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

1. Hannah Nielsen was tabbed as the next Michigan women’s lacrosse coach, as announced by the university’s athletic director Warde Manuel.

The two-time Tewaaraton Award winner in 2008 and 2009 out of Northwestern University, where she was most recently an assistant under Kelly Amonte Hiller, will aim to start on July 17 when she returns from playing for Australia in the 2017 Federation of International Lacrosse Women’s World Cup in England.

"I am thrilled to welcome one of the most accomplished women's lacrosse players of all-time to lead our program," said Manuel. "Hannah has proven her ability to translate her skills and knowledge of the game into a successful coaching career. She has been a winner at every level, and I am confident she is prepared to lead our women's lacrosse program."

2. Utah coach Brian Holman vows to “be different” in building a Division I program by supporting the youth game.

He joined the board of Intermountain Lacrosse, one of the country’s largest youth leagues with more than 4,500 boys and girls competing from kindergarten through eighth grade.

“Lacrosse is at a crossroads,” said Holman. “We should be the light that guides the way.”

Meanwhile, his assistant and son, Marcus, thinks Utah could be the next Denver.

3. Team FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer at the Vail Shootout. 

The 1992 Team FCA vs. Greene Turtle game is still one of the most memorable in the event’s history.

Green Turtle’s team featured a lineup anchored by future National Lacrosse Hall of Fame members Gary Gait, Dave Pietramala, Rob Shek and Brian Voelker, while Dan Britton, a member of FCA’s 1992 squad, remembered being “so out of our league.” But Team FCA upset the two-time defending Vail champion.

“FCA winning that game was an amazing thing,” said Leif Elsmo, one of the TV broadcasters at the 1992 Shootout. “Nobody knew about them and they didn’t have all the biggest names, but they played one of the greatest games.”

4. The Ohio Machine moved into first place in the MLL after netting two wins in three days. Machine attackman Connor Cannizzaro earned Player of the Week honors in this week’s MLL notebook.

5. The 2017 high school wrap began with a look at girls’ lacrosse in the South region. Notre Dame commit Bridget Deehan led Milton (Ga.) in net for the state title and No. 1 ranking.

What We’re Reading

  • With the World Cup kicking off in a couple weeks, Inside Lacrosse begins its coverage with an account on Canadian star Dana Dobbie.

  • Why is Towson “a good place to be” for coach Shawn Nadalen? The Baltimore Sun examines why Nadalen turned downed the Michigan head coaching position.

  • After Ohio State fell to Maryland in the national championship, Ohio natives like J.T. Blubaugh, Tyler Pfister and Austin Seiple hope the next generation of Ohio boys’ lacrosse players now know they can achieve anything they want if they put the work in.

  • Florida Launch attackman Ryan Drenner may be one of the most dedicated MLL rookies.

  • According to the Larry Lage of the Associated Press, Florida will become the first state to mandate high school female lacrosse players wear protective equipment over their entire head in 2018.

  • DJO Global was named the official sports brace of US Lacrosse and is a supporting partner of Team USA.

What We’re Watching

On June 21 at Albany High School, US Lacrosse launched the nationwide Lacrosse Communities Project, a program developed to create a vertically-integrated series of opportunities for children to participate in the sport from grade school through adulthood.

David Vatz of Inside Lacrosse was on site to cover the launch event, which was headlined by a clinic led by MLL star and Albany native Kevin Leveille, as well as Albany coaches Scott Marr and John Battaglino.

“Because of the great leadership here, they really had their eye on doing what’s best for the kids,” Susie Chase, vice president of philanthropy and partnerships at US Lacrosse, told Vatz. “It’s been the perfect place for us to launch the Lacrosse Communities Project.”

Learn more about the Lacrosse Communities Project today.

What’s On Tap

  • Get an inside look at the July/August edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, featuring Maryland men’s and women’s lacrosse, the 2017 NCAA champions.

  • The high school wrap continues with a look at boys’ lacrosse in the South.

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