Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The Premier Lacrosse League’s competitive balance has been a hallmark of its inaugural season, with 12 of 18 games being decided by just one goal, including eight that have gone to overtime. But there’s also an any-given-Sunday element at play, as evidenced Sunday in Washington, D.C., where previously winless Chrome poured in a PLL-record 19 goals to defeat first-place Chaos 19-11 — the most lopsided result so far.
Midfielder Jordan MacIntosh led the offensive outburst with five goals and two assists.
We're back with another @TheBigBadWolf31 goal pic.twitter.com/lTr1LWIsls
— Chrome Lacrosse Club (@PLLChrome) July 7, 2019
Saturday’s games were more on trend, with Redwoods defeating Archers 9-8 in overtime thanks to Jules Heningburg’s conversion of a fortuitous Sergio Salcido shot that caromed off the goal post and into his stick and Whipsnakes eking past Atlas 11-9. Ryan Drenner scored the go-ahead goal in the latter game, the attackman’s seventh tally in the fourth quarter or overtime this season.
JULES HENINGBURG WINS IT IN OVERTIME! pic.twitter.com/0OkxO4Q3SO
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 6, 2019
"Mr. Clutch" aka @ChefBoy_RD_ pic.twitter.com/uwYWcZdyMu
— Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club (@PLLWhipsnakes) July 7, 2019
The PLL also announced Saturday the 44 players voted into the PLL All-Star Game, which will be played July 21 in Los Angeles. Redwood and Whipsnakes led all teams with 10 selections each.
Whipsnakes’ Matt Rambo and Atlas’ Trevor Baptiste were named team captains as the top vote getters and each unveiled their first two picks during the broadcast of Sunday’s game.
The first 4 All Star Picks are in!
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 7, 2019
1. Michael Ehrhardt (Team Rambo)
2. Paul Rabil (Team Baptiste)
3. Tom Schreiber (Team Baptiste)
4. Connor Fields (Team Rambo)
Full Draft airs on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/dfNiifirTu
Heading into the all-star break, Whipsnakes is in first place at 5-1. Chaos and Redwoods are tied for second, each sporting a 4-2 record. Archers and Atlas are tied for fourth at 2-4. Chrome is 1-5.
2. Shayne Jackson beat the shot clock with less than a minute remaining to lift the Atlanta Blaze to a 12-11 home win Sunday, salvaging a weekend which started with a 16-13 loss Saturday at Chesapeake.
Atlanta won despite being without attackman Randy Staats, who served a one-game suspension for his role in a fight with Bayhawks defenseman Warren Jeffrey. Bryan Cole scored a game-high four goals for the Blaze, who improved to 4-2.
In the other Major League Lacrosse game of the weekend, Boston defeated Dallas 15-11 on Saturday. Goalie Nick Marrocco backstopped the win with 16 saves. A 2-point goal by defenseman James Fahey sparked a 5-0 run that spelled the difference.
Lyle Thompson starred again in the Bayhawks’ win over the Blaze, putting up eight points to give him 33 in five games.
Another @lyle4thompson goal... pic.twitter.com/uOm8VtH1G9
— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) July 7, 2019
3. Severe storms on the East Coast affected play in all three pro leagues. Both Women’s Professional Lacrosse League games Saturday in West Chester, Pa., were postponed due to lightning.
Command led Brave 7-3 at halftime in the first game of the doubleheader before it was called. Pride and Fire were also scheduled to play.
The WPLL has not yet updated its schedule to include make-up games.
GAMES CALLED: Due to continuing lighting strikes, both of this evenings games have been postponed. All fans in attendance will have their tickets honored at a later date. Stay tuned for a schedule update for make-up games.
— WPLL (@prowomenslax) July 6, 2019
4. Uganda has withdrawn from the upcoming World Lacrosse Women’s U19 World Championship due to inadequate funding.
5. Team 91 defeated Legacy 15-4 in the World Series of Youth Lacrosse championship game at the University of Denver’s Peter Barton Stadium on Thursday. The blowout in the all-Long Island final gave Team 91 its third WSYL title. The game was broadcast on ESPN2.
TEAM 91 x 2019 #WSYL CHAMPS! pic.twitter.com/u6rKx2QHQO
— #WSYL (@worldserieslax) July 4, 2019
6. Also in Colorado, the Vail Lacrosse Shootout concluded its 47th annual tournament Sunday.
Perennial Vail contender Jammin’ Salmonettes took home their first women’s elite division trophy with a 7-6 victory over LAXaDAZEicalz.
In the men’s elite final, ScoreBreak beat Big Green Herd 10-5.
Kirstie Greenlaw (San Diego State) and Nate Siekierski (Albany) earned MVP honors in their respective divisions.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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ESPNW featured Daniela Eppler, a defender for the WPLL’s Fight who is partially of Mexican descent, and her efforts to advance the sport south of the border.
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The Washington Post and NBC Sports Washington on the PLL as the tour arrived in D.C. for three games at Audi Field.
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How will Pat Spencer’s playmaking abilities play out on the hardwood? The former Loyola lacrosse star and reigning Tewaaraton Award winner could emerge as a leader on a young hoops team at Northwestern.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Archers defenseman Matt McMahon bailed out goalie Drew Adams not once, but twice on this sequence Saturday.
MATT MCMAHON WITH TWO SAVES AS A POLE! pic.twitter.com/Kzq4u8WB0h
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 6, 2019
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The U.S. U19 women’s team arrives in Evanston, Ill., today for its final training camp before the world championship. Team USA will train for three days (Monday-Wednesday) at Northwestern. The World Lacrosse Women’s U19 World Championship is Aug. 1-10 in Peterborough, Ontario.
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