Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Kylie Ohlmiller opened up about her yearlong recovery from the devastating ACL injury she suffered during the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. KO returns to the field for the first time Thursday for Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse opening day at USA Lacrosse. She’ll suit up for Team Read against Team Moreno at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU). “I don’t think my story is done yet,” she said.
2. Mount St. Mary’s has hired NCAA Division II championship-winning coach Chris Ryan as the successor to longtime men’s lacrosse fixture Tom Gravante. The school officially announced its decision Tuesday, confirming reports that first surfaced last week. Ryan led Mercyhurst to a Division II title in 2011 and runner-up finish this year.
3. Another NCAA championship-winning coach is set to retire, according to The Crosse Commission. Cortland’s Steve Beville is reportedly retiring after 17 seasons. A two-time national defenseman of the year at Washington College, Beville coached at Colorado College and Vermont before coming to Cortland in 2007. He led the Red Dragons to four Division III finals and the 2009 national title.
4. Reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year Shannon Ulrey has transferred to Arizona State, the school announced Tuesday. Ulrey is coming off an 83-goal season at Mercer. Second-year coach Taryn VanThof called her “a powerful addition” to the offense.
5. A major shakeup north of the border, as Calgary Roughnecks fixture Curt Malawsky was named the new head coach and general manager of the Vancouver Warriors. It’s a statement hire for the Warriors, who have made the playoffs just once in the last seven seasons. Malawsky is the reigning National Lacrosse League Coach of the Year and has led the Roughnecks to two NLL Finals, including a championship in 2019.
6. The SUNY Morrisville men’s and women’s lacrosse teams will play on a black-turfed surface with red and powder blue lines. The school unveiled the new Drake Field playing surface Tuesday. It’s the only of its kind in the country. “We wanted to move in a bold, new direction that would give our department and student-athletes a unique identity to rally around," athletic director Matt Grawrock said.