Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world.
1. This week’s NCAA rankings came out Monday. In addition to the Nike/US Lacrosse rankings for Divisions I, II and III men’s and women’s lacrosse, the USILA, IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse conduct weekly polls.
Nike/USL Rankings
MD1 | WD1 | MD2 | WD2 | MD3 | WD3
Maverik/IL Media Polls
MD1 | WD1
USILA Polls
MD1 | MD2 | MD3
IWLCA Polls
WD1
Who’s No. 1 in Division I men’s lacrosse? It depends on whom you ask. Maryland pulled even with Denver with 649 points apiece in the Maverik media poll produced by Inside Lacrosse. The Pioneers are the undisputed No. 1 on the other lists. The Terps will enter the toughest portion of their nonconference schedule, with Yale, Notre Dame and Albany looming.
This week, we’ll see not one, but two No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns and NCAA championship game rematches — starting today when Adelphi visits Florida Southern seeking revenge for its loss in the Division II women’s final. Then on Saturday, Maryland will get another crack at North Carolina, this time in College Park, in a matchup many expect again Memorial Day weekend.
2. The National Lacrosse League is targeting nine cities for expansion over the next three years, according to Philadelphia sports radio host John Barchard.
Second-year NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz has made no secret of his ambition regarding expansion of the current nine-team pro indoor lacrosse league. He revamped the league’s front office and moved its headquarters to Philadelphia, got busy inking partnerships and launched a new digital platform — all with eyes on boosting revenue and relevance to lure more owners and franchises into the fold.
Citing sources, Barchard tweeted Monday that the NLL has targeted Baltimore, Long Island and Montreal for 2018; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Edmonton and Miami for 2019; and San Francisco for 2020.
This news is of particular interest to fans of the former Philadelphia Wings, once a model NLL franchise that faded before being relocated to New England and becoming the Black Wolves.
3. Albany’s Sarah Martin and Virginia’s Mike D’Amario are the Epoch/US Lacrosse Players of the Week following their 10- and seven-goal performances over the weekend, respectively.
4. The Santa Barbara Shootout, a premier WCLA event that comprises a significant portion of many teams’ regular-season schedule, has been a washout due to torrential rain, flooding and landslides in central and northern California. Some games were relocated to the south, as organizers scrambled to accommodate the college club women’s lacrosse teams that traveled far and wide for the event. The high school division was canceled.
5. Army defeated VMI and Niagara rolled past St. Bonaventure in Monday’s lone Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse games, respectively.