Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The season is over.
A cascade of cancellations Thursday due to efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. culminated with the NCAA’s decision to stop all championships for winter and spring sports.
While only three lacrosse-playing conferences — the Ivy League, Patriot League and MAAC — had outright canceled the spring season at that point, the NCAA’s announcement proved to be the death knell.
Teams, coaches and players flooded social media to express their shock and dismay, as well as gratitude and empathy for those whose careers were brought to an abrupt end. Here is but a small sampling of the reactions:
Heartbroken for our guys. Especially our seniors.
— David Pietramala (@CoachPetro43) March 12, 2020
Thinking about my guy @GrantAment as I spoke with him earlier and he broke my heart saying “always thought I would be in control of when the last time I put on a uniform was.” Looking forward to watching you work at the next level brother. pic.twitter.com/5AxABCICRk
— Rob Pannell (@RobPannell3) March 12, 2020
“My heart is broken, my spirit is broken”@StonyBrookWLAX coach @JoeSpallina shares his thoughts with us tonight on the @NCAALAX season’s abrupt end (and possibly the end of many senior’s careers).
— Travis Eldridge (@tgeldrid) March 13, 2020
Full interview: https://t.co/Ym8BWyrtah pic.twitter.com/i2vgqos4il
“An impromptu senior day” @fresnostatelax. Maybe I’m just a softie but this is heartbreaking. @ABC30 pic.twitter.com/DlWUZC8KY5
— Stephen Hicks (@StephenABC30) March 12, 2020
Still stunned.
— Christine Halfpenny (@NDcoachPenny) March 13, 2020
20 seasons coaching college lacrosse & nothing could have prepared me to deliver news to my Irish that their season ended today.
I LOVE this team & I’m so proud of what they represent. This group is special & only thing that could stop them was a pandemic. pic.twitter.com/tYhGG9Vzrv
I can’t look at this and not cry my eyes out. Time flies too fast, not ready for it to be over https://t.co/Jsc0RMONRC
— Kristen Skiera (@CoachWaags) March 13, 2020
So sad about our season coming to an abrupt end. But I've enjoyed every moment with my 2020 team and the senior class is one that I'll never forget.
— Missy Doherty (@CoachDohertyPSU) March 13, 2020
The 2020 @ArmyWP_MLax team will be remembered forever. My heart hurts for our team but specifically for our Firsties. Their careers may have come to an end but their legacy will last forever. These men set the new standard for excellence. #VosFratrem #FamilyToughnessTradition pic.twitter.com/zPXLUf52av
— Justin Ward (@ThisJust_in15) March 13, 2020
It’s over but no one will leave!#Piosforever pic.twitter.com/i19xtwC2MZ
— Denver Men’s Lacrosse (@DU_MLAX) March 12, 2020
This group is special beyond words - my heart is broken for them. So grateful for their dedication, leadership and sacrifice. The Seniors forever changed @USCTrojansLax. I wish I could put my appreciation into words but, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Fight On pic.twitter.com/YcUZK3T3Ii
— Lindsey Munday (@LMunday01) March 12, 2020
Enjoy every moment you can because they don’t last forever. #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/ECrkVjf4Eg
— Delaware Men’s Lacrosse (@DelawareMLAX) March 12, 2020
Time is finite - surround yourself with people you'll enjoy it with. pic.twitter.com/f9AsRVSt4M
— Princeton Lacrosse (@TigerLacrosse) March 12, 2020
They stood on the shoulders of no one.#govikes | #forever pic.twitter.com/9tNzv1IFDy
— CSU Lacrosse (@CSUVikingsLax) March 12, 2020
2. The National Lacrosse League also suspended its season until further notice.
3. A handful of games did go on as scheduled Thursday, offering some sense of closure to those who were able to finish the season on the field of play.
In women’s lacrosse, Bri Carrasquillo scored in overtime to lift Yale to a 13-12 win at Fresno State. Olivia Markert scored a career-high six goals. There were impromptu senior ceremonies after the game.
At US Lacrosse, two top-five ranked Division II women’s teams competed. Jessica Meneilly scored six goals to lead No. 2 Le Moyne to a 16-12 win over No. 4 Indianapolis at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md. The Greyhounds, fueled by 14 draw controls from Peyton Romig, came back from a 10-goal deficit to pull within four, but the Dolphins held on to win.
4. Kyle Harrison took to social media to respond to a report by The Amherst Student that three members of the Mammoths’ men’s lacrosse team chanted the N-word outside of a black teammate’s suite March 7, provoking the teammate to punch one of them.
Hold up hold up hold up. Before speaking more I’m going to do a bit of research. Is the story I’m hearing out of Amherst for real?
— Kyle Harrison (@KyleHarrison18) March 12, 2020
This stuff is taught, man. Folks aren’t born this way. I’ve got so many damn thoughts on this nonsense, still trying to make sense of it....but, I’m heartbroken for the player whose TEAMMATES did this.
— Kyle Harrison (@KyleHarrison18) March 12, 2020
According to the report, Amherst’s dean of students sent an email on March 9 notifying students of “an altercation between two students involving the use of racist language and subsequent physical violence.”
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Michael Sowers, the Tewaaraton Award frontrunner whose potentially historic season ended prematurely Wednesday, addressed the COVID-19 cancellations in a video posted by Princeton.
Michael Sowers, the presumptive @Tewaaraton frontrunner whose season ended yesterday, speaks out about the COVID-19 cancellations.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 12, 2020
: @PUTIGERS
pic.twitter.com/ARU8sUZNZ1
WHAT’S ON TAP
-
More reactions and repercussions of the canceled season.
-
From our Innovation Edition, lacrosse DIY hacks for the do-it-yourself types out there.