Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. U.S. men’s team defensive midfielder Steve DeNapoli has been ruled out of the FIL World Championship due to an ACL tear in his right knee, leading off this Team USA update.
DeNapoli, who plays for the New York Lizards, suffered the injury during a June 9 game against the Florida Launch. U.S. team coach John Danowski has not yet named a replacement, though he has options to consider during this week’s training camp in Massachusetts in advance of the team battling the MLL All-Stars Thursday at Harvard Stadium.
Also in the update, a look at Greg Gurenlian’s preparations for the world championship and reactions to the announcement of Team Canada’s FIL roster.
2. A league-record 29 saves by Kelsea Donnelly and seven goals by Marie McCool helped the Baltimore Brave move to 3-0 in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League with a 16-13 win over the New York Fight Friday in North East, Md.
The Brave used a 9-3 run surrounding halftime to pull ahead, 14-8, ultimately holding off the Fight in a game that took place as part of the Project 120 Tournament, a US Lacrosse sanctioned tournament. McCool, a 2018 Tewaaraton Award finalist as a North Carolina Tar Heel, scored six times during the decisive run, including an unassisted goal with just one second left in the second quarter. Donnelly made 10 saves in that frame, aiding the Brave to assume a 10-7 lead at the break.
WPLL No. 1 overall draft pick Kylie Ohlmiller had a had trick to lead the Fight, which dropped its second straight to open the season.
Yesterday in the rain at Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y., Taylor Hensh scored in overtime to lift the New England Command to an 11-10 win over the Upstate Pride.
That’s a wrap! Taylor Hensh’s OT goal secures the victory for the @NE_Command #CommandGreatness #ProStartsHere #ForPlayersByPlayers pic.twitter.com/ZZJnUMqjfU
— WPLL (@prowomenslax) June 24, 2018
New England improved to 2-1, while Upstate fell to 1-1 on the season. Hensh scored three on the day, including the game-tying goal with six minutes to play.
The next WPLL game will take place in Boston at 4 p.m. Thursday, as New England battles the Philadelphia Fire at Harvard Stadium in advance of the MLL All-Star Game.
3. The Dallas Rattlers moved to 8-2 and remained in first place in Major League Lacrosse with a 16-14 win at the Atlanta Blaze. John Ranagan and Jordan Wolf led the way with six points apiece for the Rattlers, who moved a full game in front of idle Chesapeake.
Elsewhere, the Denver Outlaws moved into a third-place tie with the Charlotte Hounds at 6-4 overall thanks in part to a 17-13 win at the defending champion Ohio Machine. An 8-3 run bracketing halftime keyed the visitors, who got six goals from Chris Cloutier.
At home against the Florida Launch, the Hounds started slowly and never recovered, falling 21-17. Florida got four goals and four assists from Dylan Molloy, while Charlotte rookie Connor Fields continued strong early play with three goals and one assist.
Boston was the lone home team to win over the weekend, pulling away from New York, 15-13. Mark Cockerton scored two of his five goals in the decisive fourth quarter for the Cannons, which withstood a six-goal onslaught from Rob Pannell.
4. Top of the Bay Sports, one of several partners in the US Lacrosse sanctioned tournament program, keeps player experience at the top of its list when designing and running girls’ lacrosse tournaments.
The company, founded in 2004 by former college assistant and 2011 U.S. U19 women’s team head coach Krystin Porcella, this year designated several of its events as qualifiers for the 10th annual US Lacrosse Nationals, which will bring many of the nation’s best 14U, 13U and 12U teams for tournament play Aug. 2-5 in Frederica, Del.
5. The 46th Vail Lacrosse Shootout in scenic Colorado began Saturday with boys’ and girls’ divisions in the U19 High School age group. Tough not to be enchanted playing in front of the Gore Mountain Range.
High school play continues through Wednesday before giving way to various masters-level divisions. Elite divisions for men and women run July 1-4.