NEW YORK – Navy volunteer assistant coach Megan Taylor, one of the most decorated goalies in women's lacrosse history, is a finalist for the 90th Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) James E. Sullivan Award, it was announced on Monday.
 
The AAU Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation's best amateur athlete and Taylor is among a group of 10 collegiate athletes, world champions, gold medalists and national champions selected as finalists. The award recognizes the outstanding amateur athlete whose outstanding athletic accomplishments are complemented by qualities of leadership, character and sportsmanship. Winners achieve great success on a national and/or international stage through competition in collegiate athletics, Olympic pursuit or similar high-profile competitions.
 
"It is truly humbling to be selected alongside America's best college athletes for this prestigious honor," Taylor said. "Of course, this wouldn't be possible without all the incredible support I've gotten from the most amazing family, teammates, and coaches in the world. This is the perfect way to cap off the best four years of my life!"
 
Taylor is the first lacrosse player to ever be named a finalist for the award, which has seen winners such as famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012), University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), and Navy quarterback Kennan Reynolds (2015).
 
Taylor is joined by a prestigious group of finalists including Evita Griskenas, rhythmic gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics; Grant Holloway, track and field, University of Florida; Markus Howard, men's basketball, Marquette University; Sabrina Ionescu, women's basketball, University of Oregon; Trevor Lawrence, football, Clemson University; Spencer Lee, men's wrestling, University of Iowa; Dana Rettke, women's volleyball, University of Wisconsin; Kyla Ross, gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles and Abbey Weitzeil, women's swimming, University of California Berkeley.
 
Fans can vote for Taylor once a day by clicking here and by tweeting using the hashtags #VoteForMegan and #AAUSullivanAward. Voting will be open all week. The winner of the 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award will be announced virtually in April.
 
Taylor, who joined the Navy women's lacrosse coaching staff prior to the 2020 season, capped off her collegiate career in 2019, completing arguably the best career ever by a collegiate goalie. Winning her second national championship in 2019, Taylor became the first goalie ever, women or men, to win the prestigious Tewaaraton Award, given to the best player in the sport.
 
In addition, Taylor was named the IWLCA National Player of the Year, won the Honda Award for Lacrosse, was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, the University of Maryland Student-Athlete of the Year and was named the Big Ten Goalie of the Year for the fourth time in four years.
 
Taylor completed her remarkable career with an 84-4 record in goal and ended with a .512 save percentage and 740 saves. The senior won two National Championships, seven Conference Championships, and never lost a game at home.
 
After graduating from Maryland, Taylor played for Team USA and in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League, and currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Naval Academy.