Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Team USA goalie John Galloway got a contract extension as head coach of Jacksonville men’s lacrosse team, the athletic department announced Monday. He signed a five-year contract to remain with the Dolphins through the 2023 season.
"My dream when I started coaching was to work at a university that was committed to the growth of lacrosse and would support my vision of building a program that was focused on the student-athlete experience rather than just wins and losses,” Galloway said. “Jacksonville University gave our staff that opportunity, and I am thrilled to continue our mission here in Duval for many years to come.”
The reigning Southern Conference Coach of the Year has taken the program from just three wins in 2017 (3-11) to eight in 2018 (8-7), which ties the program's single-season record for wins. The Dolphins also made their first-ever appearance in a conference tournament championship.
2. A first-time finalist is guaranteed to make it to Memorial Day when Albany and Yale battle it out in the NCAA semifinal.
It will be a rematch of their April 22 meeting, when the Bulldogs won 14-6 for the Great Danes’ second loss of the year – but don’t expect a blowout this time around. Connor Fields was also injured in that game, but even with Fields being shut out, the Albany offense broke out to lead the Danes to its first final four appearance.
“Just to get over this hump means a lot to our university,” Fields said. “It comes back to our alumni, too. They all worked hard and they were here supporting us today, so I think it’s a very exciting feeling for everyone.”
3. Chris Cloutier was clutch in his debut for the Outlaws. After Denver hyped up his debut in the league, dubbing him “John Grant Jr. in the making,” Cloutier delivered with six goals and two assists points in a 17-13 win over previously undefeated Charlotte. His eight points were the most by any player in the MLL last week.
Plus, Myles Jones is on the rise for the Bayhawks, Tim Soudan has returned as a special assistant for the Rattlers, and the player of the week is Denver’s faceoff specialist Max Adler, who filled in for the injured Tom Kelly and won 22-of-33.
4. Brynn Cartelli, a Longmeadow, Mass., native and member of the Lax Plus club, competed in “The Voice” finale Monday night. She’s missed her freshman high school season to be on the show.
“I talk to people out here in LA. I always talk about ‘Oh, my lacrosse team is doing this,’” Cartelli told US Lacrosse Magazine. “I miss it a lot, but I’m happy where I am.”
The Boston College women's lacrosse team, whom Cartelli's family follows closely in the NCAA tournament, shared its support on Twitter.
5. Maryland’s Megan Whittle and Albany’s Kyle McClancy are the Brine/US Lacrosse and Warrior/US Lacrosse Players of the Week, respectively, after clutch performances to send their teams to championship weekend.