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

1. The Federation of International Lacrosse yesterday selected US Lacrosse to host the next women's World Cup, set for July 7-17, 2021. The event will take place at Towson University, and accompanying festivals are expected to be held at nearby Goucher College.

The event will mark this sixth time US Lacrosse has hosted an FIL world championship and the first World Cup on U.S. soil since 2005 in Annapolis, Md.

2. In a span of about 20 minutes Saturday, two women's teams from the Colonial Athletic Association served notice that the league's competitiveness should command respect, if it hadn't already.

Towson knocked off No. 4 Penn State, 14-13, just prior to No. 17 James Madison's 15-14 double-overtime win over No. 3 North Carolina. The Dukes vaulted to No. 8 in this week's Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20, and avoided a let-down by defeating Virginia Tech, 16-11, yesterday. Towson joined the rankings at No. 9.

James Madison's win yesterday, fueled by a career-high six goals from Kristen Gaudian, represents a level of consistency that coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe may not have seen last year.

You look at last year, we had some big wins, and then we go and lose to an unranked team like Rutgers, she said.

The Dukes handled an improving Hokie squad with two three-goal runs and by never allowing Virginia Tech to score more than two consecutive goals. James Madison will play UConn, a 13-12 winner over Fairfield yesterday, at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md.

NCAA Division I Women Wednesday's Scores

No. 8 James Madison 16, Virginia Tech 11
Connecticut 13, Fairfield 12
Furman 16, Presbyterian 4
Iona 11, Wagner 10
Johns Hopkins 14, Drexel 10
Temple 18, Monmouth 7
Old Dominion 11, Virginia Commonwealth 9

3. Furman's near-upset at then-No. 9 North Carolina Saturday highlights this week's NCAA Division I men's notebook from Gary Lambrecht.

The Paladins trailed, 12-6, late in the third quarter before rallying behind seven scorers to force overtime at 14-14. The Tar Heels escaped with the win, but the performance demonstrates Furman's progress as it begins its fifth varsity season under former Navy coach Richie Meade.

4. Many athletes have heard of a game ball being awarded to a team's best player in a given contest. How about a nice suit, lunch bucket or pro wrestling-style championship belt?

Such represent some of the zany postgame team traditions carried on in National Lacrosse League locker rooms. Maybe your US Lacrosse Magazine staff will come up with one for best Dialed In of the week; today's edition unlikely to compete for honors.

5. Lacrosse's connection to the National Hockey League has been chronicled, but four players on two teams have particularly strong roots to the sport and to each other.

Anaheim Ducks Nick Ritchie and Brandon Montour and Dallas Stars Devin Shore and Brett Ritchie (Nick's brother) looked back with fondness on their lacrosse careers and connections, which include ties to each other and other players in the NHL.

6. One, and only one, from Valentine's Day Twitter:

When lax is the only love you need...

Happy #ValentinesDay! pic.twitter.com/665ZSI8e2n

— TU Men's Lacrosse (@Towson_MLAX) February 14, 2018

WHAT WE’RE READING

• The Syracuse Post-Standard outlined five reasons why the No. 3 Orange women's team is traveling to Portland, Ore., Sunday for a non-conference game at Oregon.

• The Baltimore Sun had more on Towson's upset of Penn State, some additional nuggets on the World Cup coming to the U.S. in 2021 and lacrosse-related notes in its digest.

• Teton Valley (Idaho) News reported the community's youth lacrosse program had a successful debut last year and is growing this year, thanks in part to a lacrosse and lobster fundraiser.

• Inside Lacrosse offered five storylines to watch in NCAA Division III men's play this season.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Highlights from the above-referenced James Madison win over Virginia Tech:

Iona assembled highlights of yesterday's 11-10 nailbiter over Wagner in women's lacrosse.

No. 16 Army produced a video recap, complete with highlights and interviews, of Tuesday's 14-5 win over NJIT in men's lacrosse.

WHAT’S ON TAP

• We'll have plenty from college lacrosse, including an NCAA Division I women's notebook and features from Divisions II and II and the US Lacrosse Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates.

• US Lacrosse is scheduled to announce the site of future LaxCons.

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