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

1. It's the women's turn for Bracketology here as Jeremy Fallis breaks down possible seeds and at-large bids to the NCAA Division I women's tournament. ACC champ North Carolina and MPSF champ Southern California own the tournament's at-large bids thus far.

2. Mike Messere, the winningest high school boys' lacrosse coach of all time, will retire following the 2018 season, according to WSYR-TV sports director Steve Infanti. Messere, hired at West Genessee (N.Y.) in 1976, coached the Wildcats to 15 state championships and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994.

3. Richmond announced a new five-year contract for men's coach Dan Chemotti, on the heels of Michigan joining Delaware as programs seeking new coaches. Chemotti played for Messere in high school, lending some irony to his extension coming on the same day his mentor announced an end-of-career plan. Chemotti has guided the Spiders, currently ranked No. 18, through their first four varsity seasons, having won 38 of their last 55 games. Tonight against Furman at home, Richmond will try to advance to it third straight Southern Conference tournament championship game.

4. On the men's schedule, No. 9 NYIT advanced to the Division II ECC championship game with a tough, 9-7 defeat of LIU-Post. The Bears will meet Mercy, which dispatched Chestnut Hill in the other semifinal, 15-3.

Numerous Division III league tournament semifinals set the stage for weekend championship games, including No. 5 Cortland hosting Plattsburgh for the SUNYAC title Saturday in a rematch of the 2015 league final won by the Red Dragons. Elsewhere, No. 10 Franklin & Marshall will host No. 14 Gettysburg Saturday for the Centennial Conference championship. In the Empire 8 Conference, No. 12 Ithaca lost a 14-13 overtime semifinal to Nazareth, while No. 19 Stevens advanced to the league final with a 14-4 win over Hartwick.

5. On the women's slate, No. 2 Le Moyne, No. 3 Adelphi, No. 13 New Haven and Stonehill each won Northeast-10 Conference quarterfinals yesterday in decisive fashion, setting up compelling semifinals Saturday (Le Moyne vs. Stonehill and Adelphi vs. New Haven).

Division III No. 3 TCNJ won its 10th straight game, a 9-2 NJAC semifinal win over Stockton. The Lions will host Montclair Saturday for the conference title. No. 12 Messiah defeated Lycoming in a MAC Commonwealth semifinal and will host Stevenson Saturday for the championship. No. 19 Catholic cruised past Drew and will host Scranton for the Landmark Conference title Saturday.

What We're Reading

  • Henry Palattala of KentWired.com has a nice read on inaugural Kent State women's lacrosse Brianne Tierney, who was formally introduced by the school Tuesday. The Golden Flashes begin NCAA Division I play in the 2018-19 academic year.

  • US Lacrosse has awarded equipment grants to local communities in need since, well, before the sport's national governing body came into being in 1998. But it isn't the only organization that does so. Annie Fowler of TriCityHerald.com highlights the Chiawana (Wash.) club that received such a grant from the Bill Belichick Foundation. The New England Patriots' head coach has kept his affinity for the sport long after his playing days at Wesleyan University.

  • Assistant coaches can be unsung heroes. Megan Schneider has a good Q&A with Team USA assistants Amy Bokker, Liz Robertshaw and Jess Wilk, names you'll recognize from their current roles in the game.

  • Mike Daly, the first-year Brown coach after an NCAA championship-filled tenure atop Division III Tufts, never played lacrosse. That makes his journey to the summit of the college game all the more remarkable. Read more in this in-depth feature by Corey McLaughlin.

What We're Watching

The lore of the power of healing associated with playing lacrosse goes back to the sport's creation. Watch a current example in this powerful video produced by High Point University on senior Mick Horrocks, who lost his father in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

 

What's On Tap

  • Later today, US Lacrosse will unveil the first installment of "Chasing Rings," a behind-the-scenes video look at the 2017 U.S. women's team as it prepares for the FIL World Cup in England this summer. A teaser:

  • Conference tournament games dot the schedule today, the results of which could have an impact on Sunday evening's selection shows for the six total divisions of the NCAA tournaments. When will your favorite team gather in its student union and watch, some of them on pins and needles? Here's the lineup of broadcasts and webcasts.

  • If you're a member of US Lacrosse, be sure to check out discounts on tickets to some of the aforementioned conference tournaments, along with selected NCAA tournament games.

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