WASHINGTON – The Tewaaraton Foundation has named James Madison lacrosse attacker Isabella Peterson as one of five national finalists for the 2023 Tewaaraton Award, the foundation announced on Thursday.
 
With her first ever selection as a finalist, Peterson becomes the fourth in JMU history, joining Lisa Staedt (2003), Gail Decker (2004) and Kristen Gaudian (2018).
 
Peterson, a redshirt junior, has led the JMU offense with 78 goals and added 20 assists to total 98 points, reeling in hat tricks in 16 of 19 games this season. She ranks third in the nation in total goals and tied for second in total points. Peterson has also gained possession with 81 draw controls (4.26/game), tied for the team lead and for fifth in the American Athletic Conference.
 
Her performance has earned Peterson a bevy of awards including a First Team All-American honor by USA Lacrosse Magazine on Tuesday. She was unanimously named the American Athletic Conference Attack Player of the Year on May 3. During the season, Peterson took AAC Attack Player of the Week five different times and was nationally recognized as the USA Lacrosse Division I Player of the Week on Feb. 28.
 
The Sparks, Md. native finds herself at or near the top of the record book in both career and season totals. She scored her 202nd career goal to break Decker's record on April 29 and is just four goals from breaking the single-season record, also held by Decker. In points, she is nine away from breaking the career record and 15 from breaking the single-season records held by Decker. She also sits third in program history with 231 career draw controls, 47 behind teammate Rachel Matey.
 
Peterson was selected as a Tewaaraton finalist after becoming a nominee for the second straight season, joining Mairead Durkin to become the third duo in JMU history regarded as nominees.
 
With her selection as a finalist, Peterson will be invited to Washington, D.C. for the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony on June 1, where the winner will be picked among the five women's finalists. Erin Coykendall and Izzy Scane of Northwestern, Meaghan Tyrrell of Syracuse and Jenn Medjid of Boston College represent the other women's finalists selected on Thursday.
 
She will make her third appearance in the NCAA Championship this week, where No. 7 James Madison will play a home first-round matchup on Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m. against No. 14 Army West Point.