Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Duke hosted “Kanines at Koskinen” last night, but that was the only way the Blue Devils were kind to the dogs. Duke dominated the Greyhounds of Loyola before fans, pups and a national television audience on ESPNU to the tune of a 12-7 score. The Blue Devils led by eight going into the final quarter.
Earlier in the day, Patrick Stevens checked in with his weekly NCAA Men’s Division I Notebook, focusing on Duke’s improvement due in part to getting healthy. That was evident against Loyola. Nakeie Montgomery, who missed two games to injury, had four goals and Brad Smith, who missed the opener and came back slowly had two goals and three assists.
In notable women’s games on Thursday, No. 20 Florida snapped a three-game losing streak with a 15-5 win at Elon, Izzy Nixon had 18 draw controls and Sam Higgins had eight caused turnovers as Yale beat Niagara 17-10, and Davidson improved to 6-0 with a 10-7 win over Mercer.
2. Major League Lacrosse had a big night on Thursday. Commissioner Sandy Brown was interviewed during the first half of the Duke-Loyola game and the league launched a rebrand with a new logo and website.
We're Ready.https://t.co/nljrortbPj pic.twitter.com/72bsLbWx4k
— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) March 8, 2019
The MLL will hold its collegiate draft on Saturday in Charlotte at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The Premier Lacrosse League announced on Thursday that it will holds its college draft on April 22.
3. The MLL draft will be sandwiched in the Queen City by the Crown Lacrosse Classic, which features three of the top six teams in the Nike/US Lacrosse Men’s Top 20. Today, No. 1 Towson plays Jacksonville, followed by No. 2 Cornell and No. 6 Penn State tangling.
On Sunday, we’ll have a 1-2 matchup with Towson and Cornell meeting up, followed by Jacksonville against Penn State.
4. Matt Hamilton catches up with Utah Valley’s Preston Burbidge, the player made famous by “The Wave” and the videographer who captured the moment, Ciaran Giroux.
Lacrosse community, meet Preston Burbidge.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 7, 2019
The @UVULacrosse product took the nation by storm with his viral video (by @Kiywii) last week.
He shares his thoughts on a "dream come true" and what he thought about his wave being labeled unsportsmanlike. https://t.co/pC0IW4tedT pic.twitter.com/UXlcDyRthP
5. A group of players that committed to Boston University before the school had ever played a men’s lacrosse game are paying dividends for the Terriers.
6. Pitt and Utah State top the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates polls.
7. Cold weather? No problem.
Frigid temperatures were no match for Sam Apuzzo and Ian Davies. Apuzzo had 8g, 2a, 12 draws for @BCwlax in a win over Navy. Davies made 22 saves as @roanokemenslax handed Stevens its first loss. Full photo galleries from John Strohsacker. https://t.co/lbpO1vhe7h pic.twitter.com/VOiF5yWYwP
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 7, 2019