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Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. It’s the summer of Sam Apuzzo. The Boston College star took home another award on Thursday, earning IWLCA Player of the Year honors.

Apuzzo joined North Carolina’s Marie McCool (Midfielder of the Year), Colorado’s Julia Lisella (Goalkeeper of the Year) and fellow Boston College player Elizabeth Miller (Defender of the Year) in receiving individual honors.

The Eagles had three players (Dempsey Arsenault) each make the All-American First Team. Maryland also had three members on the First Team: Megan Whittle, Jen Giles and Julia Braig. 

2. The Boston Cannons won the MLL Championship in 2011, and since then, there have been years of roster turnover and subpar results. Mitch Belisle has been there for it all. 

“It’s definitely frustrating,” said defender Mitch Belisle, who has been with the team since the 2009 season. “Being a competitor and wanting to win, you never like losing.”

Despite recent trades that have changed the make-up of the Cannons roster, a young core is emerging. With 2018 draft picks Trevor Baptiste (Denver) and Will Sands (Bucknell) contributing with Sergio Perkovic, Tim Muller and Zed Williams, the Cannons are hoping this season is the start of something special.

3. Keith Quigley wanted to get children involved in athletics in Chula Vista, Calif., so he founded PUCKidz for that purpose. Now he has a budding lacrosse program in the town just miles from the Mexican border. 

Read more about the PUCKidz program and how a US Lacrosse Sankofa clinic helped fuel its growth. Or watch below.

4. Le Moyne won its first Division II women's national championship last season, and it could compete for another in 2019. The Dolphins check in at No. 2 in the Way-Early 2019 Women’s Division II Top 10. Perennial power Adelphi leads the pack despite losing seven seniors.

5. Merrimack tore through Division II men’s lacrosse last season, cruising to its first national title. Three underclassmen — Sean Black, Christian Thomas and Charlie Bertrand — led the way in 2018, and they’ll be back for another season. As a result, the Warriors lead the Way-Early Division II Men’s Top 10.

6. Team USA Giving Day has come and gone, and some of lacrosse’s biggest names showed their love for the U.S. national team program. Every dollar raised was matched by US Lacrosse Board Member Sylvester Miniter. National team players showed their passion for Giving Day.

WHAT WE’RE READING

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Happy Flag Day! In honor of the big day, Meg Douty threw it back to that one time she represented America at last summer's FIL World Cup and World Games.

Getting pumped for the MLL All-Star Game, featuring Team USA? Re-live the last time the two teams met — game that ended in a Rob Pannell game-winner.

What drives Drew Snider to compete at the highest level? Go Under the Helmet with Snider, a Seattle native.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • The UWLX opens its third season tonight at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, Md. The Philly Force and Baltimore Ride battle at 6:30 p.m., and the Long Island Sound and Boston Storm meet at 8 p.m.

  • Hear more inspiring stories from our Western Mid-Atlantic and Southwest regional chapters.

  • The MLL schedule continues this weekend. Saturday, the Charlotte Hounds meet the New York Lizards and the Atlanta Blaze face the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Sunday, the Florida Launch and Denver Outlaws battle and the Ohio Machine meets the Dallas Rattlers.

  • Subscribe today to our weekly email newsletter and stay connected to each week's top lacrosse stories. The newsletter goes out every Thursday.

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