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

1. US Lacrosse crowned national champions at the 13U and 14U age levels for boys’ and girls’ lacrosse Sunday in Downingtown, Pa.

The Texas Mustangs and Igloo Black Diamond (N.Y.) won the 13U and 14U boys’ titles, respectively, while Yellow Jackets 2024 Wiener and Yellow Jackets 2023 Thorn swept the girls’ titles.

2. The Premier Lacrosse League All-Star Game in Los Angeles had a little bit of everything, including:

  • Adidas tie-dye jerseys featuring players’ Instagram handles. According to Front Office Sports, which cited data from CrowdTangle, the PLL had more interactions (likes and comments) on Instagram than 113 of 123 teams in the big four sports.

  • Red-carpet treatment for the players, with a party Saturday and plenty of regaling as  they arrived at Banc of California Stadium for the game Sunday.

  • A big spread in Sunday’s edition of The New York Times.

  • Experimental rules that rankled some members of the faceoff community, but immediately made good on one of the components of a partnership with World Lacrosse announced Sunday, “testing and evaluation of new rules and game formats.”

  • An appearance by living legend Jim Brown, special guest judge of the PLL Skills Competition.

  • And go figure, another one-goal game littered with terrific highlights. Goalie Jack Concannon made 13 saves in the second half to earn PLL All-Star Game MVP honors and lead Team Baptiste to a 17-16 win over Team Rambo. Will Manny, who scored the game-winning goal against Team USA in last year’s MLL All-Star Game, again came through with the clincher with 55 seconds remaining.

PLL co-founder Paul Rabil of Team Baptiste and namesake Matt Rambo of Team Rambo provided the brightest flare with an around-the-world assist and Air Gait goal, respectively.

3. Road teams ruled the weekend in Major League Lacrosse, as the Atlanta Blaze, New York Lizards and Dallas Rattlers all prevailed away from home.

Cannons midfielder Zed Williams scored on a between-the-legs shot with his back to the goal — a highlight that made “SportsCenter” as the No. 2 play.

4. Calgary Roughnecks forward Dane Dobbie became the fourth player in National Lacrosse League history to win championship and league MVP honors in the same season.

5. The Women’s Professional Lacrosse League cancelled a season-ending doubleheader Saturday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium due to excessive heat, with temperatures reaching 112 degrees on the turf.

The playoff matchups had already been determined. The Fight will play the Fire and the Brave will play the Pride in semifinals Friday at Yale.

The championship game is Sunday (2 p.m., ESPNU) at US Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md.

 

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A powerful message of inclusion from Army men’s lacrosse coach Joe Alberici.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • More pro lacrosse coverage, as the PLL sets its sights on Denver, MLL enters its All-Star Game preparations and the WPLL races toward its finish.

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