Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Several college recruiting events and US Lacrosse-sanctioned tournaments took place over the weekend, signaling the start of the last rush of lacrosse activity while it’s still lacrosse weather. And while many of his colleagues were on the recruiting trail, Lehigh men’s lacrosse coach and recent National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Cassese’s weekend was highlighted by coaching his 7-year-old son, Drew, and his HEADStrong-Lehigh Valley team as they competed in the 11th-annual King of the Mountain tournament. He tweeted Sunday about a special encounter with former Colgate coach and Patriot League foe Mike Murphy, who coached his son, Colin, and the Mesa Lacrosse team.
Highlight of the day at the @LehighLacrosse King of the Mountain Youth Tourney... Coaching my boy Drew and his @HEADstrong_LV team against my pal @LaxcoachMike and his boy Colin and his @MesaLacrosse squad. This is why I love this game!!! Great people! Great fun! pic.twitter.com/ToW7JYkkQZ
— Kevin Cassese (@CoachCassese) November 4, 2018
The admiration was mutual.
Thanks to all the folks @LehighLacrosse & @CoachCassese our @MesaLacrosse 2028 Blue team had a blast. It was awesome to be across the box from KC again. Proud of our boys. #threepatsfans pic.twitter.com/LzpaTkaxqS
— Mike Murphy (@LaxcoachMike) November 4, 2018
Murphy resigned at Colgate after the 2018 season, one of the most surprising developments of the offseason.
2. The National Lacrosse League remains at an impasse with the Professional Lacrosse Players Association over a collective bargaining agreement, a dispute that has delayed the start of training camps. Colorado Mammoth goalie Dillon Ward at least was able to dust off his set shot, nailing the Western Union First Shot before a Denver Nuggets home game against the Utah Jazz.
Mammoth goalie Dillon Ward nailed his WU First Shot!#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/vVTOvIEVJM
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 4, 2018
3. US Lacrosse hosted 27 youth program leaders from around the country for a conference at its headquarters in Sparks, Md. The event included a Lacrosse Athlete Development Model field demonstration, as well as sessions on growing the game and collaboration to improve lacrosse in their communities.
US Lacrosse hosted 27 Program Leaders from across the country for a conference where leaders participated in an Athlete Development field demo, sessions on growing the game and collaboration to improve lacrosse in their communities #FromTheField #USLacrosse #LADM pic.twitter.com/kButLkWkwF
— US Lacrosse (@USLacrosse) November 3, 2018
4. High school lacrosse participation continues to skyrocket. Lax Sports Network examined the latest numbers, including an eye-popping 25-percent growth in high school girls’ lacrosse participation over the last five years.
5. Detroit Mercy women’s lacrosse, like any startup, has had its fair share of turnover in its first 11 years. Megan Callahan has been the constant, as a player, assistant coach and now head coach. We caught up with Callahan in the latest post of our Fall Ball Focus series.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Syracuse has seen a troubling trend of losing recruits.
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A career in lacrosse was worth the risk for Trilogy’s Nick Marrocco.
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The IWLCA named Alex Frank (Colorado), Brian Smith (Lindenwood) and Maddie Coleman (Denison) as assistant coaches of the year.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Kampala International School in Uganda won the inaugural National Lacrosse Junior Championship held at Lugogo Indoor Stadium. KIS beat hosts Seven Hills International School 2-1 to emerge as the winner of the tournament that attracted fives teams.
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We’re releasing contents from the November edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, including Gary Lambrecht’s deep dive on the shot clock and US Lacrosse’s establishment of a Native American Advisory Council.
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