Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. It’s the summer of Sam Apuzzo. The Boston College star took home another award on Thursday, earning IWLCA Player of the Year honors.
Apuzzo joined North Carolina’s Marie McCool (Midfielder of the Year), Colorado’s Julia Lisella (Goalkeeper of the Year) and fellow Boston College player Elizabeth Miller (Defender of the Year) in receiving individual honors.
The Eagles had three players (Dempsey Arsenault) each make the All-American First Team. Maryland also had three members on the First Team: Megan Whittle, Jen Giles and Julia Braig.
2. The Boston Cannons won the MLL Championship in 2011, and since then, there have been years of roster turnover and subpar results. Mitch Belisle has been there for it all.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” said defender Mitch Belisle, who has been with the team since the 2009 season. “Being a competitor and wanting to win, you never like losing.”
Despite recent trades that have changed the make-up of the Cannons roster, a young core is emerging. With 2018 draft picks Trevor Baptiste (Denver) and Will Sands (Bucknell) contributing with Sergio Perkovic, Tim Muller and Zed Williams, the Cannons are hoping this season is the start of something special.
3. Keith Quigley wanted to get children involved in athletics in Chula Vista, Calif., so he founded PUCKidz for that purpose. Now he has a budding lacrosse program in the town just miles from the Mexican border.
Read more about the PUCKidz program and how a US Lacrosse Sankofa clinic helped fuel its growth. Or watch below.
4. Le Moyne won its first Division II women's national championship last season, and it could compete for another in 2019. The Dolphins check in at No. 2 in the Way-Early 2019 Women’s Division II Top 10. Perennial power Adelphi leads the pack despite losing seven seniors.
5. Merrimack tore through Division II men’s lacrosse last season, cruising to its first national title. Three underclassmen — Sean Black, Christian Thomas and Charlie Bertrand — led the way in 2018, and they’ll be back for another season. As a result, the Warriors lead the Way-Early Division II Men’s Top 10.
6. Team USA Giving Day has come and gone, and some of lacrosse’s biggest names showed their love for the U.S. national team program. Every dollar raised was matched by US Lacrosse Board Member Sylvester Miniter. National team players showed their passion for Giving Day.
It’s @uslacrosse #GivingDay. Support @usa_mlax as we prepare for the @worldlaxchampionship2018 in Netanya, Israel! Every dollar raised today will be matched by US Lacrosse Board Member Sylvester Miniter! #RaiseThemUp and donate now! https://t.co/qjEFZSoFGU
— Rob Pannell (@RobPannell3) June 14, 2018
It’s Team USA #GivingDay. Support us as we prepare for the 2018 @worldlaxchampionship in Netanya, Israel. Every dollar raised will be matched by our generous @USLacrosse Board Members https://t.co/LSrRVNr45j pic.twitter.com/h46cJrYhal
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) June 15, 2018
Today is #GivingDay - please help support our journey with Team USA as we prepare for the World Games next month. Any donation is matched by Team USA benefactor Sylvester Miniter. Thank you!
— Marcus Holman (@MarcusHolman1) June 14, 2018
My page: https://t.co/qp6p3kFDGc pic.twitter.com/9RUnq7P7w3
Give under @GregBeast32 Donated our $20 under @DupontJaiden name #SupportFaceOff #GivingDay #NCAA #USAMLAX https://t.co/uvMWw8idYo
— Robin Dupont (@DupzWifey) June 14, 2018
Honored & excited to represent this summer — Please visit the link below to support our journey! @USLacrosse https://t.co/BZTnlHpdBn pic.twitter.com/C5vmH6D3Vg
— Tom Schreiber (@TomSchreiber26) June 14, 2018
WHAT WE’RE READING
-
Inside Lacrosse creates the Mikie Schlosser All-Star team, putting together the top role players in the MLL today.
-
How a loss to Half Hollow Hills East in April help Ward Melville (N.Y.) win the New York state championship.
-
The top players in Vermont and New Hampshire will meet in the Byrne Cup games on June 23.
-
What we’re looking at: Check out former Yale star Ben Reeves’ Dallas Rattlers jersey ahead of his first game this weekend.
-
A thorough look at the good and bad for McDaniel men’s lacrosse in 2018, as well as a look at the future for the Green Terror.
-
College Crosse continues with its Year in Review for Division I, moving to the No. 68 Dartmouth Big Green.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Happy Flag Day! In honor of the big day, Meg Douty threw it back to that one time she represented America at last summer's FIL World Cup and World Games.
In honor of Flag Day and the start of the Word Cup, I am throwing it back to last summer when I had the honor of representing our country at the World Cup and World Games! #blessed #lacrosse #USA #america pic.twitter.com/UHlEiXFTrT
— Megan Douty (@MegDouty5) June 14, 2018
Getting pumped for the MLL All-Star Game, featuring Team USA? Re-live the last time the two teams met — game that ended in a Rob Pannell game-winner.
#TBT When @RobPannell3 scored the game winning goal for @USAMLax with :05 seconds left vs the MLL All-Stars in the 2014 All-Star Game. Watch the full game @USLacrosse vs @MLL_Lacrosse On Demand here: https://t.co/M1P2m1lC4j or download the LSN app pic.twitter.com/t8B5AetCVx
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 14, 2018
What drives Drew Snider to compete at the highest level? Go Under the Helmet with Snider, a Seattle native.
From Seattle to College Park, and now, off to Israel- see what drives @USAMLax Midfielder Drew Snider on and off the field! | Check out the latest episode of #UnderTheHelmet presented by @Casacde_Lacrosse: https://t.co/ZrGRg9Knb6 pic.twitter.com/KgAf9dl0io
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) June 14, 2018
WHAT’S ON TAP
-
The UWLX opens its third season tonight at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, Md. The Philly Force and Baltimore Ride battle at 6:30 p.m., and the Long Island Sound and Boston Storm meet at 8 p.m.
-
Hear more inspiring stories from our Western Mid-Atlantic and Southwest regional chapters.
-
The MLL schedule continues this weekend. Saturday, the Charlotte Hounds meet the New York Lizards and the Atlanta Blaze face the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Sunday, the Florida Launch and Denver Outlaws battle and the Ohio Machine meets the Dallas Rattlers.
-
Subscribe today to our weekly email newsletter and stay connected to each week's top lacrosse stories. The newsletter goes out every Thursday.