Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Navy senior faceoff specialist Joe Varello has been suspended indefinitely from the team due to “an undisclosed rules violation,” coach Rick Sowell confirmed Monday to the Capital Gazette.
The faceoff now will become a bigger challenge for the Midshipmen in 2018, already needing to replace record-setting specialist Brady Dove.
Though he has been allowed to practice while his situation is under review, Varello did not play in the team’s season opener against Jacksonville, which was a major reason for Navy’s 12-7 loss.
Against the Dolphins, the Mids lost 19 of 22 faceoffs, a job shared by freshman Jeff Durden, sophomore Brad Alexander and junior Mike Loscalzo, none of whom had taken a collegiate faceoff before the Jacksonville game.
“We are definitely thin at the position without Joe, and also inexperienced,” Sowell told the Capital Gazette. “Faceoffs are a key component of the game so we’ve got to figure this out.”
2. MLL’s new commissioner Alexander “Sandy” Brown, succeeding David Gross, has a plan to establish the league’s identity and stability in its various markets.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Brown said. “MLL has been around for a while. They’ve made big strides. I’m looking forward to using my skills and relationships to continue to grow the league.”
First, through collaboration with the NLL, he aims to bridge the gap and lift the silence between the two professional leagues, as well as building relationships with all constituents in the sports.
“That’s MLL, NLL, US Lacrosse and the FIL,” he said. “We all have to be talking.”
Second, with his television background as an ESPN executive, he wants to bring greater access to the fans with digital growth.
“I’m a huge believer in digital,” Brown said.
3. The Roughnecks aim to build off its big win over Toronto thanks to goalie Christian Del Bianco’s 47-save performance. It was Del Bianco’s first NLL win in net since being drafted two and a half years ago. “It definitely took me long enough,” Del Bianco said.
4. Reigning national champion Limestone sits atop the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men’s Preseason Top 20. Though with a huge hole to fill graduating Kevin Reisman, Limestone could have more challengers for that top spot, including Merrimack and Le Moyne.
5. With three NCAA titles in the last four years, Adelphi enters 2018 as the favorite in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Preseason Top 20. But the NCAA tournament features a larger field, which could shake things up.