Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. No. 1 overall Major League Lacrosse draft pick Trevor Baptiste made his debut this weekend for Boston. The Team USA faceoff specialist won 15-of-32 faceoffs and scored a goal in the Cannons 16-15 victory over Florida, a game which also featured a six-goal effort by Boston's newly acquired Mark Cockerton.
Welcome #officially to the #BOOMSquad to your #TB9:@TrevorBaptiste1 #NotDoneYet pic.twitter.com/BPUI4IWcau
— Boston Cannons (@BostonCannons) June 3, 2018
Baptiste's debut helped set off a chain of trades of faceoff specialists in the league. Boston traded Joe Nardella to Atlanta for a 2019 first round college pick, and Atlanta then dealt Jake Withers to Charlotte for a 2019 second round pick.
Nardella won 23-of-40 faceoffs for Atlanta in a 20-17 loss to New York. Withers will not be available for Charlotte until the National Lacrosse League playoffs conclude.
2. The Women's Professional Lacrosse League played its first regular season games on Saturday. New England defeated New York 13-10 behind six goals from former Northwestern star Kara Mupo and Baltimore defeated Philadelphia 20-12.
HISTORY MADE: @prowomenslax hosts its inaugural game between @Baltimore_Brave and @Philly_Fire this afternoon.
— Allie Berube (@allieberube) June 2, 2018
Plenty of familiar faces, including @MarylandWLax's Karri Ellen Johnson & Dana Dobbie, @Towson_WLAX's Kelly McQuilkin and @NavyWLax's Jenna Collins! pic.twitter.com/c5nyNaqF9O
The league's new rules have been designed with the Olympic pursuit in mind.
3. Congratulations to Team USA midfielder Paul Rabil who scored a pair of goals on Saturday night in New York's 20-17 victory over Atlanta to tie John Grant Jr. as the MLL's all-time leading scorer with 541 career points.
BREAKING NEWS: @PaulRabil scores his second goal of the game and ties @JohnGrantJr24 for most points all-time in @MLL_Lacrosse history with 541. See if he can break the record WATCH FREE at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw & the LSN app pic.twitter.com/udSNkb7wtC
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 3, 2018
4. There will be a deciding third game of the National Lacrosse League Champions Cup after Rochester evened the series at 1-1 with a 13-7 win over Saskatchewan. Matt Vinc made 47 saves in the victory.
5. The IWLCA held its annual All-Star games at US Lacrosse on Saturday. Colgate's Haley O'Hanlon had three goals and four draw controls to lead the North to a 12-11 victory in the Division I game. In the Division II game, Slippery Rock goalie Emily Bitka made five saves while allowing just one goal to help the North to a 16-7 victory. The Division III game was cut short due to lightning with the North leading 6-5. Colby's Kendall Smith had a goal and a groundball to earn MVP honors.
Division I MVP from the North team is Haley O’Hanlon. Congratulations! @ColgateWLax pic.twitter.com/pslx64kPv3
— IWLCA (@IWLCA) June 2, 2018
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The inaugural Illinois High School Association girls championship went to Hinsdale Central, which knocked off perennial powers Loyola Academy and New Trier to bring home the title.
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A journalist gets a first-hand look at what being a lacrosse official is all about.
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Rochester's rabid fan base helps fuel the Knighthawks.
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Lacrosse has "just exploded" in the Treasure Valley in Idaho.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Rookie Chris Cloutier has been ridiculous since joining the Denver Outlaws. He had six goals in his debut and then had two fourth-quarter tallies in Denver's 16-13 win over league-leading Charlotte on Saturday, including this beauty.
Chris Cloutier how?! No look, reaches around the defense and scores to put @DenverOutlaws up 3 late at @CharlotteMLL WATCH FREE at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw & the LSN app pic.twitter.com/yhOMgs5ZIf
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 3, 2018
This goal by Boston's Zed Williams is just dirty.
Zed Williams with the roll and score puts @BostonCannons up 10-8 vs @Florida_Launch in the 3rd quarter WATCH FREE at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw & the LSN app pic.twitter.com/xYfh5N7yLs
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) June 2, 2018
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We'll start our "way early" 2019 NCAA Division I men's and women's lacrosse rankings.
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