SPARKS, Md. — The Fall Classic will bring the U.S. men’s national team together for the first time since January 2020 and head coach John Danowski is ready to take the next step as he builds towards the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s World Championship. Danowski, also the head men’s lacrosse coach at Duke, led the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2018 world championship in Israel.

The U.S. men’s team will play Canada on Friday, Oct. 15 in a rematch of the two countries that competed in the 2018 world title game. On Saturday, Oct. 16 the U.S. men will square off against 2021 NCAA champion Virginia. Both games will be held on Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters and tickets are now on sale.

“We’re excited to get the coaching staff back together and see some new guys and get a feel for their personalities,” Danowski said. “We’ve got a sprinkling of guys from the 2018 team and we’re looking to them to show the culture that we’ve established. It’s important for us to carry that momentum forward.” 

Just four players from the 2018 gold-medal team will be on the Fall Classic roster — faceoff athlete Trevor Baptiste, defenseman Jesse Bernhardt, attackman Rob Pannell and midfielder Tom Schreiber. However, there are numerous players that have participated with the U.S. team program in recent years, including U.S. indoor bronze medalists Connor Kelly, Matt Rambo and Blaze Riorden and former U.S. U19 gold medalists Bryan Costabile, Stephen Kelly, Mac O’Keefe and Jack Rowlett that will compete at Fall Classic.

The U.S. National Team trains and plays using best-in-class products from Nike (apparel and footwear), Game On Mouthguards, Gilman Gear (goals), Pearl Lacrosse (balls) and DJO (sports bracing) and best-in-class equipment from Maverik, Warrior and Cascade Lacrosse.

In addition to these partners, Hudl and MedStar Health are official sponsors of the U.S. national team program. Team training is also aided by products from Athletic Republic.

2021 U.S. Men Fall Classic Roster