Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Connor Fields and Ben Reeves, two of college lacrosse’s biggest names in the 2018 season, each made his MLL debut over the weekend. Fields joined on with the Charlotte Hounds against the New York Lizards, while Reeves made an appearance for the Dallas Rattlers in its Sunday night matchup with the Ohio Machine.
Fields has been in the headlines since his Albany career ended at Memorial Day Weekend. It was revealed that not only was Fields playing much of the 2018 season with a sprained MCL, but he also spent his final two seasons playing with a torn ACL. Reports were that Fields could have surgery to repair the ACL, but he decided to continue playing on the injury.
He finished his first game with an assist to Matt Rambo.
First carer @MLL_Lacrosse point for @CharlotteMLL rookie @connorfields14 from @UAlbanyMLax with this assist to @rattmambo | https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw pic.twitter.com/4kZw8yvkla
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 17, 2018
Also in that game, Paul Rabil continued setting milestones. He scored his 300th career goal in the 20-16 win over Charlotte, becoming just the second player (John Grant Jr.) to reach that mark. Rabil, Rob Pannell and Will Manny finished with five goals each.
Reeves kicked off his MLL career at the Star and played a big role in the Rattlers 17-16 win over the Machine. He scored his second goal with less than eight minutes left to tie the game at 16-16, part of a second-half comeback that helped the Rattlers stay unbeaten at home.
Ben Reeves' second goal of the night ties it up, 16-16, in Q4 | Watch #OHMatDAL on https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw & the LSN app pic.twitter.com/zGgshiW1ga
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 18, 2018
Elsewhere in MLL action, Eric Law scored seven goals and added four assists to break a Denver Outlaws franchise record for single-game points, helping his team blow out the Florida Launch 26-15. Jules Heningburg had a career-high seven points in the loss for the Launch.
The Chesapeake Bayhawks moved to 6-2 on the season with a late win over the Atlanta Blaze on Saturday night. The Bayhawks scored four of the final five goals — one from Ian MacKay, Stephen Kelly, Steele Stanwick and Josh Byrne — to pull away for the 9-6 win.
2. The UWLX opened its third season on Friday night at Cedar Lane Regional Park.
The highlight of the night was a 2017 championship game rematch between the Boston Storm and the Long Island Sound. The Storm took Friday's game by a 10-8 margin.
Kayla Treanor dropped four of her five points in the first half, fueling a 6-1 lead at halftime. However, the Sound rallied in the second half. Taylor Gait, Cortney Fortunato, Halle Majorana and Katrina Dowd each scored to cut the deficit, but the Sound could not pull all the way back. Shelby Fredericks, the Storm’s first pick in the 2018 UWLX College Draft, had four caused turnovers and four draw controls.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Molly Hendrick scored five goals to help the Philadelphia Force down the Baltimore Ride 14-9 in the season opener. Tee Ladouceur had three goals in her UWLX debut.
Nikki Boltja had three goals for the Ride to help keep the game close in the first half before the Force pulled away late.
3. Canada is in. It’s official. After reaching a tentative agreement with the National Lacrosse Team Players’ Association (NLTPA) during the week, the Canadian Lacrosse Association ratified an agreement Friday that will allow the national team to travel to the FIL World Championships in Netanya, Israel next month.
After months of back-and-forth between the NLTPA and the CLA over a number of issues, the two sides were able to come up with an agreement so the defending world champions can bring their full roster to Israel.
Strap in lacrosse fans, Canada vs. the United States is only 29 days away.
4. Lauren Morton, a former All-American midfielder at Boston U, will take over as head coach for her alma mater. Morton, who has served as an assistant on Duke’s staff since 2014, takes over for former coach Liz Robertshaw.
Morton spent time as an assistant at Boston U from 2010-2012 before helping Georgetown to two NCAA tournaments as an assistant.
Robertshaw was let go by the Terriers after leading the team for 12 seasons, advancing to five straight Patriot League tournaments entering the offseason.
5. The lacrosse community remembers Montclair State coach Mike Schambach, who died Thursday after a yearlong battle with colon cancer.
Schambach led the Red Hawks to three Division III tournament appearances in four seasons at the helm. Prior to Montclair State, he spent time at DeSales and FDU-Florham. He was 38.
6. Happy Father’s Day
Counting my blessings on this #FathersDay. Big Al helped me crawl, walk, and run. Now he’s leading the way for @rabilevents. You’re ambition, humility, selflessness, and kindness always ring true. Wishing all the fathers and father-figures a great day. pic.twitter.com/Dzkwfg0PxX
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) June 17, 2018
.@creads55 is known for being one of the top teammates in the league, but he's also a pretty cool dad! Happy Father's Day! #StealthLAX #FathersDad#LacrosseFamily pic.twitter.com/ECavNqI2jc
— Vancouver Stealth (@StealthLAX) June 17, 2018
What an awesome Picture Frame my Gabby Girl made me today. #myblessing #happydaddy pic.twitter.com/bpaIcy3QNe
— John Grant Jr (@JohnGrantJr24) June 17, 2018
Happy Father’s Day! We love our dads! #bulldogfamily pic.twitter.com/cjeYC0ERhk
— GWU Lacrosse (@GWULacrosse) June 17, 2018
This guy does more than scores goals, he's a pretty awesome dad too! Happy Father's Day to @Duchee10 pic.twitter.com/wRJjozTkKf
— Vancouver Stealth (@StealthLAX) June 17, 2018
The best title I’ll ever have. What a day with the fam! Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there! pic.twitter.com/dBMMNtOpiV
— Kyle Harrison (@KyleHarrison18) June 17, 2018
From all the way out in Camas, WA - #HappyFathersDay to our Cannons’ dads and all the other lax dads out there! pic.twitter.com/E8WRqG8xCT
— Boston Cannons (@BostonCannons) June 17, 2018
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The Potomac Chapter of US Lacrosse hosted its annual education day, helping bring coaches, clinicians and officials together to continue the learning process.
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A recent US Lacrosse TryLax clinic hit St. Louis, introducing the game to players and coaches in the Midwest.
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Syracuse men’s lacrosse’s Lucas Quinn and women’s lacrosse’s Natalie Wallon were invited to Bozeman, Mont. to help teach children the game and continue the growth of the sport in the Treasure State.
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Members of the Lakota West (Ohio) lacrosse team put on a car wash to help raise money for teammate Matt Stratman, who had an arteriovenous malformation after a game last week and has been hospitalized ever since.
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After downing Summit (N.J.) 12-6 to win its third straight Tournament of Champions, Delbarton (N.J.) has continued its dominance in lacrosse all over the state.
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Before matching up in the state playoffs, Western (Fla.) and Belen Jesuit (Fla.) teamed up through the Lace Up for LAX initiative, collecting shoes, gift cards and Bombas socks to raise money for the homeless.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Just Chris Cloutier being Chris Cloutier. Except now, he’s wearing a Denver Outlaws uniform instead of North Carolina. The one-hander still looks just as amazing.
Just absurd one-handed goal from Chris Cloutier #FLAatDEN pic.twitter.com/vk1BdJAZSC
— MajorLeague Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) June 17, 2018
Rob Pannell sees a no-angle shot and calls top cheddar. Just watch and enjoy.
Top @RobPannell3 #CHAatNYL pic.twitter.com/0Y8pE9pWLM
— MajorLeague Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) June 17, 2018
Bounce pass alert. Marcus Holman finds MLL rookie Justin Guterding for the score.
.@MarcusHolman1 bounce pass to @guterball14 | @MachineMLL lead @RattlersLax, 16-12, in Q3 | #OHMatDAL on https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw & the LSN app pic.twitter.com/mFJPurdUQU
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 18, 2018
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Going All-Access with one of the best players in the world — Team USA’s Tom Schreiber.
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