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

1. We join the Furman men's lacrosse program and others in mourning the loss of Jackson Roberts, a student assistant coach of the Paladins, who died Friday night soon after suffering critical injuries in a vehicular accident.

Roberts, a senior from Memphis, Tenn., was a passenger on a motorcycle when it collided with another vehicle in Greenville, S.C., around 10 p.m., local media outlets reported. He died of what the coroner ultimately ruled blunt force trauma to the head at a local hospital before midnight, according to WSPA.com.

Furman president Elizabeth Davis made comments via Twitter and the school's Facebook page.

“We give thanks for the life of Jackson and all he brought to our community,” Davis said in a statement. “May all who knew him find peace and comfort during this difficult time.”

The Paladins are coached by former Navy and Team USA coach Richie Meade. They're scheduled to open the season at home Feb. 1 against Vermont.

Many in the lacrosse community have expressed their sympathies via social media; sentiments we echo here.

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2. With the graduation of an All-American in goal virtually the only personnel loss from last season's NCAA semifinalist squad to address, Wesleyan gets our nod as No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men's Preseason Top 20.

3. Similarly, players that accounted for 264 of TCNJ's 319 points (82.8 percent) and its starting goalie return to last year's national runner-up, making the Lions the early favorite in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women's Preseason Top 20.

4. Virginia a year ago continued new coach Lars Tiffany's longtime preference for installing and running a high-scoring offense, but the No. 16 Cavaliers must improve at the X and on defense if they want to ascend the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20 in his second season in Charlottesville.

5. Colorado took a giant, unexpected step forward in its fourth season last year, reaching its first NCAA tournament after a runner-up finish in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Now the No. 16 Buffaloes, ranked No. 16 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women's Preseason Top 20, will compete for the first Pac-12 Conference championship as the league begins its sponsorship of the sport.

6. The Notre Dame men's program has some activities planned in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

WHAT WE’RE READING

  • More local media coverage of the tragic death of Furman student assistant coach Jackson Roberts is here and here.

  • The South China Morning Post chronicled Kyle Harrison's visit to Hong Kong and instructional clinic for kids there.

  • Connor Wilson of Lacrosse All Stars authored a #longread on the state of international lacrosse.

  • Inside Lacrosse has released the schedule for its Lacrosse Industry Summit Thursday at the Hilton Baltimore ahead of LaxCon.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

In case you missed it last week, here's a look a highlights from Blue-White game at the Team USA Spring Premiere Jan. 6 in Bradenton, Fla.

 

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • We'll continue our previews of teams ranked in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Preseason Top 20 with No. 15 Army on the men's side and No. 15 Cornell on the women's side. 

  • It's LaxCon week, and we'll profile lacrosse's largest educational and networking event. Tickets on sale here.

  • Subscribe today to our weekly email newsletter and stay connected to each week's top lacrosse stories. The newsletter goes out every Thursday.

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