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

1. After the graduation of All-American midfielder Sammy Mueller, Virginia is flying under the radar even with a reputation for finding a way into the hunt. 

“We’ll take that there’s not a whole lot of pressure on us and we’ll chip away and sneak up on teams,” Julie Myers told US Lacrosse Magazine contributor Justin Feil. 

The Cavaliers are No. 18 in our Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20. 

2. “They’re in line to definitely win the Ivy League,” one rival coach said of the Penn Quakers, who check in at No. 18 in our Top 20 rankings.  

Bolstered by an offense that bring back top four scorers from 2020 plus the return of 2019 First Team All-American midfielder Sam Handley, Penn should have sufficient firepower to contend with the likes of Cornell and Yale. 

See the full preview here.  

3. Justin Anderson has more to look forward to than most college lacrosse players this spring. His wife, Priscilla, is expecting their first child sometime in May.  

“My first joke was, ‘If this falls on a weekend when there’s a playoff games, I don’t know how we’re going to be able to work it out,’” Anderson said. “It’s obviously a life-changing event. There’s a lot that could be happening in May, so we’re anxiously awaiting that.”  

Check out Matt Hamilton’s full feature on the balancing act of the 25-year-old UNC midfielder and three-time captain.  

4. There are no shortage of PLL pros, analysts and personalities presenting at LaxCon 2021, including Redwoods LC head coach Nat St. Laurent on “Developing a Culture.”  

See a breakdown of who’s doing what here.  

5. Matt Bocklet shared an update on his brother, Chris, who the lacrosse community has rallied around after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a long boarding accident.  

“The moment I look forward to the most is the next time I get to see him & give him a huge hug,” Matt Bocklet wrote.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Matthew Bocklet (@bocko7)

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Earlham College coach Lindsey Grundfast offers resources that can help with mental health in the latest IWLCA blog. 

• Lacrosse Playground announces “We’re back.”  

• Inside Lacrosse’s Q&A with Bates all-time points leader and now Fairfield attackman Matt Chlastawa. 

• Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com details how Syracuse city team coach Dennis Kennedy is continuing to contribute to LaxCon this year through a virtual seminar with Section III girls lacrosse stars. 

• Lacrosse Bucket’s Men’s DI Top 25 rankings.  

• The Napa Valley Register profiles brothers Jack and Bennett Goller, who played together at Marin Catholic and will reunite this spring at Colby College.  

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Pond lacrosse anyone? This should be a thing 

We see your pond hockey and raise you ... pond lacrosse

@stevepriolo23 pic.twitter.com/ocgeScBvrG

— NLL (@NLL) January 13, 2021

The Utah men are the most recent team back in action at practice 

We back, baby!! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/8o5q0DPM9s

— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) January 14, 2021

WHAT’S ON TAP

• Our top 20 previews roll on. We check in with the No. 17 Richmond men and the No. 17 Boston College women.  

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