Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Memorial Day Weekend is here, folks. Get ready.
Here are some highlights from the NCAA women’s final four media day.
“Hey look, it’s me!”#NCAAWLAX | @BCwlax pic.twitter.com/Epsm6Twqqs
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 23, 2019
Charm City Charming pic.twitter.com/1HYYSW1U5D
— Maryland Women's Lacrosse (@MarylandWLax) May 23, 2019
One. More. Day pic.twitter.com/CZ6UOjlr8t
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 23, 2019
Morning shootaround at Homewood Field!#GoHeels #NCAAWLAX pic.twitter.com/RjpQVNCYRc
— UNC Women's Lacrosse (@uncwlax) May 23, 2019
2. Tonight, the NCAA women’s semifinals get underway.
No. 2 seed Boston College will battle No. 3 North Carolina at Homewood Field at 5 p.m. in the first NCAA women’s semifinal.
There, the nation will get to see senior Dempsey Arsenault, who played her first two years as a defender before becoming one of Boston College’s top offensive threats. She goes up against North Carolina defender Emma Trenchard, who has improved in her sophomore season thanks to her basketball experience.
In the second of tonight’s NCAA women’s semifinals, top-seeded Maryland will meet Northwestern in a rematch of the Big Ten final at 7:30.
The rubber match will feature Brennan Dwyer, the pride of Winnetka, Ill. Dwyer is the only member of the Wildcats roster from Illinois. Read more on the hometown star for Northwestern.
3. It’s media day at Lincoln Financial Field.
The four teams competing in the NCAA men’s final four will all take the field for practice today — Duke, Penn State, Virginia and Yale.
Yesterday, we learned about the two programs playing in Saturday’s All-ACC semifinal.
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Duke’s Cade Van Raaphorst and JT Giles-Harris combine to form the nation’s toughest defensive duo.
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Matt Moore, the hero in Virginia’s quarterfinal win over Maryland, has emerged for the Cavaliers in their May run.
4. Pat Spencer is the USILA Division I player of the year. The Loyola senior ends his career as the NCAA’s all-time leader with 231 assists and as the No. 2 all-time scorer with 380 points.
As for the small college awards, Merrimack's Charlie Bertrand takes home Division II player of the year honors. Amherst’s Evan Wolf wins the Division III player of the year award.
Check out the USILA All-Americans for Division I, II and III.
5. Liz Hogan is joining the WPLL.
The league announced Hogan, the former Syracuse star, will join the WPLL Pride. She competed as part of the U.S. player pool in the team’s last three events (Fall Classic, IWLCA President’s Cup, Spring Premiere).
WHAT WE’RE READING
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An amazing story of rehabilitation and resilience from Inside Lacrosse. Cabrini All-American Timmy Brooks, then 19, served jail time for selling marijuana back in 2013. Now, years later, he credits the worst thing that’s ever happened to him with saving his life.
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The NCAA women’s final four has a major Long Island flavor to it.
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Speaking of Long Island, former high school lacrosse standout Dalton Crossan is hoping to make it in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks.
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St. Joe’s (N.Y.) senior Kellen Pulera was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 for his sick BTB goal.
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Two Portland-area teams paired up to help support the HEADstrong Foundation.
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Looking back at the past four matchups between Boston College and North Carolina.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
How many kids does it take to knock down the U.S. men’s indoor team's Anthony Kelly?
How many guys does it take to tackle A-Train? We’re still a little unclear ♂️ pic.twitter.com/LihI2oXX09
— U.S. Men's National Team (@USAMLax) May 23, 2019
Between the 30s with Penn State's Robby Black and Dylan Foulds.
Between the 30s - Round 2 with Dylan Foulds and Robby Black. pic.twitter.com/oe2QE7jNvg
— Penn State Men’s Lacrosse (@PennStateMLAX) May 23, 2019
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The women's semifinals will get underway at Homewood Field starting with Boston College vs. North Carolina at 5 p.m. Next up is Maryland vs. Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.
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Catch our men's and women's final four previews coming out this morning.
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