Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. No surprise here. In the first Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20 ranking update of the new season, Air Force joins the fray as Duke falls eight spots. Other risers include Maryland, Rutgers and North Carolina. For the full list, click here.
2. Air Force freshman Brandon Dodd was both efficient and lethal against Duke, scoring four goals on four shots with four assists. For his efforts, we named him the US Lacrosse Player of the Week. Read more about his day here.
With four goals and four assists, freshman Brandon Dodd (@BrandonDodd4) led @AF_Lax to an upset win over Duke.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) February 3, 2020
It's easy to see why he earned US Lacrosse Player of the Week honors.
MORE: https://t.co/Vfm5dslBRA pic.twitter.com/TBKpEjYyJO
3. Even worse news for Duke. Junior attackman Joe Robertson, who led the team in scoring last season with 42 goals and 17 assists, will miss the 2020 season with a torn ACL. A team spokesperson confirmed the news to US Lacrosse Magazine. Read more here.
4. Kyle Harrison spoke to US Lacrosse’s Paul Ohanian about his role as an ambassador for diversity in lacrosse.
“I’m much more comfortable now than I used to be in using my voice and platform,” Harrison said. “I’m cognizant of the fact that people are looking to me to speak up.”
Read the full story here.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Jack Goods’ latest NLL notebook broke down a dominant San Diego win in Las Vegas and how the Toronto Rock were able to best previously undefeated Halifax. There’s much more at the link here.
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Zack Goodrow of the Grand Valley Lanthorn writes that Nora Boerger, the second-year defensive coach for the Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse team, will be the new head coach of the Swiss national team.
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The Syracuse men’s team has been waiting for this week’s contest against Colgate ever since the Raiders upset the Orange in 2019, writes Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com.
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Pat James of GoHeels.com writes about the recruitment of transfer Chris Gray and how he’s been a fit for the Tar Heels program since he arrived on campus.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Someone check this man’s ankles.
ICYMI: Cole Leggett knows how to break ankles and score goals #BDAD pic.twitter.com/NO0RaJSzaO
— Mercer M-Lacrosse (@MercerLacrosse) February 3, 2020
We are just days away from the start of the women’s season. Cincinnati and Notre Dame get us hyped.
Friday.
— Cincinnati Lacrosse (@GoBearcatsLAX) February 3, 2020
3pm. #Bearcats IS BACK! pic.twitter.com/wa5lw8vamt
TFW we open our season in just ONE WEEK! #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/M0rEFK99eA
— Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse (@NDWomensLax) February 2, 2020
WHAT’S ON TAP
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US Lacrosse Magazine Editor in Chief Matt DaSilva writes about the origins of roof ball, a game he used as a tool to help get his son interested in lacrosse.
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Dom Starsia pens a guest column with advice for coaches.