Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Major League Lacrosse is set to announce former ESPN executive Alexander “Sandy” Brown as its next commissioner, according to Inside Lacrosse. Brown, a former Washington & Lee player, will replace former MLL commissioner Dave Gross, who announced he'd be stepping down after the 2017 season, but stayed on until the search was completed.
Gross will remain in his position leading Lax United Marketing LLC, which owns Lax Sports Network, among other duties within the league.
Brown, a Baltimore native, had spent time as CEO of ONE World Sports, President of Sports at Univision and COO of Rural Media Group in addition to his responsibilites at ESPN.
2. Villanova is moving up in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20. After coming back from five goals down to beat then-No. 9 Penn State, the Wildcats vaulted from the No. 20 spot last week to the No. 13 spot in Monday’s rankings.
It’s all a result of John Kluh’s overtime shot that gave Villanova the 17-16 opening victory at Penn State. Kluh, a 5-foot-4 middie, is a sixth year senior.
Elsewhere in the Top 20, the Nittany Lions fell back to No. 17 after the upset loss. No. 7 Ohio State and No. 8 Rutgers switched spots after the Buckeyes blew out Cleveland State and the Scarlet Knights got past Robert Morris. North Carolina was the only other active team, moving up to No. 9 after Penn State’s fall.
3. The Saskatchewan Rush are determined to win back the Champion’s Cup, and they’re well on their way to doing so. After sweeping a pair of weekend games against the Colorado Mammoth and Vancouver Stealth, the Rush are 7-1 and clicking on all cylinders.
Also in Neil Stevens’ notebook, Christian Del Bianco had a big day in Calgary’s win over the weekend, tallying 47 saves against Toronto.
- Elsewhere in the NLL, the Stealth acquired lefty Pat Saunders from the Buffalo Bandits in exchange for Thomas Hoggarth. Saunders, a nine-year veteran, dropped 76 points in 2016.
4. Salisbury opened the Division III men’s season the same way it ended the last one — with a victory. However, the Sea Gulls don’t top the Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20 like they did in 2017.
That distinction goes to a Wesleyan team that boasts potential Player of the Year in Harry Stanton. The Cardinals have plenty of firepower and will be the hunted this season.
York takes the second spot and will have aspirations of playing on Memorial Day weekend. Check out the Division III men’s preview before the season kicks into full gear this weekend.
5. TCNJ was minutes away from taking home the Division III women’s national title last season, but eventually fell to Steph Colson and Gettsyburg.
But with star defender Elizabeth Morrison returning, the Lions like their chances to return to the final. TCNJ tops the Division III Top 20, but its title game foes lurk closely at No. 3.
Will TCNJ have a chance to avenge the loss? Read up on all 20 teams in our preview.
6. Rutgers will be getting a new men's and women's lacrosse training facility, thanks to a $15 million gift — announced as part of a new academic center for athletics.