Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Athletes Unlimited began Season 2 at USA Lacrosse HQ.
Team Apuzzo and Team Read earned wins on opening night of Athletes Unlimited’s second season.
In the first game of the 2022 campaign, Team Apuzzo led 10-5 at halftime and held off a second-half surge from Team Glynn for a 14-10 win. Team Apuzzo’s Lauren Gilbert netted a hat trick in her professional debut and led the game with 190 points, and captain Sam Apuzzo finished with two goals, four assists and 179 total points.
Former Tar Heel and world championship gold medalist Ally Mastroianni led Team Glynn with two goals, two assists and 76 total points in the first game of her professional career.
Brittany Read stopped nine shots, and Charlotte North tallied three goals and three assists to lead Team Read to a 12-8 win over Team Waters in the second game. North was held without a goal in the first half but dished three assists. In the second half, she found the back of the cage three times, including two two-point goals, and finished with 133 total points. Read led the game with 141 total points.
Kelly McPartland tallied one goal, three caused turnovers and 88 total points for Team Waters.
The weekend resumes Saturday at USA Lacrosse HQ, which will serve as the host site for the entire season.
TOP 5 LEADERBOARD
1. Lauren Gilbert, 190
2. Sam Apuzzo, 179
3. Amanda Johansen, 155
4. Brittany Read, 141
5. Taylor Moreno, 138
Full leaderboard
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
Team Read vs. Team Apuzzo, 12:30 p.m., ESPNU
Team Glynn vs. Team Waters, 3 p.m., ESPNU
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
Team Read vs. Team Glynn, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Team Apuzzo vs. Team Waters, 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
2. USA Lacrosse honors High School All-Americans.
More than 1,000 high school boys and girls have earned the distinction of USA Lacrosse All-American. The award winners, announced earlier this month, were voted on by coaches in each geographic region. Some areas have not yet reported their selections, but you can view the boys’ current list as of July 20th here and the girls’ one here.
Adrenaline Lacrosse also announced its rosters for its boys’ All-American game. The players hail from 15 western and non-traditional lacrosse states. The game will air on ESPN Sunday night at 8 p.m.
3. WWE and Kevin Durant invest in PLL.
The latest round of PLL investors features some recognizable names. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) and Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures are among the newest investors, according to a Bloomberg report. The Rabil brothers did not provide a specific amount that each party invested.
4. Rule, protocol changes coming to NCAA lacrosse.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel has approved a proposal to count goals if a defender propels an opposing offensive player into the goal mouth. The rule will be in effect during the 2023 season.
The NCAA also announced that the women will experiment with video review challenges during the 2023 season.
5. Carl Tamulevich dies.
Tamulevich, who won two national titles in three seasons at Navy in the 1960s, passed away on Sunday at the age of 79. Tamulevich, a two-time first-team All-American and member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, was one of the top defensemen of his era.
He went on to serve in the Navy and then returned to the Academy as an athletic administrator, where he worked for three decades.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Season two of AU kicked off with a whole new constellation of stars ready to grow the game.
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Kayla Wood isn’t just playing for herself when she puts on the Athlete’s Unlimited uniform, writes Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun.
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Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette looked back at the life of Carl Tamulevich in an obituary syndicated on Stars and Stripes.
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The Baltimore Sun discussed Fate of a Sport, a documentary that follows PLL co-founders Paul and Mike Rabil, with executive producer Philip Bryon.
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Mars (Pa.) became the first WPIAL team to win a state title. Now, the Planets are the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s boys’ team of the year.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Brennan Dwyer, Lauren Gilbert, Jill Girardi and Ally Palermo returned to Northwestern for a fifth year and led the Wildcats to the Final Four. Go behind-the-scenes in a 55-minute documentary produced by Northwestern Athletics. You can watch it here.
Charlotte North hasn’t stopped playing competitive lacrosse since the collegiate season started in February. If last night was any indication, she’s got plenty left in the tank.
Another @charlotteocho8 goal!! Are we surprised#AULax | : ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/m0tuUBNR53
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) July 22, 2022
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Pro lacrosse takes center stage as the first weekend of Athlete’s Unlimited continues, and the PLL picks up where it left off before the All-Star break. We’ll have coverage of the weekend on Monday at usalacrossemagazine.com.