Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix For Friday, Feb. 24

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

1. TEN points and four two-bombs from Romar Dennis had the Atlas rolling.

The Atlas and Archers are both 2-0 in the PLL Championship Series after wins Tuesday night. The five-day tournament enters the final day of preliminary action on Friday before semifinals Saturday.

2. Our latest Tewaaraton Stock Watch stories featured some new names after fast starts.

Three new players entered the top five of Charlotte Varnes’ women’s stock watch, a tribute to their early success in 2023. A living series, expect even more changes as the season progresses.

Patrick Stevens’ men’s stock watch saw subtler changes, like Chris Kavanagh joining his brother, Pat Kavanagh, as a finalist. Other new faces populate the “Next five” section, which highlights players to watch who are on the periphery of the conversation.

3. Concordia Irvine is making the jump to Division II.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced Thursday that Concordia Irvine, the 2017 MCLA Division II national champion, will make the leap to D-II next season. With the absence of the Whittier program, Concordia Irvine will be the only NCAA men’s program in California.

Varsity Club Lacrosse added additional context:

BREAKING: Concordia University Irvine is switching to NCAA DII to play in the RMAC for the 2023-24 season. The ‘17 MCLA DII Champs are the 3rd team to win MCLA DII and move to NCAA DII (Westminster ‘08, Davenport ‘11). They will be the only NCAA Men’s team in CA. pic.twitter.com/X7ec7R8EE6

— Varsity Club Lacrosse (@VarsityLacrosse) February 23, 2023

4. Taylor Cummings highlighted the best of the best from week two.

Cummings knows lacrosse, and so when she sees a top performance, you can rest assured that it truly is worth talking about. In this week’s “Taylor’s 10,” Cummings wrote about the best team and individual performances of the past week.

More here.

5. Ohio State has upped the ante with its new $24 million stadium.

Welcome to the new cathedral of college lacrosse, Matt DaSilva writes. Joe Breschi recalled practicing on a dusty patch of earth next to Ohio Stadium when he inherited the program back in 1998. Now under the watch of Nick Myers, the program has made advancements beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.

More here.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Lucien Alexis Jr., the first Black player in Harvard men’s lacrosse history (among other remarkable accomplishments), will be honored by the Harvard Portraiture Project.

• Inside Lacrosse’s Cooper Perkins writes about Panther City Lacrosse Club. Is it actually good? The addition of Callum Crawford sure has helped.

• Also from Inside Lacrosse: How James Harkey, Nakeie Montgomery and Kyle Harrison are helping building lacrosse at Ohio’s SPIRE Academy.

• Zone defenses are susceptible to shooting space violations. Clare Levy of Stony Brook with inside tips on how to avoid getting called.

• Another weekend of lacrosse is upon us. Lacrosse Bucket with the games to watch.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Brad Smith … how?

One-handed Brad Smith pic.twitter.com/YSloDbFXKy

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) February 24, 2023

Marcus Holman can play defense, too.

Is that... a @MarcusHolman1 defensive play!?

Nice pic.twitter.com/OYt7r56mO9

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) February 24, 2023

WHAT’S ON TAP

• PLL Championship Series coverage.

• Lacrosse!

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