Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The Premiere Lacrosse League playoffs continue this weekend, highlighted by Saturday’s 5 pm game between Chaos and Redwoods on NBC Sports Network. The winner of that game advances to play in next weekend’s championship game against Whipsnakes.
2. In an effort to keep the dive alive, the NCAA approved a new field marking for men’s lacrosse that is designed to protect goalies and make officiating the play easier. The news was met with some mixed reactions.
“It’s a crease......INSIDE of a crease.” pic.twitter.com/6d46wCElZs
— Greg Gurenlian (@GregBeast32) September 12, 2019
3. Marie McCool has won everywhere she’s every played. Get to know the Team USA and WPLL Brave star in our Give & Go feature.
What can't @mariemccool4 do? She's won at every level of lacrosse, but can she sing? Get to know the @USAWLax and @WPLLBrave star in our Give & Go feature. https://t.co/rCLckFDyq3 pic.twitter.com/Wgjs7EPTNB
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) September 12, 2019
4. The NLL released its 2019-20 schedule and the 117-game slate, the most ever for an NLL season, begins in late November.
5. NHL star John Tavares, the nephew of the former lacrosse star by the same name, was himself a pretty good lacrosse player before embarking on his professional hockey career. Looks like lacrosse will continue to be a part of the Tavares family legacy.
John Tavares already prepping his newborn son Jace for success in sports pic.twitter.com/pQbArFtUmg
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 12, 2019
WHAT WE’RE READING
• One of the big college football games of the weekend will feature Iowa visiting rival Iowa State (ESPN’s College Game Day will be there). Keep an eye on Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini — he’s a former high school lacrosse player at Connecticut’s Notre Dame High School.
• NBC finds success in year one with the Premier Lacrosse League.
• Back from a broken foot, Syracuse’s Tucker Dordevic was raring to go for the start of fall practice.
• The college class of 2020 will infuse pro lacrosse with some serious talent.
• Mike Abbott has been promoted to associate head coach for the Penn men’s lacrosse program.
• Former Florida star Sydney Pirreca has joined the women’s lacrosse coaching staff at Syracuse.
• Former Holy Cross assistant Jamie Redding has joined the women’s lacrosse staff at Niagara.
• World Lacrosse held a coach and athlete development clinic in Belgium in conjunction with the Ken Galluccio Cup.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Former Cleveland State head coach Dylan Sheridan, now in his first season as an assistant at Ohio State was mic'd up at a recent Buckeyes practice.
“Hold yourself to a higher standard.”
— Ohio State Men's LAX (@OhioStateMLAX) September 12, 2019
We mic'd up the newest addition to our staff - @DSheridan8 - for a recent practice. Watch and listen to him teach the game #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/29YZKgnFQZ
Penn State's Grant Ament is known as one of the best feeders in the sport. But he's just as dangerous with the ball in his stick..
@GrantAment pic.twitter.com/ayAAivkmOF
— Penn State Men’s Lacrosse (@PennStateMLAX) September 12, 2019
WHAT’S ON TAP
-
All four Major League Lacrosse playoff teams will be in action on Saturday with Denver hosting Chesapeake and Atlanta hosting Boston.