Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Taylor McDaniels wins Atlantic Coast Conference’s Go Teach Tuition Giveaway grand prize.
“Being diagnosed with Dyslexia myself, I was always told I wasn’t good enough,” McDaniels said during the ACC Network interview Monday night when she learned she was the $20,000 grand prize recipient. “It was something that I never wanted anyone else to feel.”
McDaniels, a native of Monrovia, Md., and the youngest of nine children, plans to pursue her masters in special education. The UNC attacker scored 32 goals over 45 games for the Tar Heels and will graduate a semester early this December with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. Notre Dame midfielder Maddie Carr and Virginia Tech’s Sara Goodwin were also amongst the 15 student-athletes in the ACC who received a $2,500 future educators scholarship.
Congratulations to @uncwlax's Taylor McDaniels for winning @theACC's Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway grand prize in partnership with @CFPExtraYard!
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) December 15, 2020
Read more » https://t.co/45RUhEEiSM#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/flJkqrRhrE
2. Schreiber Takes Top Spot
A year after finishing the bridesmaid to Matt Rambo in the inaugural Premier Lacrosse League Top 50, Tom Schreiber’s peers recognized him as the top player in 2020. The Archers midfielder who won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2018 World Championships led all midfielders in scoring during the Championship Series this summer. Rambo, along with his linemate and Championship Series MVP Zed Williams, finished second and third, respectively.
Read our full breakdown of the Top 50 here.
FWIW — this could have gone to anyone in the top 10 this year. I had @rattmambo
— Tom Schreiber (@TomSchreiber26) December 15, 2020
Nonetheless, the respect of our peers means a lot to me & I appreciate it. https://t.co/tjb0Jz1vRz
3. A Grant Ament / Michael Sowers sighting
The 2019 Tewaaraton Finalists, who both grew up outside of Philadelphia, were two big reasons why the 2020 college lacrosse season felt like one of the most exciting in recent memory before it was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Ament moved on from Penn State — where he sits atop the career points leaderboard — to the PLL and earned rookie of the year honors for his dazzling play during the Championship Series, Sowers will take his fifth-year of eligibility at Duke after breaking almost every record at Princeton.
“Always learning from my guy,” Sowers responded to the post of the two star attackmen training together.
4. US Lacrosse awarded 869 grants totaling $2.36 million to help grow the game at the community level during the 2019-20 grant cycle.
Read more in “From the Field.”
With your help, lacrosse can make a difference for young athletes across the country.
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) December 15, 2020
Please consider donating today to help pass the game on and give a child the opportunity to learn and play lacrosse. All donations will be doubled by a generous donor: https://t.co/RvlapgVkJK https://t.co/rlACNES8yz
What We’re Reading
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An alumni profile of former Ohio State goalie Tony Russo, who still holds the Buckeyes’ all-time career saves record.
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Stanford football adds two former college lacrosse commits in Duke Reeder and Will Stockwell, according to Inside Lacrosse’s Ty Xanders.
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Also on IL, Notre Dame head coach Christine Halfpenny reflects on the surreal year that was 2020.
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The Ocean City Council voted unanimously yesterday to approve the OC Lacrosse Fest, which will include a three day lacrosse tournament in August of 2021 through 2023.
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Major League Lacrosse checks in with William Nowesnick — a second year defenseman for the Philadelphia Barrage.
What We’re Watching
Tari Kandemiri, a.k.a. Official Lax Girl, shares some fancy footwork from a player with Golden Rocks Lacrosse in Uganda.
Vanessa from the Uganda Golden Rocks absolutely crushing it on the cones! Cone drills are my absolute favorite https://t.co/ajT3hDPQa4 pic.twitter.com/872z4ktPaS
— Tari | Official Lax Girl™ (@officiallaxgirl) December 15, 2020
What’s On Tap
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The latest from the IWCLA’s “Behind the Whistle” blog.