Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Atlanta is the epicenter of the latest pro lacrosse rumblings.
On the same day the Premier Lacrosse League announced it would return to Atlanta as part of its 2020 schedule, College Crosse’s Chris Jastrzembski reported that Major League Lacrosse is relocating the Atlanta Blaze to Philadelphia — bringing an MLL team back to the place where the Barrage won three championships in the 2000s.
It marked the latest in an avalanche of news surrounding both leagues, including Monday’s reports that MLL would become a single-entity league. The PLL game will be June 6 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, which was the Blaze’s home stadium for three seasons (2016-18).
2. Defending MCLA Division I champion South Carolina is ranked No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Preseason Top 20, while Cal’s Jake Pistotnik was named the US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year.
3. Is Molly Dougherty the heir apparent to Megan Taylor as the preeminent goalie in college women’s lacrosse? Looking at James Madison’s schedule, the Dukes will need Dougherty to stand on her head more often than not.
4. UMass’ Chris Connolly, one of the top table-setters in New England and perhaps the country, factors prominently in the Minutemen’s selection as the No. 14-ranked team in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Top 20.