Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Rutgers men’s lacrosse could be poised to end a 17-year streak.
The Scarlet Knights welcomed transfer Connor Kirst to pair with veterans Adam Charalambides and Kieran Mullins to form one of the most formidable offenses in the country. Could this be the year Rutgers makes the NCAA tournament?
The Scarlet Knights check in at No. 19 in our preseason ranking.
2. UMass women’s lacrosse will bring back a high-powered offense fueled by Caitlyn Petro at the draw.
After averaging 17.20 goals per game in the shortened 2020 season, most of the Minutewomen’s attack unit returns in what could be a special season for head coach Angela McMahon.
UMass is No. 19 in our Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20.
3. North Carolina women’s lacrosse dropped its schedule on Tuesday.
The Tar Heels, our No. 1 team in the Nike/US Lacrosse preseason ranking, will battle James Madison, Florida and High Point in a short non-conference slate before entering a 10-game ACC schedule on Feb. 26 against Duke.
Click here for the full schedule.
4. Three of the biggest stars in sports are also lacrosse parents.
U.S. soccer legend Kristine Lilly, former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and radio personality Jon "Stugotz" Weiner spoke about their experiences in "Life as a Lax Parent" at LaxCon 2021.
Being a lacrosse parent is an important job.
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) January 12, 2021
Sports stars like @KristineLilly, @Hasselbeck and @Stugotz790 have experienced the thrill of having children play this game. Tune into "Life as Lax Parent" at #LaxCon2021 to hear their perspective.
REGISTER: https://t.co/JHyrsEPls8 pic.twitter.com/Lglm7s5omH
5. Welcome to the PLL, Cannons LC.
The Premier Lacrosse League unveiled the logo and branding for its eighth team on Tuesday. The news had many Boston Cannons fans looking back at the history of the franchise from its 20 years in the MLL.
We are Cannons Lacrosse Club pic.twitter.com/aU62iFg4f8
— Cannons Lacrosse Club (@PLLCannons) January 12, 2021
6. Encouraging news for Chris Bocklet.
Bocklet, the former Chrome LC and MLL veteran, suffered a severe head injury in a longboarding accident earlier this month. He had been in trauma care at Delray Memorial Hospital Trauma Center but is moving to Shepherd Center for Rehabilitation in Atlanta.
His brother, Mike, shared more details about Chris’ road to recovery.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Ally Kennedy grew up on Long Island, and now she's hoping to make history in the same area. Kennedy, the US Lacrosse Magazine Division I Women's Preseason Player of the Year, is returning for her fifth year to help Stony Brook advance to final four weekend. Read Mark Macyk's story on Kennedy's lacrosse background.
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More college lacrosse scheduling news, this time out of Jacksonville. Ray Carcinelli shared on Twitter a partial schedule release that includes a matchup with Bellarmine on Feb.10 and North Carolina on Feb. 13.
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Boys' high school lacrosse players in North Carolina may be able to start preseason practice next week.
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Lacrosse All Stars ranks the top NCAA lacrosse games of all-time.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Mark Ellis on the continued effort to push the sport forward and make it more welcoming for black players.
Shoutout to these guys @Quicktrippp @kalleyne_ @IDA__26 @BLAlliance_ pic.twitter.com/F0Ml7pJDmU
— Mark Ellis (@mtellis34) January 12, 2021
Jared Bernhardt is back at practice for Maryland. Watch out, lacrosse world.
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Our top 20 previews roll on. We check in with the No. 18 Penn men and the No. 18 Virginia women.
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Catching up with 25-year-old UNC senior Justin Anderson.