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

1. Ryder Garnsey, Notre Dame’s leading scorer in 2017, was granted his release from the program. Garnsey, the All-America honorable mention member as a sophomore, could find his way to Virginia, sources have told USLaxMagazine.com.

Garnsey apparently prefers going to Charlottesville, but that would require him to sit a year out because he’d be moving to a program within the ACC. 

Virginia, a team that finished 8-7 last season and missed the NCAA tournament, brings back a young core that includes midfielders Ryan Conrad and Dox Aitken, as well as attackman Michael Kraus.

2. The Ohio Machine (7-2) stayed at the top of the MLL standings this weekend with a 15-13 win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks (3-5). Rookie Connor Cannizzaro scored a career-high four goals to lead the Machine past the Bayhawks and move their winning streak to five games.

Peter Baum led all scorers with three goals (one two-point goal) and two assists.

The second-place Denver Outlaws (6-2) clawed back from a seven-goal deficit to beat the New York Lizards 17-14 on Saturday. The Outlaws put together a 10-1 second-half run to cut the deficit and eventually take a decisive lead in the fourth quarter, pulling them within .5 games of the Machine top the league standings.

Matt Kavanagh had four goals and two assists for the Outlaws, while Curtis Dickson had five goals for New York (3-5).

John Haus had a career-high eight points to help the Charlotte Hounds end the Florida Launch’s three-game win streak on Saturday, pulling away for an 18-14 victory. The Hounds scored 10 goals in the second quarter and Matt Rambo had his first career goal. Despite the result, the Launch (5-4) sit in third, a half-game ahead of the Hounds (5-5).

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera made an appearance at American Legion Memorial Stadium to see the Hounds win.

Randy Staats scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lead the Atlanta Blaze (3-5) past the Rochester Rattlers (4-5) by a score of 14-13 on Saturday. Staats finished the game with four goals and an assist.

3. Shootout for Soldiers headed to Boston this weekend, raising $67,701.26 in the 24-hour event. That number moves Boston’s Shootout for Soldiers three-year total to more than $150,000.

The event was organized by Mike Sullivan, a former West Point lacrosse player who serves on the board of the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of US Lacrosse. He’ll be heading to Baghdad, Iraq on July 2 to begin a yearlong deployment; but with the help of Operation Baggataway, he'll be bringing lacrosse equipment with him.

4. Tom Schreiber took home NLL Rookie of the Year honors after scoring 33 goals and adding 61 assists for the Toronto Rock. Schreiber, who recently joined the Machine for the MLL season, is also the reigning MLL MVP. That's a pretty good year. Schreiber will tryout for the men's field national team ahead of next year's FIL World Cup.

Colorado Mammoth goalie Dillon Ward took home the NLL Goaltender of the Year award. He finished third in the league with 115 saves. Also taking home NLL awards were Toronto’s Brodie Merrill (Transition Player of the Year) and Georgia’s Jason Noble (Defensive Player of the Year).

5. UMass and coach Greg Cannella agreed to a two-year extension through the 2019-20 season. Cannella, who has put together 194 wins since taking over in 1994, is second among active coaches in tenure at one school.

"I am thrilled to continue to serve as the head coach of the University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team," Cannella said. "As my alma mater, and a program I have been a member of for nearly 30 years, I hope to continue to serve the student-athletes who give their all to this University for as long as I coach lacrosse.”

6. Former North Carolina star Molly Hendrick was hired as an assistant coach for Ohio State. Hendrick finished her Tar Heels career this spring after scoring 186 goals and amassing 220 points, both the best numbers in program history.

Hendrick joins another recent graduate, Notre Dame’s Barbara Sullivan, on the Buckeyes staff. 

7. The Fred Opie Show is back for another week, and Opie speaks with Metro Lacrosse CEO Aaron Jones. Jones is a former All-American at Cornell and chose lacrosse over opportunities in college football.

WHAT WE’RE READING

  • Salisbury is on the cusp of tying Hobart for the most Division III titles in history, and coach Jim Berkman doesn't envision a rebuilding year in 2018. Could it be another title run?

  • Maryland lost another assistant coach when Kevin Conry left to take the job at Michigan, but head coach John Tillman isn't worried about finding a replacement.

  • Protective headgear could change the women's game and help prevent stories like that of Megan Heintzelman, whose six concussions have hindered her vision and memory.

  • The Vancouver Sun profiles the career of Gary Gait, referred to as the "Michael Jordan" of lacrosse.

  • US Lacrosse's WallBall Challenge is reaching its final week. Check in with the fundraising and reps leaders of this year's competition.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

After signing a two-year extension with UMass, coach Greg Cannella touches on his team's performance in 2017.

Remember Tewaaraton winner Matt Rambo? He's busy making a name for himself in the MLL. Here's his first career goal, and it was well worth the wait.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • The July/August edition of US Lacrosse Magazine drops today. Look out for coverage from the NCAA championships.

  • Get ready for US Lacrosse's Olympic Day acitivites, which will take place on Friday. Check out the full schedule here.

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