Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The U.S. men’s national team wrapped up its first weekend as a 49-player training team with the Blue-White Game on Sunday at US Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Md.
The veteran Blue team came back to win the Blue-White Game 16-13, but the main goal was to continue building team chemistry as the squad heads toward its next meeting in October.
With a walkthrough on Friday, two practices on a rainy Saturday and the game on Sunday, coach John Danowski had plenty of time to continue to build his team “culture.”
“There’s always this elephant in the room of making the top 23, but in the coaching staff’s mind, it’s all 47 guys that suited up today, they’re all part of the team,” he told the team. “This is the team.”
Players took to Twitter to react to a successful weekend together.
I never take the honor of wearing a USA jersey for granted. Amazing weekend with a special group. pic.twitter.com/bjJOuDupIt
— Greg Gurenlian (@GregBeast32) September 3, 2017
Great weekend to get back after it with these studs! #USAMLAX #321 #Brownlax @ US… https://t.co/2Z7TxlJ7HR
— dylan (@dmolls4) September 3, 2017
Feeling fortunate to be healthy and able to be a part of this group. #USAMLAX pic.twitter.com/20MfF5ZmwH
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) September 3, 2017
Always an honor putting on this jersey #USA @MarcusHolman1 @USLacrosse pic.twitter.com/MnlEei0EsO
— Will Manny (@WillManny_1) September 3, 2017
2. The Sept. 1 communication window for the Class of 2019 has passed, and it was tough to come to a consensus as to how coaches and players felt about the new process.
Inside Lacrosse spoke with 15 Division I college coaches and got a variety of responses on whether the midnight deadline lived up to the hype.
“I reached out to a handful of kids via text and didn't hear back from them until around 8 am,” one coach said. “Maybe its just my opinion, but I think the kids that may have had conversations last night were very close to committing to an institution [in April], or were told that they would be receiving a call at midnight."
3. Joe Keegan, a database analyst and founder of Moneyball Lacrosse, charts every Major League Lacrosse game in search of statistical trends. In the next installment of our MythBusters series, he breaks down the three most misleading statements about the MLL.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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With the Sept. 1 recruiting deadline passed for 2019 players, former Virginia coach and US Lacrosse Hall of Famer Dom Starsia chimes in on what it might mean for the future, and shares his advice for fellow coaches.
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3d Lacrosse announced that it will take over management of the UWLX, including field operations, scheduling, player relations, personnel, marketing and communications.
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Valor Christian (Co.) named former Louisville and Denver assistant Lauren Benner head girls coach.
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The Petersborough Lakers are running a fan trip to the Mann Cup, which includes airfare to and from Vancouver (where New Westminster awaits), and lodging from the start of the series on Sept. 8 to the potential end of Sept. 17.
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Five former Coast Guard lacrosse players served in the Houston area during and after Hurricane Harvey — many of which played together during their time at school.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
It was a busy weekend for the men's national team at US Lacrosse Headquarters. Check out the highlights from the rain-soaked Saturday practices and the Blue-Wbite Game on Sunday.
Wingate men's lacrosse is getting after it early this fall. After a strong season in Division II, the Bulldogs will look keep the momentum going.
Coach Hayes getting the juices flowing this morning #RentIsDue pic.twitter.com/h4dNm9RFl9
— Wingate Lacrosse (@WingateLacrosse) September 2, 2017
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Do lacrosse sticks actually bend? We continue busting myths and next up is the perception that sticks don't bend.
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Petersborough and New Westminster will get things started in the Mann Cup on Thursday night.