Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. College lacrosse is back.
Utah gave Denver all it could handle and Cameron Herbert gave the lacrosse world all it could watch Saturday — opening day of the 2021 NCAA season.
The young Utes’ near-upset of No. 7-ranked Denver featured a 16-save performance by sophomore goalie Zack Johns in his first career start and a behind-the-back goal by the Pioneers’ JJ Sillstrop that made ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” Utah’s Tyler Bradbury and Denver’s Ethan Walker each scored hat tricks.
1st day of #NCAALAX, and we’re 1-for-1 on #SCTop10.
— Chris Jastrzembski (@Chris_Jast) January 31, 2021
S/o @DU_MLAX and @jjsillstrop_5. pic.twitter.com/mXyPrEoEYE
Bellarmine defeated Mercer 9-7 in the earlier game Saturday, the first official contest of the season. It wasn’t pretty, with the teams combining for 53 turnovers. But lacrosse of any kind was a sight for sore eyes, brought to thousands of viewers via Periscope by Bellarmine’s Cameron Herbert, who live-streamed and commented on the game using his iPhone and emerged as a cult hero of the action-starved lacrosse community.
2. Our NCAA Preview Edition reaches US Lacrosse members this week. The No. 6-ranked North Carolina men and Northwestern women were featured here Friday. Follow @USLacrosseMag on Twitter and Instagram as we unveil this special dual-cover magazine at 10 a.m. Eastern.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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“Give & Go” with Myles Jones, who opens up about his mismatched outfits and his most embarrassing moment as a pro.
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How Alexander Forgosh and sisters Jennifer and Joyce Liu are making a difference in their communities as US Lacrosse Impact Athletes.
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Why Colby Barker decided to leave Ohio State lacrosse and pursue his love of football as a walk-on punter at Syracuse.
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“The Invisible Opponent” featuring Maryland’s Lizzie Colson, whose recovery from ACL surgery was as much mental as it was physical.
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About new Edinboro women’s lacrosse coach Jalen Middlebrooks, the first Black female head coach in the school’s athletics program history, which dates back to 1908.
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A Daily Tar Heel feature on UNC and U.S. women’s national team coach Jenny Levy, whose winning ways and one-liners have assured her legacy in Chapel Hill.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Pro lacrosse player Chris Bocklet, whose recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained while longboarding was featured here last week, posted an update on his status on Instagram.
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Dual covers dropping on our social media channels (@USLacrosseMag) at 10 a.m. Eastern.
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We’re inside the top five of our NCAA preview rollout, today featuring the No. 5-ranked Virginia men and Stony Brook women.
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In recognition of Black History Month, our friends and content partners over at Blaxers Blog have assembled a list of the most influential figures in Black lacrosse history.