Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The WPLL held its inaugural draft on Wednesday night on Lax Sports Network. Each of the new league's five teams made 20 picks to fill its roster. Also announced were four of the five general managers: Jessy Morgan (Baltimore Brave), Liz Robertshaw (New England Command), Danielle Gallagher (New York Fight) and Jenny Graap (Upstate Pride).
Former North Carolina goalie Caylee Waters went first overall to Ricky Fried's Philadelphia Fire, followed by U.S. women's national team players Kayla Treanor (New England), Alice Mercer (New York), Michelle Tumolo (Baltimore) and Ally Carey (Upstate).
Maryland scored four picks in the draft's second round, including Nadine Hadnagy (Upstate), Brooke Griffin (Baltimore), Taylor Cummings (New York) and Megan Douty (New England). For the full 20-player rosters for each team, click here.
Colleges from across the country were quick to congratulate former players on being drafted to the WPLL.
2. The Six Nations Arrows took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Minto Cup final, cruising past the Coquitlam Adanacs 9-4 on Wednesday night. Down a goal after the first period, the Arrows answered with a 6-0 second quarter to take control of the game.
Austin Staats, the Onondaga Community College product and NLL draft prospect, led the way with three goals, all in the second quarter. Owen Hill added two assists and two goals, and Albany's Tehoka Nanticoke had a goal and two assists. Four different players scored for Coquitlam, including Thomas Semple, Dennon Armstrong, Chase Scanlan and Reid Bowering.
The Arrows will look to take home the Minto Cup tonight in Game 3 at 8 p.m.
3. With Sept. 1 approaching, Division I coaches and high school players are eagerly awaiting contact with each other. It’s been a summer of confusion on both sides, as each has had to adjust to the recruiting restrictions laid down by the NCAA in April.
For the players, there have been fewer coaches at their freshmen and sophomore camps – a welcome sign. However, for the incoming juniors just weeks away from contact, the uncertainty stills remains.
“I reached out to more schools this summer than last summer because there was so much I didn’t know about schools and who was interested in me and who wasn’t,” said Maeve Heckard, junior at Lansdale Catholic (Pa.) High School.