Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Last week’s emotional roller coaster did not stop with the cancellation of the college lacrosse season.
The NCAA delivered some much-needed uplift Friday, ruling that student-athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete for a championship this spring in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis would be granted eligibility relief.
Shortly thereafter, however, the lacrosse community learned of three separate tragedies.
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Six Mount Olive women’s lacrosse players were in a vehicle that was struck by a tractor trailer in the early-morning hours Friday. Two of the players — freshman Madison Mergl and sophomore Ann Wray — died at the scene. Law enforcement found evidence of beer and wine at the scene, according to WRAL.
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Kaiden Tubbert, a junior midfielder for the Le Moyne men’s lacrosse team, died suddenly Friday morning. He was 20. Authorities have not yet reported the cause of Tubbert’s death.
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Jim Case, the longtime athletic trainer at Cornell who worked with the U.S. national team in 1994 and 1998, died suddenly Saturday. He was 55. Case spent 32 years with the Big Red.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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College lacrosse players might be saddened by the NCAA’s decision, but it was the right call, writes Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston.
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Lacrosse Bucket identified the breakout stars of the abbreviated college season.
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For St. Mary’s and McDaniel, one final medicine game, as covered by Inside Lacrosse.
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Syracuse coach John Desko on breaking the news to his team, which was undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally: “It was literally like someone had passed.”
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Albany coach Scott Marr had to have the conversation as both coach and parent.
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Start a job or play another year of lacrosse? Some student-athletes will have a dilemma on their hands, the Morning Call reports.
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The BU men’s lacrosse team gathered one last time to celebrate its seniors.
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This is bigger than sports, but this is when we need sports the most, writes ESPN’s Anish Shroff for US Lacrosse Magazine.
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NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz told The National Post he is confident the league can salvage this season, but that it might run well into June.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Bullis (Md.) junior midfielder Spencer Hughes made “SportsCenter” Twitter by scoring and unveiling his Kobe Bryant jersey underneath his uniform against DeMatha (Md.) last week.
Dropped the defender. Scored. Showed the vintage Kobe jersey underneath.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 14, 2020
(via phillip3s, spencerhughes.24/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/wRTPkBnfGC
WHAT’S ON TAP
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What now? A note from editor in chief Matt DaSilva.
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Unveiling our April edition and what could have been.
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The PLL entry draft, with 16 pro lacrosse veterans up for grabs by head coaches of the seven teams, who will live tweet their selections.