Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. In January, the men’s professional lacrosse league draft boards looked loaded with star power, but a combination of players choosing to spend an extra year in college (Michael Sowers, TD Ierlan, Mac O’Keefe and others) due to the shortened NCAA season or chasing dreams in another sport (Dox Aitken, Jared Bernhardt, JT Giles-Harris) changed things dramatically.
Still, there was plenty of talent available, and the No. 1 pick in the Premier Lacrosse League College Draft, aired tape-delayed on NBC Sports Network on Wednesday night, featured Penn State Grant Ament going to an Archers lineup already loaded with offensive weapons, including Will Manny, Marcus Holman and Tom Schreiber.
Notre Dame midfielder Bryan Costabile went to Atlas at No. 2, and Virginia attackman Michael Kraus went to Waterdogs at No.3, but the rest of the draft was defense heavy. Eight of the remaining 11 picks in the draft came from the defensive side of the ball.
How great is this post by Archers goalie Drew Adams, one of Ament’s new teammates?
Circa 2012 with @GrantAment shooting a Maverik commercial where he was cast as a young player with big aspirations. Fast forward to today and now he is the #1 pick in the @PremierLacrosse draft and my new teammate on the @PLLArchers after setting records at @PennStateMLAX pic.twitter.com/Cc74y0tdbr
— Drew Adams (@drewadams514) May 13, 2020
2. Last year’s No. 1 pick in the PLL Collegiate Draft also made some news on Wednesday. Pat Spencer, who played basketball at Northwestern over the winter instead of pursuing professional lacrosse for the time being, signed with the Tandem agency, which will represent him in pursuing a professional basketball career.
2019 Tewaaraton winner Pat Spencer has signed on with Tandem in pursuit of an NBA career https://t.co/pRgUYNU6gX
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) May 13, 2020
3. Due to health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical concerns, US Lacrosse has canceled or postponed its events scheduled for July, including the US Lacrosse Nationals and tryouts for the 2021 U.S. women’s team.
4. Cathy Reese, a five-time national champion coach for the women’s lacrosse team at Maryland, kicks off a series of five coaching webinars coordinated by US Lacrosse tonight at 8 p.m. Other speakers in the series, which runs through the month of May, include Shelly Brezicki, T.J. Buchanan, Mac Ford and Dom Starsia.
Thursday, @cathyreese5 shares tips for developing a strong team culture and positive leadership on and off the field — even during the pandemic.
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) May 11, 2020
In the webinar, Reese will teach us how to be ready when it's time to get back on the field.
REGISTER: https://t.co/8We356Iy41 pic.twitter.com/deiR9wKFRl
5. Takeaways from Paul Carcaterra’s “Overtime” podcast with Chaos LC Andy Towers, including a conversation with his wife at Grand Central Station that sent him on the right career path.
6. Redwoods was less than 30 seconds away from winning the inaugural PLL championship, but Matt Rambo had other ideas and led the Whips to the title. Redwoods added Marist faceoff specialist Peyton Smith and High Point defenseman Chris Price in the college draft on Wednesday night. A look at the club heading into 2020.
7. Is there anything more fun than Albany's men's lacrosse headshots? A virtual bracket pits the best of these iconic shots against each other.
Need a little more insight into the Regions?!?
— UAlbany Lacrosse (@UAlbanyMLax) May 13, 2020
No. 1 seeds@PuertoRknSteven@ChokeOnMyDust @CoreyYunker1
T. Nuckel
Matchups@miles2thompson v @connorfields05
C. Filipowski v @lyle4thompson @ChokeOnMyDust v @s_eccs
M. Eccles v @BigRicks7#DaneTrain pic.twitter.com/QRbY9S9i0h
WHAT WE’RE READING
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One star player not selected in the PLL draft was Syracuse defenseman Nick Mellen. Earlier this month, he was a first-round selection by Boston in the MLL draft.
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Sophia DiCenso was big outside of the draw circle for the U.S. women’s U19 team last summer and now does her work between the lines for Richmond. She gives 10 tips for playing on the perimeter of the draw for the US Lacrosse #LaxAtHome series.
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The IWLCA Behind the Whistle blog features Brighde Dougherty, a founder and coach for FLOW Self Empowerment.
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Lawrenceville Prep (N.J.) will have new coaches in 2021, including the high-profile hiring of Culver’s Jon Posner to lead the school’s boys’ program.
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Tucker Nelson, interim men’s lacrosse coach at Pfeiffer this season, has been named the school’s full-time head coach.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Indoor wall ball? Gotta do what you gotta do. Great improvisation for #wallballwednesday with Swax Lax and US Lacrosse.
Late to the party but ready to dance, Sophie’s interpretation of #wallballwednesday when the lawn is getting fertilized @USLacrosse @SwaxLaxBall pic.twitter.com/b1HTuqe1Vj
— Jennifer Berk Shone (@jenniferbshone) May 13, 2020
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Andrew Stimmel, an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s U19 team and the head coach at Marquette, will be featured on this week’s Coaches on Call segment tonight on Lax Sports Network at 9 p.m. (Eastern).