Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. Thank you, 99.

Paul Rabil, the most prolific scorer in professional field lacrosse history, is hanging up his cleats. Rabil made the surprising announcement yesterday afternoon at Audi Field in Washington D.C.—the site of this Sunday’s Premier Lacrosse League Championship Game and nearby his hometown of Montgomery Village (Md.).

The lacrosse legend who for the past decade plus has served as the face of the game as he ushered in a new era, will now focus exclusively on his role as co-founder and chief marketing officer of the Premier Lacrosse League—in which he also played in for the past three summers. After being traded from Atlas LC to Cannons LC, that joined the league an expansion team after the PLL merged with Major League Lacrosse last summer, Rabil tallied 29 points this summer.

In 14 seasons and 170 career games between the MLL and PLL, he amassed 657 points.

“I finally learned that it was never about the outcome. It was always about the game,” Rabil said. “The game is meant to be played, not won. There is no winning, as there is no end. So I’ll continue to compete, win, lose, sprint, fall and get back up again. I hope you can do that with me.”

More on the announcement here.

After 23 years of playing this beautiful game, my time has come.

With a heavy heart, I’m eternally grateful for everyone who has loved, supported, coached, trained and mentored me. [thread] pic.twitter.com/hf5mjDK0bX

— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) September 14, 2021

Below are some reactions to the news.

From the last time we walked off the field at Hop together, to the last time we walked off the field as pros, it’s been an honor, @PaulRabil. As someone who has gotten to watch since you were 17, your commitment to the work, from beginning, is what separated you. pic.twitter.com/DA5MbToZno

— Kyle Harrison (@KyleHarrison18) September 14, 2021

Although @PaulRabil is retiring from playing, he has not retired from lacrosse. Look forward to our next journey with @PremierLacrosse https://t.co/sdjJUATauE

— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) September 15, 2021

Congrats to a true who has done so much for the sport of lacrosse. Thanks for bringing us the PLL and growing the game in an incredible way

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 14, 2021

I'll miss watching @PaulRabil play. He helped grow and popularize lacrosse as a player. But it's beyond exciting to see what Phase Two looks like and what's ahead for @PremierLacrosse

A HOF career didn't end today. It's only just beginning. Congrats and good luck, friend.

— Anish Shroff (@AnishESPN) September 14, 2021

2. Our early rankings continue with Nos. 20-16 for both the D-I men and women.

After taking its first CAA title since 2014 and pushing Notre Dame to the brink in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Brian Voelker’s Drexel Dragons come in at No. 16.

After making the CAA conference championship game for the first time in program history, the Drexel women’s lacrosse team sit at No. 18, under new head coach Kim Hillier.

“Colleen Grady (48 goals, 41 assists), Karson Harris (61 goals, eight assists) and Lucy Schneidereith (58 goals, three assists) are back to form one of the best trios in college lacrosse,” writes USA Lacrosse Magazine Digital Content Editor Kenny DeJohn.

Read more on the rest of the teams featured here: Men | Women

3. Fall ball is back, after a year after duri9ng which intersquad competition was almost completely nonexistent.

The Drexel women’s lacrosse team starts their first fall competition on Saturday, Oct. 2, in a meeting between members of the “Philly 5,” which also includes Temple, La Salle, Villanova and St. Joseph’s. The Drexel men’s team heads down to Baltimore on Oct. 16 for the Towson tournament which will be held at The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland and also features Lehigh and Princeton.

Check out who’s playing where this fall on our 2021 College Lacrosse Fall Ball Schedule that will continue to be updated as we learn more.

4. Syracuse University announced yesterday that it will add Roy Simmons Jr. to the exclusive class of leaders in the Syracuse University Athletics Ring of Honor in the Carrier Dome.

Simmons Jr., who led the men’s lacrosse program to six national championships as its head coach, will join Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim, football legend Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Dwayne 'Pearl' Washington in the Ring of Honor.

The ceremony will take place during the upcoming spring lacrosse season.

5. Liam Byrnes will be the first Marquette men’s lacrosse player to be inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

For more on Byrnes, who went from being a D-III commit to one of the best defenseman in the world, check out our online feature from earlier this month: Waterdogs' Liam Byrnes a Cut Above.

6. All upcoming Halloween costume contests can be canceled. We already have a winner.

Tell me your daughter has the best Halloween costume without telling me telling me she has the best costume! #Lacrosse #BC #Girldad #CharlotteNorth #ShootsLikeAGirl @officiallaxgirl pic.twitter.com/fdurFCypGx

— Porter (@portergolf) September 14, 2021

WHAT WE’RE READING

• “An Honest Ending” by Paul Rabil for The Players’ Tribune.

• IL Women highlights UNC Women’s lacrosse star Ally Mastroianni’s work to help make dreams come true for children with intellectual disabilities. 

• The Pitt women’s lacrosse team has found a new home — Highmark Stadium — for its inaugural season in 2022, according to The Pitt News.

• NCAA.com details 2021 Tewaaraton winner Jared Bernhardt’s transition back to football. Bernhardt was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week yesterday for the second-straight week after notching 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a win last Saturday.

• Lacrosse All Stars with a tribute to Dean Hill.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Some of Paul Rabil’s poignant remarks at his retirement announcement ceremony yesterday.

“I finally learned that it was never about the outcome. It was always about the game.”
- @PaulRabil pic.twitter.com/caRH6c3LEL

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) September 14, 2021

Nakeie Montgomery showcases his quick burst and elusiveness for the first time with Duke Football. For more on Montgomery’s decision to play both football and lacrosse in his fifth year in Durham, go here.

When he plays both @naklemore @DukeFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/NdcCR0Wt5W

— Duke Men's Lacrosse (@DukeMLAX) September 13, 2021

WHAT’S ON TAP

• We continue our march through the early rankings with teams from 15-11.

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