Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. It’s NCAA preview season.
The 2021 spring season is (thankfully) fast approaching. It will be close to 11 full months between college lacrosse games by the time the season begins, and as always, we’ll have you covered on wall-to-wall coverage across the men’s and women’s games.
We started our team-by-team previews on Monday, a series in which we’ll recognize each of the men’s and women’s teams in the Nike / US Lacrosse Division I Top 20.
First up, our No. 20 teams — the Johns Hopkins men and the Virginia Tech women.
It’s a new era at Homewood Field, as Peter Milliman is ready to usher the team into the post-Petro era of lacrosse. Milliman’s new regime and the return of program star Joey Epstein have the Jays positioned as something of “a wild card,” according to a rival Big Ten coach.
Virginia Tech is looking to climb the ranks of the juggernaut known as the ACC, and John Sung is hoping to do it with a little chaos. Sung bolstered his already strong midfield with Maryland transfer Kennedy Lynch and also added Caroline Allen, an All-Ivy attacker from Cornell.
@VTLaxCoach likes when his Hokies play a little bit chaotic, and he's hoping that chaos is enough to shake things up in the ACC.@HokiesLax PREVIEW: https://t.co/9FNpmOcFqr pic.twitter.com/yewHPf7ThR
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) January 12, 2021
2. LaxCon is coming — to your living room — on Friday.
Virtual LaxCon promises to deliver all of the same education, tips and drills that attendees would normally absorb at an in-person event. US Lacrosse is converting the convention center’s halls and walls to a fully immersive experience. Check out some of the numbers here.
So, what do you have to look forward to at LaxCon this year? We think getting the ESPN trio of Paul Carcaterra, Anish Shroff and Quint Kessenich together is a pretty good reason to register now.
Miss @AnishESPN, @paulcarcaterra and @QKessenich on lacrosse weekends?
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) January 12, 2021
No fear, the ESPN trio that you know and love is coming to #LaxCon2021 to get you ready for the season and share some hilarious stories.
REGISTER NOW: https://t.co/JHyrsEPls8 pic.twitter.com/Af2V02nUSq
3. The PLL has announced a partnership with the Iroquois Nationals.
The partnership, announced Monday, will encompass four pillars: mentorship, cultural awareness training, events and brand. Find our more from Jeremy Thompson of Atlas LC.
This will benefit the game of lacrosse worldwide by bringing the origins of the sport to the forefront, while providing education and support for all involved!
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) January 11, 2021
Here's to honoring our past and building the future @j_thompson74 pic.twitter.com/spkBS0uOAb
WHAT WE’RE READING
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New rules interpretation video updates for the 2021 season, some for high school girls’ lacrosse and some for high school boys’ lacrosse.
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Inside Lacrosse dropped its cover story on the Syracuse men and women, part of IL’s Players’ Issue.
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Tanner Demling of Lacrosse Bucket caught up with Caleb Haire, a new Hampton commit.
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Hayley Sabol and LeighAnn Stauffer, a pair of former Atlantic 10 players, have been named assistant coaches at George Washington.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
From our friends at Blaxers Blog, lacrosse in Africa is played indoors, too..
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Our top 20 previews roll on. We check in with the No. 19 Rutgers men and the No. 19 UMass women.