Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. College fall ball comes with numerous causes, none more visible than that of the Headstrong Foundation, which funds blood cancer research and assists families of patients. The foundation, founded in 2006 by Hofstra men’s lacrosse player Nick Colleluori shortly before he died from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and continued by his family, announced Thursday it will host nine fundraising events in October featuring 38 NCAA men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The slate:
Oct. 14 – Colleluori Classic at Hofstra (men) – Bucknell, Hartford, Hofstra, Lehigh and Penn State
Oct. 15 – Colleluori Classic at Hofstra (women) – Boston College, Hofstra, Michigan and UConn
Oct. 15 – Headstrong Classic at Rutgers (women) – Fairfield, Rutgers, Siena and Wagner
Oct. 15 – Colleluori Classic at LIU Post (women) – Adelphi, Central Connecticut State, Hofstra alumni, LIU Brooklyn, Manhattan, NYAC, Quinnipiac and Villanova
Oct. 15 – Colleluori Classic at Johns Hopkins (men) – Army, Albany, Johns Hopkins and Richmond
Oct. 15 – University City Classic at Penn (women) – Penn, Temple, USC and Virginia
Oct. 21 – Headstrong DIII Fall Scrimmages at Cabrini (men) - Cabrini, Montclair State and Scranton
Oct. 22 – University City Classic at Penn Park (men) – Bellarmine, Delaware, Drexel, Lafayette, Monmouth, Penn, Quinnipiac and UMBC
Oct. 22 - Headstrong DIII Fall Scrimmages at Cabrini (men)
2. The New England Patriots played the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL season opener Thursday night. Why is that relevant to lacrosse fans? We love to tout the Patriots’ numerous ties — wide receiver Chris Hogan (Penn State), head coach Bill Belichick (Wesleyan), safeties coach Steve Belichick (Rutgers), defensive assistant Mike Pellegrino (Johns Hopkins) and recent football operations/player development addition Chris Mattes (Rutgers) all played lacrosse in college — to the fastest sport on two feet. In fact, there were several lacrosse mentions on NBC’s “Thursday Night Football.” We think we’ve seen this one before:
.@ChrisHogan_15, @PennStateMLAX pic.twitter.com/cfcyl8gpLh
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) September 8, 2017
3. Jenna Collins, the catalyst of Navy’s historic run to the women’s lacrosse final four, took on all sorts of questions in this month’s “Give & Go.” From making it to the next meal during plebe summer, to doing barrel rolls and flying upside down over San Diego, to lessons learned from the legendary Cindy Timchal, Collins provides a glimpse of life at the service academy.
4. Dr. Jackie Berning, professor and chair of the health science department at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and a member of the US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee, debunks a couple of common sports nutrition myths she hears in lacrosse sideline conversations.
What We’re Reading
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The lacrosse-football crossover goes well beyond the Patriots. College Crosse canvassed the landscape.
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Ithaca assistant men’s lacrosse Nicholas Hourigan uses social media to learn more about prospective players — and the findings are not always flattering. The Ithacan examines how athletes’ social media activity can affect their future.
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Former indoor goalie Ginny Capicchioni — the first female in North America to sign with a men’s professional team, the first female to play in a professional men’s lacrosse game and the first female to play for a men’s national team in any sport — has landed as a volunteer assistant at Michigan.
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Mitch Jones is continuing a family legacy with the New Westminster Salmonbellies, whose assistant coach Russ Heard is chasing the Mann Cup title that eluded him as a player.
What We’re Watching
Ed Calkins, who won an NCAA championship as a player at Princeton, believes in the mission of US Lacrosse as vice chair of the board of directors.
We see why Ohio State’s Brad Ross is one of the most highly regarded young assistants in college lacrosse.
If the end goal is complete ownership, you must first learn to be accountable to YOURSELF! #BOOM pic.twitter.com/echfakWzJ4
— Brad Ross (@Coach_Ross10) September 6, 2017
One more hit for the Salmonbellies as they begin the hunt for their 25th Mann Cup.
"We're going to put on a show!"
— NW Salmonbellies (@Salmonbellies) September 8, 2017
Step into the minds of your Bellies as they prepare to battle for their 25th Mann Cup!#PaintItRed pic.twitter.com/A8el2a4QF5
What’s On Tap
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The Mann Cup, Canada’s senior box national championship, commences tonight with Game 1 at Queen’s Park Arena in New Westminster, British Columbia (10:30 p.m. ET). The host Salmonbellies, the WLA champion, will take on the MSL champion Peterborough Lakers in the best-of-seven series.
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Marisa Ingemi, preparing a story for us on the state of the NLL in advance of the Sept. 18 draft, had a few spoiler alerts Thursday stemming from her interview with commissioner Nick Sakiewicz.
Another expansion team announcement is coming soon. Possibly a third team as well for 2018-2019
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) September 7, 2017
Educated guess, we're going to see Philadelphia and Halifax.
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) September 7, 2017
Also as far as talk of an NLL feeder league- sounds like they are content letting Canadian leagues handle that (cont)
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) September 7, 2017
But called USBoxla model "exportable" and mentioned at least one expansion team will have a similar feeder model
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) September 7, 2017
To summarize: likely 12 NLL teams for 2018-2019 (at least 11 for sure), announcements coming very soon. League focusing heavily on expanding
— Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) September 7, 2017