Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Athletes Unlimited is picking up the mantle for professional women’s lacrosse.
Last week’s announcement that Athletes Unlimited would add women’s lacrosse to its portfolio of sports in 2021 generated significant excitement from star players who also are gearing up for a run at a world championship.
Among the unconventional twists:
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All games will be played during a five-week stretch at one location.
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Team rosters will change weekly, with individual players earning points on a leaderboard based on their individual performances and team metrics.
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The top four point scorers will draft a team each week.
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Eight-minute quarters, nine-player teams and a 60-second shot clock.
“It’s about fan engagement,” Kayla Treanor told the Albany Times Union. “It’s a new style of play. … It will be a new model for a professional league.”
Michelle Tumolo, a member of the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Player Executive Committee, told Lax Sports Network she anticipated a ton of momentum for the sport with the season scheduled to be played on the heels of the World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship.
"This would be amazing to just go right from that to literally the next week we would be starting pro women's lacrosse with the AU Sports league."@MTumolo35 on using momentum from @WorldLax2021 in launching the first season of @AUProSports lacrosse. More: https://t.co/WyXdkpeJDG pic.twitter.com/nRH3SAShPM
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) October 25, 2020
As if Megan Douty needed any more motivation.
USA Tryout Pool Released
— Megan Douty (@MegDouty) October 20, 2020
New Pro League Launched
Preparation Continues...
Thank you to all for your constant support! Honored to still be able to play the sport I love @USAWLax @USLacrosseMag pic.twitter.com/R2paRlVpDC
2. A Pat Spencer sighting.
Spencer, technically still the reigning Tewaaraton Award winner, made an appearance at the Inside Lacrosse ID Experience — a recruiting invitational for prospects in the classes of 2022 and 2023 in Elkridge, Md.
The Loyola lacrosse turned Northwestern basketball sensation was on hand, as was Grant Ament, the former Penn State and current Archers attackman who served as a coach for the event.
McCabe Millon, son of National Lacrosse Hall of Famers Mark Millon and Erin Brown Millon, was one of the top performers at the ILIDX and clearly felt comfortable in the presence of legends.
Huge thanks to @tyxanders , @TerenceFoy , and @Inside_Lacrosse for putting on such a great event this weekend. Had an awesome time competing w the best in the country, and learning from the best in the world! pic.twitter.com/G4BJevBDnW
— McCabe Millon (@mccabemillon9) October 25, 2020
3. Adam Goldner opened up about his decision to return to Penn in 2021. Goldner, who set the Quakers’ single-season record with 56 goals in 2019, was as methodical as you would expect a Wharton School of Business double-concentration scholar to be. US Lacrosse Magazine’s Nelson Rice wrote about Goldner’s unfinished business.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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How Ken Clausen has helped the Headstrong Foundation attack cancer with Lax Stache Madness.
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A nuance of nomenclature: World Lacrosse will call the version of the game played in rinks “box” rather than “indoor” lacrosse.
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Dhane Smith on the benefits of multi-sport participation.
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About Ava Angello, the Johns Hopkins commit and younger sister of Anthony Angello, a forward for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Brendan Bomberry is co-author of a new 450-page book on the roots of lacrosse and its significance in Indigenous culture.
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New American women’s lacrosse coach Lindsay Teeters considers the Eagles to be a burgeoning program in Division I.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Chase Hudson aka Lil Huddy, the 18-year-old social media celebrity and a founder of the TikTok collective Hype House, brushed off his lacrosse skills with a visit from PLL co-founder and Atlas midfielder Paul Rabil.
The Syracuse women’s lacrosse team gave their Team Impact teammate Maddy a warm welcome home after her surgery.
Maddy was recently released from the hospital after surgery, and her @CuseWLAX teammates were there to give her the warmest welcome home! They surprised her with a drive-by parade and signs to reminder her that she is their “toughest teammate and makes them better every day!” pic.twitter.com/ObYLrJJ83F
— Team IMPACT (@GoTeamIMPACT) October 23, 2020
WHAT’S ON TAP
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More Instagram takeovers @USLacrosseMag. Follow Bryant’s Margaret Adams for a day in the life on campus.