Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. For the first time since 1985, Memorial Day Monday was silent on the lacrosse field. The NCAA introduced its Memorial Day Championship Weekend for men’s lacrosse in 1986 and it has become one of the sport’s cherished traditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic denied lacrosse fans the chance to celebrate new champions this year, but ESPNU helped bring back some of the excitement, showcasing six past women’s championships on Sunday and six past men’s championship yesterday.
Their coverage gave us a chance to look back at those championships through the pages of US Lacrosse Magazine as well.
Men’s
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2014: Lethal Injection: Duke’s Midfield Unit Leads Blue Devils to National Championship
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2017: It’s Over: Maryland Marched to First National Title Since 1975
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2018: ‘We’re National Champs Dude!’ Yale Finally Reaches the Pinnacle of College Lacrosse
Women’s
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2014: Taylor Made: Taylor Cummings Leads Maryland to its 11th National Championship
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2015: Now You Know. Megan Whittle Proves She’s More than Taylor Cummings Sidekick
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2016: Beyond Belief: A Season-Long Search for Identity Ends with UNC Title
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2017: “We Matter.” How Cathy Reese Restored Maryland’s Dynasty
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2018: The Ultimate Underdog: James Madison’s Seniors Redefine Culture
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2019: The Dynasty You Have to Love: Maryland Reaches the Peak Again
2. Can you think of a better guest to appear on “Overtime” with Memorial Day fresh in our minds? We’re thrilled to have Army West Point head coach Joe Alberici, a gold-medal winning coach as a U.S. team assistant, join Paul Carcaterra as this week’s guest.
TOMORROW ON OVERTIME. @ArmyWP_MLax coach Joe Alberici knows what makes a "tough guy." He shared those pillars in an inspiring speech that went viral last year.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) May 26, 2020
Alberici sat down with @paulcarcaterra on Memorial Day to talk about what it means to coach at West Point. pic.twitter.com/0sYOVecsfX
3. The Philadelphia Barrage carved out quite an identity in their first run in Major League Lacrosse. The Barrage are coming back to the City of Brotherly Love.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Furman’s abrupt cancellation of the lacrosse season left recruits in a tough spot. South Carolina native Will Frith found a new landing spot at Towson.
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SPT helps athletes like the U.S. team’s Katie O’Donnell keep up with their training during these challenging times.
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Franklin Pierce rising junior Luke Smith died in a car crash last week.
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The cancellation of the majority of the 2020 lacrosse season hit especially hard for athletes injured in 2019.
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Virginia’s John Fox helped delivered PPE to New York hospital workers at the height of the pandemic.
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A look at Virginia’s women’s program, which lost star Sammy Muelller (transfer to Northwestern) in the offseason.
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Christian Margita and Peyton Ross are US Lacrosse Impact Athletes.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Kylie Ohlmiller. Is there anything she can’t do?
Tag a lacrosse player who you think could do this (or try it!) Taking #LaxAtHome to the next level#SportsAtHome
— SportsEngine (@SportsEngine) May 24, 2020
(: via @kylieohlmiller17/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/dKw0dze8Pp
Two of the key cogs of JMU’s 2018 title team, Kristen Gaudian and Haley Warden, joined our Instagram Live during the ESPNU broadcast of their championship.
Two of @JMULacrosse's biggest stars, Kristen Gaudian and Haley Warden, share their favorite moment of the 2018 @NCAALAX title celebration.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) May 25, 2020
The duo went live on our Instagram earlier tonight. pic.twitter.com/scvHqcB9yC
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We’ll begin a countdown of the top 20 players in Major League Lacrosse.