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

1. If you missed it over the weekend, Denver captured its third Major League Lacrosse championship in five seasons Saturday night in Charleston, S.C.

The Outlaws beat the Dallas Rattlers, 16-12, behind four goals and five assists from championship-game MVP Matt Kavanagh. Denver won the league title in 2014 and 2016, and it has played in the final five times in seven years to cement its perch atop the MLL hierarchy.

The Rattlers may feel a bit snake-bitten against the Outlaws, having lost to them in the final or semifinals for the third time time five years. Further, Dallas beat Denver twice during the regular season, and the Rattlers own a 7-5 mark against the Outlaws in their last 12 encounters.

2. New York Lizards attackman Rob Pannell was named the MLL MVP Friday night during the league’s awards ceremony.

Pannell tallied an MLL-record 78 points on 43 goals and 35 assists this season, despite missing one game to help Team USA win the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship in Netanya, Israel. He earned a spot on the FIL All-World Team. Pannell also was named the MLL’s Warrior Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career.

Other highlights from the awards ceremony included in the inaugural David Huntley Man of the Year Award, won by Scott Ratliff of the Atlanta Blaze.

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3. Veteran National Lacrosse League star Brodie Merrill is now a free agent.

Merrill has passed on Toronto’s contract offer and will sign with another team for the 2018-19 season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 remains one of the most talented defensive players of his time, both in the NLL and MLL.

4. U.S. women’s team goal medalist defender Becca Block shared tips on one-handed play, a skill that may become a necessity if the future international version of the game includes fewer players on the field.

Block helped Team USA win the 2017 FIL World Cup and, a few days later, the International World Games Association world championship. The latter featured 10 players per side instead of 12. Block turned to a lot of one-handed play not only to create a larger presence on the field on defense, but also to keep the ball further away from defenders on offense.

5. The Fred Opie Show is back, this time featuring Calvert Hall (Md.) coach Bryan Kelly.

WHAT WE’RE READING

  • In advance of Charleston, S.C., hosting the MLL final Saturday night, The Post and Courier took a look at how pro lacrosse players make ends meet given the limited salaries in the game.

  • Newsday reported on the four transfers set to join the Stony Brook women’s team for the 2019 season.

  • College Crosse continued its year-in-review series with a look at the Lehigh men.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Charlotte Secondary School (N.C.) will be the subject of an ESPN film entitled “Crossroads” Thursday night. The program got off the ground thanks in part to a US Lacrosse First Stick Grant. In advance of the debut, WCNC-TV in Charlotte spoke with team coach Bobby Selkin for a preview.

 

Lax Sports Network picked up a brief clip of this cross-sport fundraising event in Michigan for a family battling Lou Gehrig’s disease.

WHAT’S ON TAP

  • As mentioned, the ESPN documentary on the club boys’ lacrosse team at Charlotte Secondary School will air at 9 p.m. ET Thursday. Look for a preview tomorrow.

  • US Lacrosse is close to securing another NCAA champion coach to be a presenter at LaxCon Jan. 11-13 in Philadelphia. Registration for that event is expected to open to the public shortly after Labor Day.

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