Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Paul Rabil of the New York Lizards became Major League Lacrosse’s all-time leading scorer over the weekend, leading off this week’s MLL notebook.
John Grant Jr. held the previous career point record at 541, which Rabil surpassed with a goal in the first quarter of a 20-18 loss to Florida Saturday.
Elsewhere, faceoff midfielder Tommy Kelly pulled double-duty last week, the Ohio Machine continued to be sabotaged by lightning delays, and attackman Dylan Molloy earned player-of-the-week honors.
2. With six first-round draft picks in the next two years, the Saskatchewan Rush may not be done winning National Lacrosse League championships anytime soon, as highlighted in this week’s NLL notebook.
The Rush defeated the Rochester Knighthawks to win the title for the third time in four years, but general manager and coach Derek Keenan has positioned Saskatchewan well to absorb the loss of two players in the July 16 expansion draft that will help new teams Philadelphia and San Diego fill rosters. Keenan has moved to second on the league’s career playoff wins list with 17, one behind Les Bartley.
3. The Yale men’s lacrosse program has gone from an Ivy League afterthought to the NCAA champion. But how?
Culture change typically starts at the top, and 13-year coach Andy Shay ultimately instilled an edge in his players over the years: no longer would they be bullied. The Bulldogs got tougher, then they got better. After years of steady progress, the talent level shone through to the point of capturing three straight Ivy League tournament championships, then, finally, the program’s first national title.
Six (!) Bulldogs were selected in the MLL draft recently, entering a league in which talent doesn’t survive without toughness.
4. From the May/June issue of US Lacrosse Magazine, Resolute Lacrosse is bringing high-level box lacrosse development to youth and high school players in the Midwest, thanks in part to its purchase of an indoor facility.