Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. “We are going to take the lacrosse world by storm with a new attitude, purpose, and mission,” reads the first line of a press release by Next Level Sports.
The basis of the bold statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day centers around the Next Collegiate League (NCL). The NCL will play the fast-paced World Lacrosse Sixes format and feature teams from the Mid-Atlantic region, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Morgan State.
According to the release, the league will consist of a 10-game season and begin in April with the inaugural Crown Classic Tournament.
More here.
2. Florida features new talent at almost every position on the field, writes Kenny DeJohn in the Gators’ team preview. Yet, with 2021 IWLCA All-American second-team selection Sarah Reznick in the goal backing a stingy defense, the team still cracks the preseason Top 10 and should be dangerous this spring.
“You have to really show up and really be on your A game when you compete against them,” said one rival coach.
3. The Rutgers men’s lacrosse team lost its entire starting attack from a season ago when the Scarlet Knights advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and nearly knocked off No. 1 seed UNC. But like last year, Brian Brecht has brought on some key additions via the transfer portal. Rutgers ranks No. 10 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse preseason ranking.
“The guys that came last year and the guys that came this year, they wanted to be at Rutgers,” Brecht told Patrick Stevens. “I think they were excited to join us. I really didn’t feel like I was twisting their arms or begging them to come. When we reached out, they reciprocated.”
Full preview here.