Courtesy of Loyola Maryland Athletic Communications
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pat Spencer recorded another first for a Loyola University Maryland men's lacrosse player on Thursday when he was named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award for the second time.
Spencer is one of five finalists for the honor that will be announced on May 31, 2018, at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. He is joined as a finalist by the University of Denver's Trevor Baptiste, Duke University's Justin Guterding, University of Maryland's Connor Kelly and Yale University's Ben Reeves.
"Pat has shown again that he is one of the best, if not the best, players in the country," said Loyola Head Coach Charley Toomey. "He has so many different ways of impacting the game. It is a lot of fun to watch him on a daily basis in practices and games because of what he is able to do on the field. We have seen defenses try just about everything to defend Pat, but he finds ways to continue to execute at a very high level."
Last month, the Loyola junior became the third player in Patriot League history to win three Offensive Player of the Year awards and the first to earn the recognition in his first three years. During the season, he set the Patriot League career records for points and assists, and he also moved into first all-time at Loyola in assists.
Spencer enters the NCAA Championships -- Loyola is the No. 6 seed and will host the University of Virginia on Saturday, May 12, at 7:15 p.m. -- with 31 goals and 55 assists for 86 points this season. His 55 assists tied the Patriot League and school record he set last season, and his 86 points are tied for third in school single-season history.
His 162 assists sit atop the program's all-time chart, while he has 258 points, good for second in career history (Gary Hanley, 311, 1978-81). With four more goals, he will become Loyola's 10th player all-time with 100 or more goals. Currently he is tied for 11th with 96.
This season, Spencer has six games with seven or more points, including three with nine or better. He tied Hanley's school single-game record with 12 points in a March win at Navy, and he has tallied two or more points in every game of 2018. He has at least one point in all 49 of his collegiate games with two or more in 47 games.
Spencer ended the regular-season third in the nation in assists per game (3.67) and fourth in points per game (5.73). Of his 30 goals scored at even-strength, 24 of them have come unassisted; his 80-percent mark of scoring unassisted ranks second nationally this year.
His 162 assists are tops amongst active players and are tied for 11th in NCAA Division I history. He is fourth among active players with 258 career points.
The Davidsonville, Maryland-native and graduate of Boys Latin School of Maryland is a two-time All-American after earning second-team honors as a freshman in 2016 and first-team recognition a year ago. He was one of five finalists, as well, for the Tewaaraton Award last season.
This marks the fourth time a Loyola player has been a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award: Mike Sawyer (2012), Joe Fletcher (2014), Spencer (2017).