Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Maryland is so good that it becomes news even when they get tested.
Midway through the second half, No. 15 Virginia was deadlocked with unbeaten and No. 1 Maryland, but the Terps seized control with Caroline Steele scoring consecutive goals to break the 10-10 tie and the Terps went on to a 16-11 victory. Steele finished with a career-high seven points on five goals and two assists. In other college lacrosse action on Wednesday night:
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In the 103rd meeting between rivals Syracuse and Hobart, the Orange didn't need any late theatrics. After being greeting to campus with Hobart fans hitting their bus with an egg, Syracuse ended its streak of one-goal victories at five, with the No. 2 Orange beating the Statesmen 17-11 behind four goals and three assists from Nick Mariano.
We've arrived at Hobart.
— Syracuse Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) April 5, 2017
(Via @Chilltoplax) pic.twitter.com/FdorDFKZ8H -
In Division II, No. 2 LeMoyne had all the answers in a 15-4 victory over No. 8 Pace. The Dolphins had 10 different goals scorers and Jack Sweeney made 10 saves while allowing just three goals.
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Franklin & Marshall’s time atop the IWLCA Division III rankings won’t last long. The Diplomats fell to Centennial Conference rival Gettysburg 12-6. The Bullets had been No. 1 before suffering losses to TCNJ and Muhlenberg last week.
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In men's Division III, Bates’ Kyle Weber scored with just 18 seconds left in a 13-12 win over rival Bowdoin to keep the No. 9 Bobacats unbeaten. No. 4 Cortland was not as fortunate, losing for the first time all season as No. 7 RIT scored six times in the fourth quarter in a 15-9 victory.
PHOTO BY JOHN STROHSACKER
2. Never too early for tournament talk.
Justin Feil takes a deep dive into the women's NCAA tournament prospects for a number of teams, including Duke, which is 6-6 entering a big game at No. 14 Boston College on Saturday.
3. Air Force coach Eric Seremet turned to his lacrosse family when tragedy struck.
When an unthinkable strategy struck Eric Seremet's family — his wife, Sonia, died in a car crash — his Air Force team rallied behind him. They gave him support to go on all the while building a new legacy for the program. A team that has now beaten Duke in consecutive seasons won 11 games that season.
“It’s the story behind the story behind the story,” Seremet said. “You have to move on. You can’t stand still or go back in time. No matter what happens in your life, you have to take a step forward. It might not be that big a step, but you have to move forward.”
4. Catching Fire: A heated lacrosse stick?
Samantha Wolfe, a 17-year-old former high school lacrosse players, has invented the “FingerFire,” a women’s stick with a USB port within the butt of the shaft that allows players to warm it to a 70-degree temperature.
"Feel the ." Check out #FingerFire, a heated stick invented by @sammy_wolfe. @garygait: "It could catch on.” MORE https://t.co/TBJZjvdmlJ pic.twitter.com/pQyTPQhQdq
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) April 5, 2017
5. First wave of Under Armour All-Americans named.
The first 11 boys and girls high school players for the Under Armour All-America senior game were announced earlier this week. Andie Aldave, a member of the 2015 U.S. team that won a silver medal in Scotland at the FIL U19 World Championship and a senior midfielder at McDonogh (Md.), was among the selections. Also named to the girls squad were the last two winners of the Heather Leigh Albert Award at the US Lacrosse National Tournament – 2016 winner Jamie Ortega from Centereach/Middle Country (N.Y.) and 2015 winner Allison Mastroianni from Bridgewater-Raritan (N.J.).
PHOTO BY ALAN RENNIE
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Worlds collide for former Lacrosse Magazine editor Nate Ewell. Now the deputy executive editor for College Hockey Inc., Ewell writes about how Denver hockey coach Jim Montgomery has used lessons from Denver’s Hall of Fame lacrosse coach, Bill Tierney, to help his program. The Pioneers’ hockey team is playing in this weekend’s Frozen Four.
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Central Michigan’s Riley Huda didn’t pick up a lacrosse stick until her sophomore year of high school, but her athleticism is a key reason she’s starring for the Chippewas.
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Immokalee (Fla.) High School has won a school record 13 games this season. It’s a long way from when the program started in 2010 with both players and coaches who had never seen a game.
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NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin is one of the most popular athletes in the Washington D.C. metro area, and thus a great example for Bishop Ireton girls’ lacrosse coach Rick Sofield to use to help his players understand their playing time scenarios.
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A decade after winning the Tewaaraton Award, Matt Danowski is still making an impact on the Duke offense in his role as an assistant coach.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Four-foot-seven and scoring six points in a Division I lacrosse game? Wow, check out Florida’s Madisyn Kittell.
.@GatorsLAX freshman Madisyn Kittell (@WGAthletics grad) may be small (listed at 4'7") but she had a BIG game today. pic.twitter.com/ppLTI65mdg
— Travis Eldridge (@tgeldrid) April 5, 2017
WHAT’S ON TAP
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It’s been a yo-yo season for Northwestern, but the 6-6 Wildcats can improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten with a game against Ohio State on the Big Ten Network tonight.