Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Devon Wills joins the Harvard Crimson.
For the second time in just over two weeks, a member of the 2017 U.S. women’s national team is taking over a Division I lacrosse program. Harvard announced Thursday that U.S. national team legend and former USC associate head coach Devon Wills will take over as head coach.
Wills spent six seasons at USC, but will enter back into the Ivy League, where she starred as a player at Dartmouth.
“I am excited to return to Ivy League competition and am committed to building a strong program that will contribute to the championship history of Harvard women's lacrosse,” Wills said. “I am confident that we can create an energetic, positive, and successful experience for our student-athletes.”
2. The Atlanta Blaze are one win away from making the MLL playoffs for the first time, and players and coaches are using the lessons taught by late coach Dave Huntley along the way. Huntley, who died in December of 2017, would have been 61 last month.
The Blaze will have Huntley in spirit as they battle for a playoff spot against the Denver Outlaws on Saturday.
“The only thing he would want these guys to experience is one chance to compete for a Steinfeld Cup,” general manager Spencer Ford said. “He’d have a smile on his face. He’d say, ‘I told you so.’ He’d be positive. He’d be happy we got from year one to now, where every guy he cared so deeply about could ride into the sunset and compete for a championship.”
3. Speaking of the coaching carousel, this offseason has been a busy one for men’s Division I lacrosse.
A number of coaches joined new programs, including former Penn assistant Pat Myers, who enters his first Division I head coaching gig with Lafayette. After advising with his brother, Ohio State coach Nick Myers, Pat Myers was ready for the challenge.
He’ll join a Lafayette program that has had one winning season this century. But Myers said he’ll hope to enact change this fall and start building a new culture.
"We’re at the bottom and we’re not going to hide from that,” he said. “We’re going to embrace that process.”
4. Connor Fields had surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee, according to Lax Sports Network. He’s expected to miss 4-6 months as he recovers.
NEWS: Sources tell Lax Sports Network @connorfields14 has undergone ACL repair surgery on his right knee. Recovery time is estimated at 4-6 months. More tonight on Lacrosse Now at 9pm ET - WATCH FREE at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw and the LSN app pic.twitter.com/wQWeI7BXKE
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) August 2, 2018
As was previously reported this summer, Fields first tore the ACL before the 2017 season with Albany. He played through 2017 and part of the 2018 season without no perceived ill effects, but a sprained MCL mid-season brought to light the torn ACL, as well.
Fields played through both injuries as the Great Danes made a run to the final four. He was the third overall pick in the 2018 MLL Draft by the Charlotte Hounds and played three games before going down injured, once again.
According to Stephen Stamp, a cortisone shot in the spring delayed an inevitable surgery until early August.
5. The 10th annual USL Nationals start today in Delaware. Teams from nine different states will compete in the weekend-long tournament. Here’s a sneak peek at the facility.
.@DelawareTourism Stadium, final stop on the #RoadToDelaware. All that’s missing is you. #USLNationals fueled by @ChipotleTweets Fri-Sun @de_turf. Safe travels to all teams. @NXT_events @LIYELLOWJACKETS @igloolacrosse @MONKEYLACROSSE @team91lacrosse @3doregon @CoppermineLax pic.twitter.com/uHuIFutR0A
— USLacrosse Nationals (@USLNationals) August 2, 2018