Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. A big day is arriving for the U.S. men's national team. Next Saturday, Jan. 6, the 48 members of the U.S. team will get a final chance to try and impress John Danowski and the coaching staff when the nation's best players battle at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in the Team USA Spring Premiere. Here's what playing for the U.S. means to some of the game's brightest stars.
2. The National Lacrosse League had three games played over Christmas Weekend. Rochester knocked off Buffalo 21-11 behind four goals from Kyle Jackson to move to first in the Eastern Division with a 2-0 record.
In the Western Division, Colorado and Saskatchewan each posted victories to move to the top of the division at 2-0. Colorado sent defending champion Georgia off to an 0-2 start with a 14-11 victory behind three goals and three assists from Ryan Benesch. Mark Matthews was dominant with a team record 13 points (6g, 7a) as Saskatchewan blew out New England 24-11.
3. Jenny Levy has announced her coaching staff for U.S. women's national team program and it features Amy Altig (Penn State), Alex Frank (Colorado), Joe Spallina (Stony Brook) and Colleen Shearer (James Madison).
4. Gillian Rattray, a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, passed away on Thursday. Rattray had an unbelievable record of 143-19-3 as the head women's lacrosse coach at Penn State, including three state national championships from 1979 to 1980. She was one of 11 trailblazers honored through the IWLCA at US Lacrosse headquarters this fall.
5. Awesome work by Towson with a Tiger spin on Twas the Night Before Christmas.
" 'Tis the Night Before Christmas"
— TU Men's Lacrosse (@Towson_MLAX) December 24, 2017
Penned by Towson University Men's Lacrosse Parents' Association (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore... pic.twitter.com/YO9HEXW653
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Mike Hanna, the longtime AD at Hobart, is retiring after a 37-year career at the school. Hanna was captain of the football and lacrosse teams at Hobart as an undergraduate.
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Virginia-bound lacrosse player Cade Saustad had 220 receiving yards and three touchdowns to help Highland Park to a Texas state championship in football.
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Going pro doesn't mean the multi-sport athlete days have to end. Chris Corbeil is playing for the NLL's Saskatchewan Rush while squeezing in college hockey as he goes for his master's degree at Western University in Ontario.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Fun piece from the NLL with the favorite holiday songs of some of the league's players.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the #NLL! The players have their fav holiday songs, what are yours? #Holiday #Music pic.twitter.com/e90SpChSOs
— NLL (@NLL) December 25, 2017
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Neil Stevens will have a complete look at the National Lacrosse League through the first three weeks of the season.
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