Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix for Thursday, Sept. 14

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

1. A legend of the game has retired.

Brodie Merrill, a five-time member of the Canadian national team and a professional lacrosse player since 2005 in both the NLL and MLL/PLL, announced his retirement from playing on Wednesday.

Merrill, widely considered the greatest long-stick midfielder of all time, is also a favorite among teammates and competitors.

The tributes rolled in after his announcement.

Nothing I can add that hasn't been said about @BrodieMerrill_ already. Just in awe of all he's accomplished in lacrosse. And he'll continue to have a major impact, even as a former player.

— John Paul (@JP_summit41) September 14, 2023

1st year of University i challenged @BrodieMerrill_ to a game of Hoops via Aol instant messenger. He showed up at my dorm room 2 mins later wearing his basketball shoes. I meant NBA Jam..Brodie was always ready to compete didn’t matter what the game was. Ultimate competitor

— Brice Queener (@CoachQ88) September 13, 2023

Congratulations on your retirement, @BrodieMerrill_! Your impact on the game, the program and the #Hilltop are immeasurable. #HOYASAXA #GATA pic.twitter.com/1ERCE5glHK

— Georgetown MLacrosse (@HoyasMLacrosse) September 13, 2023

2. Notre Dame is loading up on the Class of 2025.

Inside Lacrosse’s Ty Xanders reported yesterday that the defending NCAA champion added two five-star recruits — No. 8 junior Teddy Lally (Thayer, Mass.) and No. 17 junior Cam Kelley (Salisbury, Conn.).

.@NDlacrosse snags another 5 in @ILPreps’ No. 8 junior Teddy Lally, an attackman for @ThayerLacrosse (Mass.) and @LXCMinutemen. An elusive QB type who plays with poise and creativity, Lally posted 34G/17A then had a terrific summer. https://t.co/wbpw15TDRf pic.twitter.com/gpsYWslfBJ

— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) September 13, 2023

.@NDlacrosse does it again, grabbing an athletic lefty playmaker from N.C. in @ILPreps’ No. 17 junior Cam Kelley, A, Salisbury (Conn.) and @PrimeTimeLax08. Having posted 25G/4A as a freshman on a veteran Taft team, the 5 is a formidable 6’2, 190 lb. presence above the cage.… pic.twitter.com/i73s0FWxZb

— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) September 14, 2023

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Madison Doucette is back in college lacrosse after a gap year, and she’ll now call Homewood Field home base for the final year of her career. It’s poetic justice, writes Beth Ann Mayer.

• New Denver men’s lacrosse coach Matt Brown has wasted little time implementing his vision for the program, writes Matt DaSilva.

• USC unveiled its fall ball schedule, which includes an East Coast trip to Massachusetts.

• Temple has added Cat Rainone as an assistant coach.

• Inside Ethan Burke’s journey from lacrosse star to breakout defensive end for the University of Texas, writes Jacob Neidig of Burnt Orange Nation.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

A 92-yard bomb in this Brodie Merrill edition of Dialed In.

This is still one of the greatest goals I’ve ever witnessed.

Congrats on a legendary career, @BrodieMerrill_! One of the all-time greats.

pic.twitter.com/kcoRewgV1B

— Travis Eldridge (@tgeldrid) September 13, 2023