Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The MLL Supplemental Draft commenced on Wednesday afternoon, with teams picking up much-needed depth ahead of the summer season that will feature the FIL World Championships.
Former Richmond goalie Benny Pugh went first overall to the Boston Cannons. Pugh, who was originally drafted by the Florida Launch last season, will join a Cannons goalie unit that includes Tyler Fiorito and former Ohio State goalie Tom Carey.
Dylan Donahue went second to the Atlanta Blaze after scoring 19 points for the team last year. Donahue will help sure up a limited offense after the Blaze dealt attackmen Randy Staats and Jesse King to the Dallas Rattlers.
The Rattlers selected former Villanova midfielder Jack Curran with the relocated franchise's first draft pick. New York made its first pick in the second round, taking former U.S. U19 player Greg Danseglio.
Another notable pickup was Dillon Ward, the Canadian goalie who rejoined the Denver Outlaws in the second round.
Teams had some fun on social media announcing each of their draft picks.
...and that concludes the 2018 MLL Supplemental Draft! #321Launch pic.twitter.com/W6x8px6z5T
— Florida_Launch (@Florida_Launch) January 17, 2018
And our squad just keeps getting better! New York selects @GoldstockLuke from @UNCMensLacrosse pic.twitter.com/c6fKMaEpGU
— New York Lizards (@LizardsLacrosse) January 17, 2018
We are pretty happy with this list
— Denver Outlaws (@DenverOutlaws) January 17, 2018
Fennell (D)
Ward (G)
Schoonmaker (M)
Diener (D)
Tintle (M)
Evans (A)
Wozniak (D)
Maltz (M)
Conte (M)
Gobrecht (D)
Dismuke (A)
Nugent (G)
Hernandez (M)
Healey (A)
Eisler (M)
Only 80 days until training camp! pic.twitter.com/nOnkqNtirm
Our final pick is Kyle Weber! Welcome to the squad, Kyle! #FlockYeah #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/kW7ie0GoY4
— Chesapeake Bayhawks (@TheBayhawks) January 17, 2018
2. Regy Thorpe, head coach for the U.S. men’s indoor team, announced the rosters for the Blue-White Game, which will take place at DuBurns Arena in Baltimore on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The roster includes six players that competed for the U.S. in the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship — Chris Collins, Marcus Holman, David Mather, Blaze Riorden, Drew Snider and Joe Walters. It also features 13 players from the 2017-18 field national team.
Also included in the roster is former New England Black Wolves star Bill O’Brien and goalie Ross Bucktooth.
3. Dave Pietramala is loosening the reins of the historic Johns Hopkins defense. After a season in which the Blue Jays finished 54th in Division I in scoring defense (11.47), Pietramala and assistant Bill Dawn knew changes were in store.
Look for the Blue Jays to be more aggressive in their approach to defense in 2018.
“It’s not an overhaul,” Pietramala said. “We’re adjusting our thinking and adjusting to our personnel.”
4. Virginia is looking to compete for an ACC title in 2018, and its hopes could rest on a star-studded midfield — one that includes senior Kasey Behr, junior Maggie Jackson and sophomore Sammy Mueller.
Jackson returns as the Cavaliers leading scorer and Mueller the ACC Freshman of the Year. The midfield core will combine with goalie Rachel Vader Kolk to lead Virginia into what it hopes is a long NCAA run.
5. Chris Robinson, the McDonogh women's lacrosse coach that has led the program to nine IAAM titles and an unprecendented 177 straight wins, has stepped down from his position according to Inside Lacrosse.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Penn State women's lacrosse announed that two-time Tewaaraton winner and U.S. national team member Katie Schwarzmann will join the team as a volutneer assistant.
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As part of the Face-Off Yearbook, Inside Lacrosse takes a look at the Southern Conference.
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Bates coach Peter Lasagna shared a tragic story of a former player who became addicted to opiods during his college career, changing his life in the process.
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Read up on a Q&A with UConn's All-BIG East First Team member Grace Nolan.
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Andie Aldave, the No. 1 recruit that will begin her Notre Dame career this year, once starred for the U.S. U19 team as its youngest player. She breaks down the keys to passing with “big hands” and “little hands.”
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American Idol winner Scotty McCreery will perform at the Georgia Swarm game on Feb. 17. We called it.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Go behind the scenes of a Marquette women's lacrosse workout. Also sharing this because Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters, is a noted former lacrosse player.
The Northeast was hit with another snowstorm on Wednesday, but that didn't stop teams from hitting the field for practice. UMass men certainly didn't care about a little snow.
Lights on.
— UMass Men's Lacrosse (@UMassMLacrosse) January 18, 2018
Snow falling.
Great night to be on Garber!#GorillaLacrosse #teflon pic.twitter.com/WZNs6C1ORv
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We're one day out from the US Lacrosse Convention, which will get started tomorrow at the Baltimore Convention Center.
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Some of lacrosse's most influential names will meet for the Lacrosse Industry Summit today at the Baltimore Hilton.
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We'll continue with our Preseason Top 20s with Loyola men and Penn women.
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