Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Syracuse men’s lacrosse is getting some serious preseason buzz.
The return of Tucker Dordevic and the addition of Chase Scanlan — not to mention the proven defensive excellence of Nick Mellen, who is wearing the No. 11 jersey this season — has some calling for a return to the final four. It’s been seven years since the Orange last made it to championship weekend.
ESPN analyst Paul Carcaterra, host of the US Lacrosse Magazine podcast “Overtime,” tweeted that this is the best Syracuse team since 2015.
This is @CuseMLAX best team since 2015...lots of depth in 2020. On offense...high end above the goal talent. The success (Final Four Expectations) of the season will come down to how effective they can be from X (behind).
— Paul Carcaterra (@paulcarcaterra) January 23, 2020
2. Long Island is living up to its reputation as a hotbed.
Two days after the Premier Lacrosse League announced it is coming to Stony Brook as part of its 2020 tour, the Ivy League announced that the conference men’s lacrosse semifinals and championship game will be held at Hofstra, which is also home to the NCAA quarterfinals.
3. For the second time in five years, the Rollins men’s lacrosse program has been rocked by the tragic death of a player.
Joey Cinque, a junior attackman from West Palm Beach, Fla., died unexpectedly Sunday morning. He was 21.
In February 2015, former Tars captain Will Hauver died of complications from the flu related to diabetes.
4. Gettysburg’s Courtney Patterson has the potential to go pro in lacrosse. But with plans also to attend medical school, Patterson is all in on her last season. Jonathan Sigal profiled the US Lacrosse Magazine Division III Women’s Preseason Player of the Year.
5. The No.7-ranked Virginia women’s lacrosse team is digging deep to rebuild its defense. Justin Feil covered the Cavaliers for US Lacrosse Magazine’s NCAA preview countdown.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Five bold predictions for the 2020 NCAA men’s lacrosse season.
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Looking for an America East sleeper? Albany women’s lacrosse returns nearly everyone.
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One-on-one matchups to get excited for in 2020, per Lacrosse Bucket.
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Inside the positive culture at Michigan: “It extends further than lacrosse.”
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Just another lacrosse practice at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where flyovers are the norm.
Flyovers are always incredible! Last day of practice @AF_Academy before we travel to first competition at Notre Dame this Saturday! #GotYourBack #CountOnMe #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/SjOKdLQihh
— Air Force Lacrosse (@AF_Lax) January 24, 2020
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Lacrosse, actually. The MCLA officially pops the cork on the 2020 college season when Arkansas visit LSU in the opener tonight at 7 p.m.
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Our NCAA preview countdown continues with capsules for the No. 6-ranked Notre Dame men and Princeton women.
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More bold predictions, this time for NCAA women’s lacrosse in 2020.