Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The Virginia women are back.
No. 18 Virginia torched East Carolina in its season opener, as 12 players scored in the 21-6 win. The Cavaliers opened the game with a 4-0 lead, then after ECU scored its first goal, the Cavs ripped off 16 straight.
Redshirt-junior Ashlyn McGovern led the charge with four goals, junior Lillie Kloak scored three goals and freshman Mackenzie Hoeg had two goals, two assists and eight draw controls.
It’s a big game on Friday for Virginia, as the Cavs head to No. 10 Richmond to play their Commonwealth rival. Opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
2. The Virginia and North Carolina men are firing on all cylinders.
But the Cavaliers and Tar Heels are staying put — at least for now — in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20. Duke held steady at No. 1, and while Nos. 2-4 — Syracuse, Maryland and Penn State, respectively — have yet to play, their rosters are stacked. As such, Virginia and UNC follow at Nos. 5 and 6.
3. Yeah, the North Carolina women are as good as we thought.
The Tar Heels hosted Stony Brook in a last-minute game on Sunday afternoon and came ready to play. Stony Brook opened on a 2-0 run and led 3-2, but UNC took the lead from there and never looked back.
Stony Brook fell from No. 5 to No. 7 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20, but there was little movement otherwise.
Check out the full ranking here.
4. The Northeast-10 Conference is ready to play.
The NE10 formally approved policies and protocols that support the resumption competition, though playoff policies and protocols will be decided in the coming weeks. More here.
5. Fresno State women’s lacrosse players detail what they say is unfair treatment by the school.
Fresno State is playing its final season, and several players filed a lawsuit a few months ago. Five members of the team are part of the lawsuit, claiming the school is in violation of Title IX and alleging discrimination against the team. The women’s lacrosse team was cut, along with a few other programs on campus, to save money as a result of COVID-19.
6. Phil Shore’s Premier Lacrosse League Entry Draft big board is here.
Shore, a longtime US Lacrosse Magazine contributor, is a Major League Lacrosse expert. Who better to ask for a big board of MLL players entering the league?
Lyle Thompson headlines the list of 20 players coming into the PLL potentially entering the league in the March 25 draft. Check out who else made the list here.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Chris Hogan is still the talk of the lacrosse world. And maybe even the sports world at large. Stories about Hogan appeared in the New York Post and on Inside Lacrosse on Monday.
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Inside Lacrosse released men’s and women’s rankings updates yesterday. Quint updated his ranking, too.
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Tanner Demling of Lacrosse Bucket highlighted his three stars from the second week of the men’s lacrosse season.
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Syracuse student-athletes reportedly threw a big party, and the students were not wearing masks, according to a report on Syracuse.com. It’s unclear if any lacrosse players were there.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Lacrosse is back. Let’s watch highlights from Virginia’s big win over ECU.
players scored in our opening win
— Virginia Women's Lacrosse (@UVAWomensLax) February 16, 2021
#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/UHleEMJyEH
WHAT’S ON TAP
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The first US Lacrosse Magazine Players of the Week will be revealed.