Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. LaxCon week is here.
US Lacrosse brings its annual convention and fan fest to Philadelphia for the 10th time this weekend, but first since 2014. The three-day event centers on education and networking for coaches, officials and organizational leaders, while also welcoming the lacrosse industry for the sport’s largest trade show.
We're looking forward to seeing you in Philadelphia next week, @USLaxConvention #LaxCon2019 attendees! Be sure to catch the @NLLWings game on Saturday night (1/12 at 7pm) as they take on the Georgia Swarm at the @WellsFargoCtr. Tickets: https://t.co/6cSy1o3GE3#PHLSports pic.twitter.com/FEe1mE6YCH
— Philadelphia CVB (@discoverPHL) January 5, 2019
Crowds for LaxCon typically have reached 6,500-7,500 this decade. Advance ticket sales end Wednesday. Walk-up sales begin Thursday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
2. The U.S. women’s team got a chance to receive some star treatment at the IWLCA Presidents Cup, and players gave back to the assembled throngs of high school student athletes.
3. Buffalo Bandits goalie Matt Vinc got a taste of an old rivalry from a new side over the weekend.
Vinc, the former longtime goalie of the Rochester Knighthawks, backstopped the Bandits to a 13-4 home win Saturday night. He saved 55 of 59 shots and never allowed Rochester more than one goal in a period, earning one of the three stars of the game. Eight players scored goals for Buffalo, but Vinc’s heroics atoned for the team’s lonely four faceoff wins in 21 tries.
Elsewhere Saturday, Georgia ended its home game with Vancouver on a 7-2 run to pull out a 10-8 victory. Miles Thompson scored three goals to lead the Swarm, which kept the Warriors off the scoreboard in the decisive fourth quarter.
Saskatchewan outlasted San Diego, 16-12, behind Ben McIntosh’s five goals and four assists. Austin Staats led the Seals with four goals and two assists.
Friday night, Adam Jones scored 3:51 into overtime to lift host Toronto to an 11-10 win over Philadelphia. Team USA’s Tom Schreiber led the Rock with five goals and three assists, including this equalizer with less than 20 seconds left in regulation.
When it appears all is lost, just remember that there is a superhero that lives amongst us in #RockCity. #CaptainAmerica pic.twitter.com/rEylBPXA1S
— Toronto Rock (@TorontoRockLax) January 5, 2019
The born-again Wings got a 16-24 performance on faceoffs from Team USA’s Trevor Baptiste, but they fell to 0-3 on the season. They’ll host Georgia at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. US Lacrosse and the Wings partnered on a $23 combo ticket for that game and the Fan Fest portion of LaxCon.
Finally, yesterday, Calgary won at Colorado, 11-8, to improve to 3-1 and drop the Mammoth to 0-2. Rhys Duch scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Roughnecks, who got 41 saves from Christian Del Bianco.