Lizzie Colson has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading a young Maryland defense to one of its best performances in 2021 against Johns Hopkins.
This is Colson’s fifth time winning the weekly honor, and her first in 2021.
Colson returned this season from a nearly two-year hiatus due to an ACL injury, but she’s slotted right back in to the Maryland lineup. She led the squad in ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls against Johns Hopkins.
[Hannah Leubecker’s overtime winner sends Maryland women’s lacrosse past Johns Hopkins, 9-8]
As the only Terps’ defender with significant game experience entering this season, Colson has offered stability, particularly as Maryland develops its next go-to goalkeeper. Her unit showed out against the Blue Jays, holding them scoreless for at least 15 minutes twice throughout the matchup.
The senior captain has been stacking up accolades, being named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list and preseason All-American list. Against the Blue Jays, Colson, with a career 256 draw controls, moved into third place all-time in program history for career draw controls.
Colson joins Hannah Leubecker as the only Terps to win Big Ten honors through the first five weeks of awards.
Colson and Maryland women’s lacrosse will be back in action for a home series against Ohio State on March 18 and 20.
