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

1. Schedule Changes

In a season that will likely be defined by adaptability, yesterday we learned of two big schedule shakeups. The Maryland women’s lacrosse team’s season opener at Johns Hopkins previously scheduled for Sunday was postponed “as mutually agreed upon out of an abundance of caution surrounding the health and safety of the participants due to positive COVID-19 testing results in the Blue Jays' program,” according to a statement.

Johns Hopkins suspended in-person undergrad classes for two days last week and imposed other gathering restrictions after detecting a COVID-19 cluster on campus.

On the men’s side, the Army-UMass game previously scheduled for this weekend was canceled after UMASS athletics paused all activity on campus for a minimum of 14 days as a part of a number of public health measures. Virginia stepped in. Army will now head south to take on the Cavaliers at Klockner Stadium on Saturday at noon. The top-20 matchup will be one of the marque games this weekend.

More on the UMASS news here.

2. Another Ivy Domino

Less than a week after multiple reports stated that Yale would not compete this spring after the unenrollment of a majority of its roster, a “group of players” from Cornell will take a leave of absence to preserve their eligibility, according to a letter from head coach Connor Buczek to program supporters. The letter was first obtained by Inside Lacrosse. US Lacrosse Magazine’s Matt Hamilton confirmed the news.

“Ultimately, the odds did not indicate that competition was going to be likely, so we allowed each individual family to make the best decision for them regarding enrollment this spring,” Buczek wrote.

Read the full letter here.

3. The first rankings update of 2021 in the Nike / US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20 features one notable absence.

Yale, previously No. 8, was left off the list in light of the reports that surfaced last week. Villanova subsequently moves into the Top 20 at No. 20.

“It’s worth mentioning one of the many things the sport will miss this season: The annual result (or two) that reminds everyone of how capable Villanova is to beat anyone at any given time,” Patrick Stevens writes given the lack of the Wildcats’ typically rigorous out-of-conference slate.

Full rankings here.

4. Lacrosse from A-to-Z.

Want one place to find all the storylines you need to follow during the most anticipated season ever? Check out the A-to-Z for college lacrosse in 2021.

MEN’S | WOMEN’S

 

WHAT WE’RE READING

  • USL’s Paul Ohanian details why Union College’s Abi Jackson is committed to impactful coaching.

  • The IWLCA announced Carol Cantele, Janet Smith and Sue Stahl will be inducted into the IWLCA Hall of Fame.

  • The Georgetown men announced their 2021 schedule, which kicks off on February 20 against Villanova. 

  • A feature from Princeton University about All-American defenseman Damien Davis (’03) who won a national championship in 2001 and has since worked to bring the game to the inner city of Baltimore and help the next generation of lacrosse players try to reach new heights.

  • The Vineland Daily Journal on how Millville High lacrosse players help classmates in need.

  • On the heels of this weekend, a thread from First Class Lacrosse on why riding is a key part to being a complete attackman.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Perhaps overlooked during Virginia’s 20-11 drubbing of Towson over the weekend was this wrinkle the Cavs added to the hidden ball trick. Jamie Munro broke it down.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • Five bold predictions for the men’s and women’s Division I college lacrosse seasons.

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