Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Clemson dominated Alabama last night to take home the national title. Clemson’s Tristan Walliser, who plays for the school's MCLA team, is a national champion.
2. The PLL and WPLL announced a partnership on Monday, bringing the two professional field lacrosse leagues together for a few weekends this summer.
Through the agreement, the WPLL will stage games in conjunction with select PLL events, meaning on certain weekends during the PLL’s 14-week tour, fans will be able to watch their favorite players — men and women — on the same stage.
A new era in lacrosse is here! Learn more about our partnership with @PremierLacrosse, which will include co-hosted games and events this summer. Lacrosse is #BetterTogether.
— WPLL (@prowomenslax) January 7, 2019
Full @USLacrosseMag article here: https://t.co/tUbpw7vjcD pic.twitter.com/7uepktkgSB
3. Merrimack won the Division II national title in 2018. Now, the Warriors will be bringing back the core that helped them break through, including potential Player of the Year candidate Charlie Bertrand.
As a result, Merrimack takes the top spot in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men’s Preseason Top 20. Le Moyne, the perennial contender and NE10 rival, sits behind at No. 2, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne.
4. As for Le Moyne’s women’s team, the Dolphins find themselves at No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Preseason Top 20.
Bryanna Fazio and Hannah George return for the defending champions, leading to the nod ahead of NE10 foe Adelphi in the preseason rankings. Recent champ Florida Southern rounds out the Top 3.
5. The Saskatchewan Rush celebrated its 2018 NLL title over the weekend, capping the night with a win over the San Diego Seals. Jack Goods touches on a special night at the SaskTel Centre in the NLL Notebook.
Also in the notebook, more on Matt Vinc’s record-breaking night in a win over his former team and what the addition of Kevin Crowley could mean for the Wings.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Penn State signed 2020 recruit Teddy Darcey, brother of the late Connor Darcey, the former Nittany Lions goalie who died in a car crash in 2015.
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Major League Lacrosse announced that Thomas Johnson, a veteran of Baseball America and ESPN, will take over as the league’s Chief Digital Officer.
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A great story from a father in Austin, Texas, who helped talk to his son about coping with losing.
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Syracuse slotted near the bottom of the ACC men’s lacrosse standings.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Delaware men's lacrosse getting after it on the first day of practice.
Day 1 #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/E4wUOvFJQN
— Delaware Men’s Lacrosse (@DelawareMLAX) January 7, 2019
Jacksonville's men's and women's lacrosse teams were hyped to check out the Jacksonville Lacrosse Center.
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We’ll post our NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Preseason Player of the Year today.
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