Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The 10th annual US Lacrosse Nationals, fueled by Chipotle, wrapped up yesterday with a fitting battle in its 14U Division championship game that pitted two veteran tournament participants.
In fact, the three gold-medal games were decided by a total of four goals, providing excitement worthy of the tournament’s milestone renewal. The Yellow Jackets (N.Y.) withstood a challenge from Cardinal (Va.) to win the 14U group, and their 12U team rallied late for the win over the Lady Blue Crabs (Md./Del.). Igloo (N.Y.) claimed the 13U title over the Jackets.
2. The Major League Lacrosse semifinal matchups are set as the league finished its regular season over the weekend.
Denver hung on at Atlanta, 15-14, to clinch a playoff spot in a matchup of teams trying to get into the final four. Eric Law scored five goals to lead the Outlaws, who won only after a video review showed Blaze rookie Connor Kelly’s potentially game-tying two-point goal with 28 seconds left was, in fact, a single. Denver will play Chesapeake in one semifinal.
The other big one over the weekend featured some history, in addition to New York clinching the final playoff spot.
@RobPannell3 HAS BEATEN THE SINGLE SEASON GOALS RECORD!#RP3 broke his own record pic.twitter.com/LWlTHDk3g9
— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) August 5, 2018
Late in the first half of an 18-11 win over Chesapeake, Rob Pannell converted a Will Manny feed for his 41st goal and 75th point of the season, the latter breaking Pannell’s previous Major League Lacrosse single-season points record set in 2016. Pannell finished the season with 78 points, thanks in part to a career-high 43 goals. The Lizards will visit Dallas in the other semifinal.
3. Wire to wire: the Philadelphia Force completed its perfect United Women’s Lacrosse League season by defeating the Boston Storm, 13-7, in the league championship game.
Michelle Tumolo scored three goals to win the championship’s MVP award. Though the Storm put up a better fight, taking a 4-3 lead at one point, than it did in a 17-4 regular-season loss to Philadelphia, the Force seized control from there with its offensive chemistry and cruised to the win at Harvard Stadium.
Congrats to @phillyforceuwlx , who captured the 2018 #UWLXChampionship title this evening under the lights at Harvard Stadium! The Force beat the @bostonstormlx 13-7 to finish undefeated with a 6-0 record. Thank you to all UWLX athletes, coaches and fans for a great third season! pic.twitter.com/Q2lYKgUj52
— United Women's Lacrosse League (@unitedwlax) August 5, 2018
4. Former Oregon head coach Katrina Dowd has been hired as an assistant coach at North Carolina.
Dowd resigned her post with Ducks a few weeks ago after two seasons at the helm. She returns to the program that she left for Eugene, Ore., in 2016. Dowd served as an assistant for the Tar Heels in 2013-16, working primarily with the offense.