Sign up for the latest news & updates

© 2024 USA Lacrosse. All Rights Reserved.

Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. The NLL returns to Philadelphia in 2018, the league formally announced Thursday at a press conference in Wells Fargo Center.

Comcast Spectacor bought the franchise for $5 million in a recent wave of expansion for the NLL under new commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. The move followed an announcement of a San Diego expansion team just two weeks ago, which is under the ownership of Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai. 

The league launched a name-the-team contest for the Philly squad. The city's last team of 28 years was the Philadelphia Wings before moving and becoming the New England Black Wolves in 2014.

The excitement from NLL fans crashed the new team’s website, but it is now back up and running. For more information and to vote for its mascot, visit phillylax2018.com.

2. Brian Reese parts ways with the Chesapeake Bayhawks after two seasons as head coach, the team announced Thursday.

He joined the Bayhawks in 2011 first as a general manager and was promoted to head coach in 2016, but has been a part of the MLL for 17 years. As a player from 2001 to 2005, Reese was named an MLL All-Star four times.

“Where my career is, I couldn't give the organization what they wanted in a full-time capacity,” Reese said. “There are absolutely no hard feelings and wish the organization nothing but the best. I've been a part of this league for 17 years. It's a huge part of my life and I hope to be able to contribute in the future."

3. The WPLL announced 80 lacrosse legends that will be honored before the league’s Sept. 30 exhibition at US Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md. All legends are invited to compete in the Legends’ Game at 12:30 p.m., after which select players from the 100 drafted Aug. 23 in the inaugural WPLL draft will play in an exhibition game.

The legends hail from several eras, spanning players like Betsy Dougherty, who represented Team USA at World Cups in 1986 and 1989, and Devon Wills, who captained this summer’s gold medal winning team. The list of legends also includes former Loyola coach Diane Geppi-Aikens, who is receiving the honor posthumously.

4. The police investigation of the death of Lafayette freshman McCrae Williams, who was recruited to play lacrosse, continues. Authorities are attempting to piece together his final hours, which included an off-campus party before returning to his dorm room with a woman, where he was found unconscious, sources told NBC10.

These are the first details to emerge from the investigation. Police are beginning to interview numerous students, but there is still no conclusion or leanings.

5. Stick stringing specifications have been simplified for women’s collegiate, high school and girls’ youth play for the 2018 season.

“We feel confident that by continuing to align with US Lacrosse stick stringing requirements, these new changes will offer streamlining of the specifications and provide more consistency with stick checks,” said Jen Adams, chair of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee and the head coach at Loyola (Md.) University.

5. Virginia’s Doug Knight will enter the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame on Sept. 23 after popularizing the dive maneuver from 1994-1997. However, the late recruit, led by coach Dom Starsia, actually wished he did not change the game as the NCAA banned the move in 1998.

“For me, it was the easiest way to score,” Knight said. “I think that’s why a lot of people did it. It certainly required a little bit of recklessness and disregard for your personal safety. It was exciting and fun and I wish they would have never changed the rule.”

6. An ACC-Big Ten challenge sounds exciting following the 2017 season, when the Big Ten eclipsed the ACC in the battle to claim the “best conference” title. 

What We’re Reading

  • Jim Burke, a three-time member of Team USA as well as a Hall of Famer, was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer one year ago. Jerry Demeo (Cortland ’81) and Bill Beroza (Roanoke ’77) created a GoFundMe to help raise money for his chemo treatments. To donate, please visit his page.

  • The Ohio Machine announced the creation of the Ohio Machine Lacrosse Foundation, which is committed to the growth and development of the game in the state.

  • Syracuse men's lacrosse welcomes a large freshman class of 18 newcomers, as well as one transfer, to the 2018 roster.

  • The Courage Game, which brings together LGBT people in the lacrosse community, returns to Boston on Sept. 23.

  • Ashland University, which competes in Division II’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will add men’s tennis and women’s lacrosse in the fall of 2018.

  • Nikki Thorndill was hired to coach West Orange High (N.J.) after longtime coach Mary Hopkins stepped down.

  • Epoch Lacrosse partners with Channel Mesh to develop the next generation of flat knitted mesh for lacrosse heads.

What We’re Watching

The 2018 FIL World Championship is coming to Netanya, Israel. Learn more at worldlacrosse2018.com.  

What’s On Tap

  • US Lacrosse will launch the Lacrosse Communities Project in Cleveland today at 1:30 p.m. Stay tuned for coverage on site.

  • Game 6 of the Mann Cup will be played tonight at 10:30 p.m. The Peterborough Lakers lead the New Westminster Salmonbellies 3-2 in the series and could clinch the title Friday. If needed, Game 7 will be on Saturday, also at 10:30 p.m.

  • Jill Redfern, another inductee of the 2017 Hall of Fame class, will be featured today. She was a two-time NCAA Division II championship MVP at Ursinus and a U.S. gold medalist.  

  • Our Myth Busters series continues today with looks at city lacrosse and stretching.

“DIALED IN” IS POSTED DAILY MONDAY-FRIDAY AT 8 A.M. EASTERN ON USLAXMAGAZINE.COM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR A WEEKLY DIGEST DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX.