Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse season opens today and it’s a doozy of a weekend.
The schedule features five showdowns from the Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20, highlighted by 2018 national champion James Madison going on the road to face No. 3 North Carolina. No. 6 JMU opened last year with an overtime triumph against UNC and then ended the Tar Heels season in the NCAA semifinals.
Other Top 20 matchups include No. 20 Denver at No. 15 Stanford (Friday), No. 4 Florida at No. 18 Colorado (Saturday), No. 16 Navy at No. 17 Virginia (Saturday) and No. 10 Towson at No. 14 Penn State (Saturday).
2. There are a number of interesting men’s match-ups this weekend, but just one game involved two teams in the Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20. No. 6 Loyola Hosts No. 5 Virginia in what has become a treat in recent years. This is the sixth straight year the two schools have opened their seasons against each other, and four of the previous five meetings have been one-goal games. Loyola also knocked off Virginia 14-12 in last year’s NCAA tournament.
3. US Lacrosse announced a partnership with the PLL and WPLL on its newly-minted National Team Development Program.
The future is here. We’re honored to work with both the @ProWomensLax and @USLacrosse. Onward. https://t.co/RRh5f4TBqE
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) February 7, 2019
4. Wagner made first-year head coach Bill McCutcheon a winner in his debut with the Seahawks. Patrick Stevens checks in with a weekly notebook that also features new Maryland goalie Danny Dolan and North Carolina coach Joe Breschi.
5. Get ready for the weekend with a look back at photos from last weekend’s Maryland-Bucknell men’s tilt.
Photos from @TerpsMLax season-opening clash with @Bucknell_MLAX. https://t.co/FPuaEZDSOl pic.twitter.com/nWHRqsLkgA
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) February 7, 2019
WHAT WE’RE READING
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National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member Tina Sloane Green continues her legacy of expanding the sport and opportunities for women of color.
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Sophio DiCenso, a senior at Foxboro (Mass.) High School, was overwhelmed when getting news she had moved on in the U.S. U19 women's national team process.
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The MLL Draft is set for March 9 in Charlotte and Loyola’s Pat Spencer is one of the top college prospects. But will his passion and desire to play Division I basketball come into play?
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Why did the Wings trade Chris Cloutier? Extensive breakdown from NLL.com.
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Johns Hopkins' Robert Kuhn has switched positions and earned the honor of wearing No. 19, the number of the late Jeremy Huber.
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Florida's 2018 season ended in the NCAA quarterfinals against JMU. The Gators jump right back into the fray with a tough trip to Colorado.
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Penn State's run of final four appearances last year, but Missy Doherty's squad can make a statement with an early showdown against Towson.
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NBC Sports Philadelphia will show three Drexel games (two men’s and one women’s), and the games will be picked up by NBC Sports Washington as well.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Towson will rock some throwback inspired uniforms when its hosts neighborhood rival Johns Hopkins on Saturday.
Getting that Old School swag for Saturday. pic.twitter.com/9wmQhQe9pM
— TU Men's Lacrosse (@Towson_MLAX) February 7, 2019
Notre Dame is getting down to business as the NCAA lacrosse season opens.
We're ready. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/DA7k5Cb3Ym
— Notre Dame W Lax (@NDWomensLax) February 7, 2019
The Ohio State men's lacrosse team gets in some valuable work at the Buckeyes hoops game.
LAX @OhioStateHoops
— Ohio State Men's LAX (@OhioStateMLAX) February 8, 2019
Who wants a T-shirt? #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Jk2tZQBMz2
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Follow all of the college action this weekend with our TV/Streaming listing page.
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Georgia and Buffalo are right on the heels of Toronto in the NLL East standings and they’ll meet on Saturday night as Georgia honors the roots of the game with its fourth annual Native Heritage night.
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