Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix For Friday, Jan. 13

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

1. A near-death experience in 2020 has given Sam Handley fresh perspective.

Now, the USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I Men’s Preseason Player of the Year is primed to lead a hungry Penn team this spring. The 6-5 bruising midfielder is as close to an unstoppable force as it gets on the lacrosse field.

Learn more about Handley in our January 2023 cover story, by Mark Macyk.

2. Legends have left Princeton, but the Tigers are still in fine shape.

Chris Sailer has retired, and program staples Kyla Sears and Sam Fish have graduated. That leaves Princeton in something of a new era, though the offense should still be one of the better ones in the nation.

New head coach Jenn Cook, a longtime Sailer assistant, is ready for year one.

More here.

3. No Chris Gray? That’s OK in Chapel Hill.

Sure, there’s no replacing the NCAA’s all-time points king. But maybe that’s part of the solution for Joe Breschi. Instead of funneling everything through one player, Breschi’s offense can now spread it around and get more players involved.

That’s the hope, anyway. More here.

4. Want to learn more about the ins and outs of the transfer portal?

Brian Brecht spoke to Beth Ann Mayer about how he navigates the portal to not just build, but supplement, his already strong team.

More here.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• New Virginia State lacrosse coach Shaun Church is determined to build an HBCU success when the Trojans first take the field in 2024, writes Justice Miller of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

• Lacrosse Bucket’s Tanner Demling previews the Big Ten.

• An obituary for Tom Hall, a pivotal figure in Central New York lacrosse history as the man who established the boys’ lacrosse program at Fayetteville-Manlius High School.

• Inside Lacrosse profiles 15 key transfers to watch in 2023.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Behind the scenes looks at media day are undefeated. Shoutout to Marquette.

A new season officially begins three weeks from Saturday! Excited to be back on campus with BIG things ahead!#WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/PWWCq3glsU

— Marquette Lacrosse (@MarquetteMLax) January 13, 2023

WHAT’S ON TAP

• Previews of our No. 16 teams — USC and Boston U.

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