Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The U.S. women’s national teams swept their international and collegiate competition in the Team USA Spring Premiere at Stanford — but not without overcoming formidable opposition from Team England and the host Cardinal.
The senior team trailed England, which had played four games against NCAA teams as part of its California training tour, 6-4 before pulling ahead 7-6 at halftime and then pulling away for a 14-8 victory Saturday. Team USA’s Kayla Treanor had three goals and two assists, including this fancy fake-filled finish.
Beautiful lacrosse from @USAWLax turnover, transition, @KatrinaDowd4 underhand flip to @unKayTrain_able who throws fakes and scores. WATCH FREE #USAWLAX vs @englacrosse on https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw, the LSN app, and LSN Facebook page pic.twitter.com/k38NKN3gN1
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) January 26, 2019
The U19 team, meanwhile, dominated England, which rested some of its stars in the second part of its doubleheader, in an 18-8 victory.
In a six-quarter exhibition featuring both U.S. teams against Stanford, the U19 women fell behind 7-3 after two quarters before the senior women came back for a 19-14 victory. Team USA scored seven of the eight goals in the final quarter, with Sam Apuzzo factoring in six of them. Apuzzo, the reigning Tewaaraton Award winner at Boston College, finished with six goals and an assist.
The U19 team also defeated the Japanese developmental team 18-1.
2. NCAA lacrosse is back. The 2019 season starts for real this week, with teams getting in their last bit of preparation before opening day Saturday.
Syracuse’s offense certainly appeared to be in midseason form during a tri-scrimmage with Hofstra and Vermont at the Carrier Dome.
Midseason form. pic.twitter.com/k4TiJP4Z5m
— Syracuse Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) January 26, 2019
The vibes weren’t as good in Chapel Hill this weekend. North Carolina announced late Friday that freshman Will Bowen, the nation’s No. 1-ranked defenseman in his recruiting class, will redshirt the 2019 season after sustaining a lower body injury in practice two weeks ago. The Tar Heels then fell to Loyola in their final preseason scrimmage.
3. The red-hot Toronto Rock rallied to defeat the snake-bitten Philadelphia Wings 13-12 on Saturday to headline NLL Week 7. Toronto dug itself into a 6-1 hole and trailed 10-6 going into the fourth quarter, but Tom Schreiber and Rob Hellyer sparked a five-goal Rock run, then Hellyer deposited a go-ahead goal with 2:59 remaining to give Toronto its fourth straight win. The Rock, who have not lost since Dec. 28, are 5-1 and in first place in the East Division.
The biggest winners in the West Division were the idle San Diego Seals. With the Saskatchewan Rush falling to the Georgia Swarm 13-10 on Sunday, the Seals took over first place in the division, a half-game ahead of the Rush. In a comparison of expansion teams, San Diego is 4-2 and Philadelphia is 0-6.
NLL Week 7 Scores:
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Toronto 13, Philadelphia 12
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Rochester 18, Buffalo 13
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Vancouver 11, Colorado 10 (OT)
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Georgia 13, Saskatchewan 10
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Buffalo 15, New England 5
4. Noelle Lambert, the inspirational UMass-Lowell women’s lacrosse player who delivered the most memorable moment of the 2018 season by returning to the field (and scoring) less than two years after losing her leg in a moped accident, was honored Saturday during the Boston Celtics’ game against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden. The Celtics recognized Lambert on the court as part of its Heroes Among Us campaign for her work with The Born to Run Foundation, which has raised more than $100,000 for amputee athletes.
In 2016 D1 lacrosse player, Noelle Lambert, lost her left leg in an accident. Our @MAStateLottery #HeroAmongUs responded by launching The Born to Run Foundation & has raised over $100k+ for amputee athletes while continuing to compete in college lacrosse! pic.twitter.com/NN9WaI4dkh
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 27, 2019
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The U.S. senior team received a special message from soccer gold medalist Brandi Chastain, then showcased an elite product.
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College experience showed for the U.S. U19 women.
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The latest in our NCAA preview series, featuring No. 9 Denver and No. 8 Notre Dame on the men’s side, No. 9 Princeton and No. 8 Northwestern on the women’s side.
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The lacrosse world lost two legends last week in Hall of Famers Bob Miser and Jake Curran.
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More notes from the scrimmages at the Carrier Dome, courtesy of The Post-Standard.
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You may recall this story we did on Ben Wiegel, who founded Koby’s Cause — collecting lacrosse equipment and taking it abroad for introductory clinics — in memory of his friend Koby Stevens, who committed suicide. Wiegel is now a sophomore lacrosse player at Florida State and continuing his outreach.
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The Chesapeake Chapter of US Lacrosse is doing good things, writes Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Two pipes later, Logan Schuss delivered the hometown hero’s moment in overtime, lifting the Vancouver Warriors to a victory over the Colorado Mammoth.
THE WINNING MOMENT @LoganSchuss18 #VancouverWarriors #COLvsVAN pic.twitter.com/Lkb3W6DNUu
— Vancouver Warriors (@nllwarriors) January 27, 2019
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Our NCAA preview countdown continues, as we’re inside the top seven of the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s and Women’s Preseason Top 20.
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