BEST adj.
/best/
superlative of GOOD

1: excelling all others

2: most productive of good: offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction

3: most, largest

(Source: Merriam-Webster)

Best of Lacrosse 2018 Finalists
Men’s Player | Women’s Player
Men’s Coach | Women’s Coach
Men’s Breakthrough | Women’s Breakthrough
Men’s Performance | Women’s Performance
Game | Moment

As the lacrosse calendar turns from 2018 to 2019 and we reflect on one of the most riveting years in recent memory, US Lacrosse Magazine is taking to Twitter for the fans’ perspective on what made it so. We’ve identified four finalists each in 10 categories in preparation for our annual “Best of Lacrosse” edition.

Below, we present the finalists for Best Women’s Performance.

VOTE #BestOfLax poll for Best Women's Performance of 2018

* Zoe Belodeau (@PennWomensLax) 5G, GWG vs. PSU
* Hayley Hicklen (@GatorsLAX) 16 SV vs. UNC
* Haley Warden (@JMULacrosse) NCAA MOP
* Megan Whittle (@MarylandWLax) NCAA QF vs. NAVY

READ https://t.co/PebqE0TgPB

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) October 24, 2018

Zoe Belodeau
Penn
5G, Game-winner vs. Penn State

The most prolific freshman season in Penn history was punctuated by Zoe Belodeau's performance in the Quakers 15-14 victory over Penn State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Belodeau scored on a behind-the-back shot with 4:23 remaining in regulation to give Penn a 14-13 lead, and then after Penn State forced overtime, she scored the game-winner with 1.8 seconds left. Belodeau tied her season-high with five goals in the game as part of an 80-point rookie season.

Hayley Hicklen
Florida
16 saves vs. North Carolina

Hayley Hicklen had a number of big days when she piled up 178 saves last season for Florida, but none was more impressive than the school-record 16-save effort she put up in a 17-10 win over defending national champion North Carolina. North Carolina, coming off of a win over then No. 1 Maryland, was held to a season-low 10 goals in the loss as Hicklen posted her fifth straight double-digit save effort to open the season.

Haley Warden
James Madison
9G in Final Four

JMU's deep senior class had plenty of stars, but none shone brighter than Haley Warden during the final four. Warden was named the Most Outstanding Player after leading the Dukes to their first NCAA championship. In a 15-12 win over North Carolina in the NCAA semifinals, Warden scored five times and won 10 draw controls to lead JMU. In a 16-15 win over Boston College in the championship game, Warden scored three of her four goals late in the second half.

Megan Whittle
Maryland
NCAA Quarterfinals

After going scoreless for nearly 50 minutes, Megan Whittle caught fire with three straight goals to spur Maryland to a 17-15 come-from-behind win over Navy in the NCAA quarterfinals. Whittle tied the game with 10:32 remaining, gave the Terps the lead with 6:38 left and then scored an insurance tally with 5:52 left. It was the highlight of a senior season in which Whittle became the all-time leading goal scorer (298) in the history of the sport's most storied program.