Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The NCAA Division I lacrosse tournaments opened this weekend and one thing we know is there won’t be a repeat champion in the women’s field. A last-second save from Sophia LeRose gave Duke a 13-12 win over reigning champion Maryland.
SOPHIA LEROSE STOPS IT AT THE BUZZER. @DukeWLAX SURVIVES.@MarylandWLax roared back in the second half, but LeRose stopped the last-second shot to seal it. pic.twitter.com/P3XMwx35vv
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 16, 2021
The Blue Devils reach the quarters for the first time since 2015 while Maryland won’t be in the final four for the first time since 2008
In other women’s second round games, Florida gained revenge over Jacksonville with a dominating 17-3 win and North Carolina and Northwestern remained unbeaten on a day when when the game’s biggest stars shone bright.
2. The opening round of the NCAA men’s tournament lacked much of the usual drama we’re accustomed to, but Denver and Loyola closed out things with a bang on Sunday night. Led by TD Ierlan’s dominance on faceoffs, Denver rallied from a five-goal halftime deficit, but Loyola hung on for a 14-13 victory on an amazing save by Sam Shafer at the end of the game.
SAM SHAFER WITH THE SAVE OF A LIFETIME. WOW. @LoyolaMLAX survives at the buzzer, downs @DU_MLAX 14-13. pic.twitter.com/48DdspfHts
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 17, 2021
Here’s how the other games went:
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The day after becoming a father, Justin Anderson kick-started UNC.
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The Kirst family took center stage as Rutgers beat Lehigh.
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Wheaton Jackoboice keyed Notre Dame’s late win over Drexel.
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Georgetown won its first NCAA tournament game since 2007.
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Alex Rode, the MVP of Virginia’s 2019 NCAA title, came up big again.
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Justin Shockey and Jared Bernhardt keyed Maryland’s win over Vermont.
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Michael Sowers’ first NCAA tournament game was one to remember.
3. The Tewaaraton Foundation announced the five finalists for this year’s awards on Friday. The men’s group features five attackers while the women’s finalists includes a pair of players from No. 1 ranked North Carolina.
4. Wins and losses matter, but the game is about so much more. Nelson Rice with this outstanding feature on Drexel’s Jimmeh Koita.
Jimmeh Koita can light up a room with his 1,000-watt smile. He can also light it up at the X.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 14, 2021
"There are not a lot of kids playing college lacrosse that have his kind of story."
Here's how the son of West African immigrants made it to @DrexelMLax.https://t.co/CnspiilsxZ
5. 1979 has been an inspiration for the Babson men’s lacrosse program and the school got back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since that season this year.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Selection Sunday has been misery for Rutgers in recent years, but the Scarlet Knights were thrilled to get better news this season.
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Mike Caravana, the men’s lacrosse coach at Denison for 28 years, announced on Sunday that he’s retiring as the school’s head coach. An assistant coach for the 2006 U.S. team, Caravana won 320 games in his career.
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Women’s lacrosse will become the 19th varsity sport at Xavier, with the program beginning play as an independent in 2023 and then joining the Big East for the 2024 season.
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Pitt, which will begin women’s lacrosse play next spring, has added four transfers, including Virginia Tech All-American Paige Petty.
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BYU downed Chapman to win the MCLA Invitational in Round Rock, Texas over the weekend.
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Former Rutgers and NLL star Delby Powless has written a book about his own mental health struggles.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Scott Van Pelt’s love for his alma mater comes shining through is this hype video for Maryland’s men’s lacrosse team. So great to have one of ESPN’s biggest personalities advocating for the sport.
Built for May
— Maryland Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 14, 2021
Play like there's no tomorrow and #BeTheBest
@notthefakeSVP pic.twitter.com/Nrzyn8yH4o
UConn's Sydney Watson joined Dana Boyle on "No Boundaries" last week.
This week on No Boundaries with @danaboyle_ @UConnWLAX star Sydney Watson
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 14, 2021
She shares her passion for detective work and takes us behind-the-scenes of the UConn locker room.
WATCH: https://t.co/koxs8HiP2N pic.twitter.com/WVPf6dPrey
WHAT’S ON TAP
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More coverage from the NCAA postseason, including Division II & III notebooks.