Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Sam Apuzzo moved into the top spot on the Athletes Unlimited leaderboard, scoring three goals (including a 2-pointer) to go with an assist and game MVP honors as Team Apuzzo defeated Team Johansen 8-5 at USA Lacrosse headquarters Thursday.
Apuzzo jumped 20 points ahead of Taylor Moreno, who led Team Moreno to a 13-8 victory over Team Glynn. Kelsey Huff’s five-goal performance included a pair of 2-pointers and vaulted her into the top 10.
With just four games remaining — two Saturday and two Sunday — it looks like a two-horse race to the finish. Apuzzo has 1,483 points. Moreno has 1,463. They’ve toggled back and forth for the top spot all season. The next-highest scorer, Kady Glynn (1,178) is 285 points behind.
Athletes Unlimited also revealed its All-Defensive Team on Thursday. Becca Block, Lizzie Colson and Emma Trenchard joined Moreno as honorees.
2. Graham Bundy Jr. tied a U.S. record with six goals and Alec Stathakis continued a torrid start for the faceoff unit by going 19-for-22 in a 17-3 win over England in a World Lacrosse Men’s U21 Championship preliminary match Thursday. The U.S. has the day off today and resumes pool play tomorrow against the Haudenosaunee.
All SIX of Graham Bundy Jr.'s (@HoyasMLacrosse) goals in today's 17-3 @USAMLax win over England pic.twitter.com/1htup4DYcj
— Kevin Boilard (@KevinBoilard) August 11, 2022
3. Official Jim Loffredo made the biggest save of the Lake Placid Summit Classic, administering CPR to a 70-year-old man who collapsed and became unconscious while playing in the 65+ division last week. Athletic trainers revived the man, Ultra Legends player Peter Tracy, with an AED.
4. We’re down to the top five in our early 2023 rankings for Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse after revealing teams in the 6-10 range Thursday.
On the women’s side, Syracuse came in at No. 6, Florida at No. 7, Rutgers at No. 8, James Madison at No. 9 and Denver at No. 10.
On the men’s side, it’s Yale in the No. 6 spot, followed by Princeton, Duke, Penn and Rutgers.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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A blow to Notre Dame men’s lacrosse, as attackman Jake Taylor sustained another knee injury playing box lacrosse this summer and will be out until at least midseason in 2023, according to Inside Lacrosse.
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The San Francisco Chronicle on Pat Spencer’s pursuit of an NBA roster spot with the Golden State Warriors.
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More details on the death of former Dartmouth men’s lacrosse player David Gallagher, who police say was fatally injured after falling down rocky, steep terrain under the Ledyard Bridge just before 2 a.m. Sunday after celebrating his 2020 commencement on campus.
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Duke announced the addition of four women’s lacrosse transfers, highlighted by Gillian Curran, who led Elon with 33 goals, 18 assists and 79 draw controls last season and is the Phoenix’s all-time draw controls leader.
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ESPN announcers Paul Carcaterra, Chris Cotter and Quint Kessenich sound off for Lacrosse All Stars on the Premier Lacrosse League playoff push.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
One of the most awesome back-and-forth sequences you’ll ever see in lacrosse, chronicled in typically creative fashion by the Premier Lacrosse League production team.
The end of the Redwoods/Cannons First Half was a PRIME example of Fastest Game On Two Feet pic.twitter.com/wH0YyJWeMM
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) August 12, 2022
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The top five in our way-early Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse rankings.
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Beth Ann Mayer on Courtney Taylor’s emergence, yet another budding Athletes Unlimited star in a loaded rookie class.