The Tewaaraton Award finalists were announced this week. The nominees for top collegiate men's and women's players are:

2009 men's finalists:

Matt Abbott, Syracuse
Ned Crotty, Duke
Danny Glading, Virginia
Zack Greer, Bryant
Max Seibald, Cornell

2009 women's finalists

Jillian Byers, Notre Dame
Carolyn Davis, Duke
Amber Falcone, North Carolina
Caitlyn McFadden, Maryland
Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern

I am very happy that Zach Greer made the list.

Seibald should win the award once, but Crotty may take this year’s trophy. Now that Matt Abbott is in a smaller group, he looks more attractive as a potential winner as well.

Still, none of these guys is the best in the land. The best player, in my opinion, is really Virginia’s Danny Glading. I think he is the most talented lacrosse player in this group. This may be his last chance to beat Crotty at something.

Of course, some of these guys have a few more games to play on the big stage and how they do will have an impact.

On the women’s side, what a job it was to pick five players. Nielsen should have this one locked up, in my opinion. Maryland’s Caitlyn McFadden could pull off the upset, on the field or at the Tewaaraton awards. Jillian Byers is such an exciting player with a joy for the game. I’d love to see her sneak in. I was stunned to see my dark-horse favorite, Duke’s Caroline Cryer, not make the final list. She is so good. Cryer has 40 goals and 32 assists while Carolyn Davis has 59 goals and 15 assists just as a comparison with her teammate. Both are amazing. I thought both would make the final list. I have seen Cryer play for years now and if women’s lacrosse was the NBA, she would win three or four of the next 10 MVP awards. Her potential is that strong. But there is no women’s pro league so athletes like Cryer and Hannah just play club ball if they continue at all after college. Some play World Cup, but that’s only held every four years. It’s a shame that there is no platform for athletes like these to continue developing as great lacrosse players for all to see.