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Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. US Lacrosse unveiled a new small-sided field Friday at the Urban Community School in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, the second pilot site for the Lacrosse Communities Project — a new nationwide program developed to create a vertically integrated series of opportunities for children to participate in lacrosse from grade school through adulthood.

The initiative aims to expand the reach of US Lacrosse programs into underserved urban populations while propelling the organization’s mission of providing accessibility and opportunity for kids across the country. US Lacrosse and its North Coast Ohio Chapter have committed $300,000 to the program in local and national funds over the next two years. Local partners include Ohio City Inc. and its Near West Recreation program, the Urban Community School, St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland State University and the City of Cleveland Municipal School District.

“Ohio City’s diverse and dedicated residents, committed community organizations and stakeholders, and the strong leadership of the US Lacrosse North Coast Ohio Chapter presented this neighborhood as an ideal national pilot location for the Lacrosse Communities Project,” said Steve Stenersen, president and CEO of US Lacrosse.

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2. The Peterborough Lakers clinched their sixth Mann Cup title since 2004 and 15th overall, defeating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 14-10 in the decisive Game 6 Friday at the Queen’s Park Arena in New Westminster, British Columbia. Shawn Evans (New England Black Wolves) earned his second Mann Cup MVP with 30 points in the best-of-seven series to determine Canada’s senior box lacrosse champion.

Veterans Matt Vinc (Rochester Knighthawks), Curtis Dickson (Calgary Roughnecks) and Adam Jones (Toronto Rock) had long sought their first Mann Cup title, as had general manager Paul Day. The Lakers also got a boost from several burgeoning pros, including Zach Currier, who was a huge factor in the Major Series Lacrosse and Mann Cup finals and likely gave the Buffalo Bandits something to think about with the No. 1 overall pick in Monday’s NLL draft.

3. College fall ball is underway, with several teams hosting alumni games over the weekend. The Maryland women’s lacrosse team distributed its national championship rings to players from the 2017 team. The Terps finished undefeated, going 23-0 en route to Big Ten and NCAA titles, both of which are commemorated in the rings’ design.

4. The 60-second shot clock under experimentation in NCAA men’s lacrosse this fall will include two options — one that starts immediately upon possession and another that goes into effect once a team enters the attack area.

WHAT WE’RE READING

  • New York Lizards and U.S. training team midfielder Paul Rabil, a VIP contributor for Entrepreneur Magazine, shares insights from his “Suiting Up” podcast interview with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on living a powerful and effective life.

  • The Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times revisits the Carthage years for the famed Powell brothers and offers how Ryan and Casey Powell, who will be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame this week, continue to serve as ambassadors for the sport.

  • The Minnesota men’s lacrosse coach and players have NCAA Division I ambitions while operating as a virtual varsity program in the MCLA.

  • The story behind the success of LaceUp’s Training Lace, a strength-training apparatus that coils around a lacrosse stick.

  • The NFL’s Kelce brothers — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — played lacrosse as kids in suburban Cleveland, their mother reveals in this interview.

  • Inside Lacrosse has released its recruiting rankings.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Jen Adams, chair of the NCAA women’s lacrosse rules committee, confirmed that entirely mesh pockets are now allowable after the NCAA, NFHS and US Lacrosse simplified stick stringing specifications to focus on performance criteria rather than technical details.

Kyle Harrison, the Ohio Machine and two-time U.S. team midfielder, is featured in the current edition of Men’s Fitness.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • The NLL draft begins at 7 p.m. ET at the Toronto Rock Athletic Center in Oakville, Ontario, and will be streamed live on NLL.TV. The Buffalo Bandits are expected to select lefty forward Josh Byrne (Hofstra) with the No. 1 overall pick. In the wake of Tom Schreiber’s Rookie of the Year campaign with the Toronto Rock, don’t be surprised if more U.S.-born players come off the board than in recent years.

  • US Lacrosse is expected to announce the men’s indoor roster for the Oct. 21 Heritage Cup game against Canada.

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