single-season points totals and has two of the top four spots on the single-season assists list. His 51 helpers this season is just five shy of tying Matt Danowski's Duke single-season record of 56 in 2008.

The Blue Devils are making their 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after receiving the No. 5 seed. Duke will host Johns Hopkins (7-7) in the first round on May 15 at Koskinen Stadium. Faceoff is set for 12 p.m., and will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN HD.

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