In the last five years, the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL) has emerged as a cornerstone of the regional lacrosse community, demonstrating impressive growth and an unwavering commitment to the sport. From modest beginnings to now hosting over 100 teams from diverse regions like Annapolis, Towson, DC, and Frederick, MDLL’s evolution is nothing short of remarkable.

“Our partnership with LaxAllStars for the OC Lax Classic is just one way we’re pushing the envelope,” explains Colin, MDLL’s dynamic leader. “We aim not only to promote this fantastic event but also to highlight our journey and the comprehensive range of tournaments and leagues we offer.”

MDLL: A League for All Ages

MDLL prides itself on inclusivity, offering leagues for players ranging from first graders to seasoned adults over 50. Hosting championships at prestigious venues like the Naval Academy and Johns Hopkins, the league has scaled new heights in providing top-tier lacrosse experiences.

“We’ve donated over $100,000 to non-profits this year alone, strengthening our community ties and reinforcing our commitment beyond the game,” Colin shares. The league’s allure has drawn top talents, including collegiate standouts and PLL legends like Kyle Harrison and Marcus Holman, elevating the competitive standard to new heights.

The OC Lax Classic: A Premier Event

The highlight of the year is the OC Lax Classic in Ocean City, Maryland. This tournament is set to feature over 100 men’s and women’s teams from across the nation, competing for a $10,000 prize pool in the top divisions. Beyond fierce competition, the event offers a vibrant atmosphere with Ocean City’s stunning beaches and lively entertainment options, making it a perfect summer lacrosse destination.

Year-Round Opportunities and Future Visions

MDLL hosts several tournaments throughout the year, including seasonal highlights like the Chesapeake Cup and the festive Laxgiving tournament. Each event celebrates lacrosse culture and community spirit, aligning with Colin’s vision of making MDLL a holistic and integral part of players’ lives.

“Looking forward, our goal is to attract more teams, including top youth and adult teams from places like Texas and San Diego,” Colin notes. “If you think your team has what it takes, our tournaments are where you need to be.”

MDLL Select and Expanding Horizons

The league has also seen substantial growth in its club program, MDLL Select, which has expanded from a single team in 2020 to nearly 20 teams today. This initiative underscores MDLL’s commitment to nurturing young talent and providing continuous playing opportunities.

“As we expand, we focus on enhancing what we already offer, ensuring that every aspect of MDLL is the best it can be,” Colin concludes.

Join us at the OC Lax Classic to experience the pinnacle of community and competition. Learn more and sign up at marylandlacrosseleague.com and mdllselect.com.

MDLL isn’t just a league, it’s a lifetime of lacrosse.

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In the world of Bulgarian sports dominated by soccer, lacrosse is emerging as a promising contender, thanks to the relentless efforts of two pivotal figures: Nikolay Cholakov, the president of the Bulgarian Lacrosse Federation, and Tucker LaBelle, the newly appointed head coach of the national team. Together, they are not just introducing Bulgarians to lacrosse but are setting the foundations for a robust future in the sport.

Nikolay Cholakov: The Architect of Bulgarian Lacrosse

Since founding the Bulgarian Lacrosse Federation in 2007, Nikolay Cholakov has been the bedrock of the sport’s development in a country where finding field space is a challenge that often relegates lacrosse activities to late Saturday nights. Despite these challenges, Cholakov’s vision and perseverance have seen the sport grow from a mere curiosity to an established athletic endeavor with four men’s teams actively participating and competing.

The recognition of lacrosse by the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, a recent victory under Cholakov’s leadership, promises to be a game-changer. After the current Olympic cycle, it is expected that funding will be established for the Bulgarian Lacrosse Federation.  “This recognition will usher in government support which will significantly enhance our ability to hire coaches, secure practice spaces, and compete internationally,” Cholakov explains. This support is crucial for taking Bulgarian lacrosse from grassroots efforts to a national and international stage.

Tucker LaBelle: The Catalyst for Competitive Excellence

While Nikolay Cholakov has set the stage, Tucker LaBelle is poised to revolutionize how Bulgarian lacrosse competes globally. LaBelle, an American coach known for his forward-thinking coaching style, was handpicked for his unique approach to the game that emphasizes physicality, skill development, and a profound sense of national pride. “In Europe, many countries plateau early in their lacrosse development, but Bulgaria has the potential to leapfrog this trend,” LaBelle states.

His strategy focuses on nurturing homegrown talent and ensuring the national team remains strictly Bulgarian, eschewing the common practice of bolstering teams with heritage players from other countries. This approach not only enhances the skill levels within Bulgaria but also ensures that the team truly represents Bulgarian spirit and resilience.

The Synergy of Strategy and Vision

The collaboration between Cholakov and LaBelle represents a perfect amalgamation of foundational leadership and innovative coaching. Cholakov’s groundwork and administrative acumen have built the infrastructure necessary for lacrosse to flourish, while LaBelle’s fresh coaching tactics promise to elevate the national team to compete admirably on the European and world stages.

Community and International Support

Both leaders agree that international support in the form of equipment donations is critical. “Access to equipment is our biggest barrier. With enough gear, we could immediately double our player base,” says Cholakov. The partnership with Ryan Powell’s Powell Lacrosse, which includes a partnership for discounted uniforms and sticks, exemplifies the kind of support that can propel Bulgarian lacrosse forward.

Looking Ahead

The future of lacrosse in Bulgaria looks promising with these two at the helm. Plans to establish a Balkans league and expand the player base through national clinics and leagues are underway. Cholakov and LaBelle are not just focused on building competitive teams but are also keen on embedding lacrosse into the cultural fabric of Bulgaria.

As Bulgaria stands on the precipice of a lacrosse revolution, it is the combined forces of Nikolay Cholakov’s enduring vision and Tucker LaBelle’s innovative coaching that will define the next era of Bulgarian lacrosse, promising to bring the thrill of the sport to new heights and new audiences.

Follow Along

If you’re interested in keeping up with Bulgaria Lacrosse, check out the Bulgarian Lacrosse Federation on Facebook, or follow Coach Tucker LaBelle on X @CoachTLabelle. Stay tuned as Coach LaBelle will soon be announcing the rest of his coaching staff. Those interested in donating equipment can email tuckerwlabelle@gmail.com

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Each week I’m going to combine analysis with emotion and overreact to college lacrosse outcomes.

The BIG is a three bid league

Parity in lacrosse is alive and well. The Big ten is off to a shaky start in 2024, going 3-2  this weekend. The preseason leaders Johns Hopkins and Penn State took tough losses. The BlueJays lost an overtime thriller to Denver, nothing they can’t rebound from. The Nittany Lions on the other hand, a team I voted 9^th in the preseason poll due to a lack of confidence, fell to unranked Colgate. Is Penn State’s season over before it started? Certainly not, but there is cause for concern even in week one.

Maryland and Rutgers underperformed but pulled out late victories. NCAA tournament resumes are built on the backs of early season struggles and no one will care how the victory was earned when we hit May. Ohio State struggled early but found a groove in the second half to beat a talented Utah team.

Last year 4 teams grabbed bids to the NCAA tournament, not this year.

Overreactions : Week 0

Brennan O’Neill finishes 2^nd in Points at Duke

Last season O’Neill had 32 more points than the next Blue Devil. His ability to create space, to navigate traffic, and to finish go without question. This isn’t a knock on O’Neill, its nod to the development of the Duke offense around him. The return of Dyson Williams and the addition of Josh Zawada (former Williams HS teammate) adds another dimension to the Duke offense. The midfield is insanely deep and with every team eyeing O’Neill somethings got to give. Don’t be surprised is Zawada or Williams edge out O’Neill in total points in what will be a much more balanced score sheet than in the past.

Overreactions : Week 0

Marquette is 10 win team

The first game did little more than show that the Golden Eagles can win a game that they should. Beating Air Force this early in the season is a step in the right direction but given the talent they returned along with a schedule filled with teams that will challenge them (Michigan, Notre Dame, Utah, Penn State) before they wreak havoc on the Big East. I’m all in on the Golden Eagles upsetting a top 20 team before April.

Join us next week for another round of overreactions!

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The Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse team began the 2024 season with a thrilling 8-7 victory over third-ranked Wingate University. Despite trailing 5-0 in the first 15 minutes, the Moccasins staged a comeback through solid defense and timely offense, eventually securing the lead at 8-7 with just over three minutes left.

The result comes as no surprise to those close to the program who have seen Coach Ward building towards moments like these for years:

We have been talking about the next play mentality for a couple of seasons here, this team never wavered, they just kept digging in and winning small moments within the game. We stuck to our plan and the result ended in our favor, super proud of our team for staying in the fight and never quitting.

~FSC Head Coach Marty Ward

Junior Matt Flammenspeck led the offensive charge, scoring two goals and providing an assist. Senior Brendan Glasser and sophomore Nolan Tighe contributed two points each, with Glasser netting two goals and Tighe supplying two crucial assists. Freshman Maddux Walton shined in his debut by scoring the game-winning goal in the closing minutes.

Defensively, Nick Shannon stood out with three caused turnovers, including a pivotal one in the final moments to seal the victory. Michael Simone, after a challenging start, displayed an outstanding performance in the cage.

Sophomore Jacob Czyz excelled at the face-off, winning 12-of-18 against the Bulldogs.

Wingate dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Mocs 5-0, but Florida Southern came back aggressively in the second. The Mocs successfully capitalized on man-up opportunities, narrowing the deficit to 5-2 by halftime. The teams traded goals in the second half, with the score tied at 7-7 in the closing minutes. Walton’s debut goal secured the win for Florida Southern.

The Mocs will now prepare for their home opener against the University of Montevallo on February 10.

To have your team or individual performance highlighted this season make sure to email nzoroya@fivestarapp.com with the details!

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Annapolis, MD- Lacrosse All Stars and the HEADstrong Foundation announce a new strategic partnership.

Lacrosse All Stars will collaborate with the HEADstrong Foundation to showcase the exceptional support the foundation provides to families across the country who are battling cancer.  The foundation’s roots in lacrosse has led to a campaign, Attack Cancer, where lacrosse players across the country are raising money to support the mission of Headstrong.  Participants in youth and high school lacrosse have joined the Attack Cancer initiative with a goal to raise $300,000 in 2023, the third year of the campaign.  

In addition, members of Team Attack Cancer, experiential teams comprised of high school and post collegiate players that play in events across the country, have raised over $40,000 to date. Led by former All-American and professional lacrosse player Ken Clausen, the Attack Cancer campaign, in conjunction with Lacrosse All Stars, will showcase amazing stories surrounding the athletes helping to raise awareness and money to support families undergoing cancer treatment.

Lacrosse All Stars and the HEADstrong Foundation Announce Strategic Partnership

Lacrosse All Stars is a digital media company that was created in 2008. Through its editorial, visual, and audio platforms it provides news and insight about the sport of lacrosse to hundreds of thousands of fans each year. Dedicated to showcasing lacrosse at all levels across the country, the mission is to Grow the Game and spotlight the stories that make our sport great.

The HEADstrong Foundation was founded in 2006 and offers financial, residential, and emotional support to families affected by cancer. A Division I lacrosse player at Hofstra University at the time of his diagnosis, HEADstrong’s founder, Nicholas Colleluori, recognized the scarcity of essential resources for families during their fight. To date the foundation has worked tirelessly to raise more than $27 million to aid those affected by cancer across the United States. 

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There were few players whose impact was felt at the level of Northwestern attacker Izzy Scane. The graduate senior (who will return for one more year thanks to a medical redshirt) is not only the favorite to win the Tewaaraton Award, she can now claim the title of national champion. The Northwestern Wildcats claimed their eighth women’s lacrosse title under Head Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, defeating the Boston College Eagles 18-6.

First Quarter (Northwestern 3 – Boston College 0)

The opening quarter was influenced heavily by the rainy weather, with Boston College committing several uncharacteristic turnovers. Northwestern was able to capitalize on the back of two Madison Taylor goals to take a 2-0 lead. Both teams are known for defense, and the beginning of the game seemed to be just that, a defensive battle. Right before the end of the quarter, Hailey Rhatigan made it 3-0 Wildcats.

Second Quarter (Northwestern 6 – Boston College 2)

To start the second, Boston College finally showed some life on offense, scoring back-to-back goals from Kayla Martello and Belle Smith, making the score 3-2. The game felt close for a minute until the Wildcats rattled off three straight goals (Rhatigan with her second and Izzy Scane with two more). While the score read 6-2, it really didn’t feel like Boston College was competitive at times. The turnovers were timely, usually happening during the clear and leading directly to extended Northwestern possessions. 

Third Quarter (Northwestern 11 – Boston College 4)

The halftime break didn’t change much for Boston College, the offense couldn’t get going, and the defense struggled to clear the ball. Northwestern was able to turn things up another notch on offense scoring five goals. Belle Smith and Kalya Martello were the lone bright spots for the Eagles, each putting in another goal to take an 11-4 score into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter (Northwestern 18 – Boston College 6)

This is where the wheels fell off for Boston College. During the fourth, the Eagles were outscored 7-2, saw a running clock, and committed four penalties (three yellow, one green). Northwestern looked comfortable with the lead, and their play only improved throughout the quarter, seeing five different goal scorers. The stat sheet paints a perfect picture of how the game went. At the end of the day, the Boston College turnovers, along with a lack of offensive looks, led to their downfall. Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse is back on top!

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With a brand new professional box lacrosse league entering the scene in 2022. We thought it would be helpful to gather everything we know about the Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA) and put it one place.

This page will be updated weekly as we learn more and more about the Professional Box Lacrosse Association.

The League

As stated on the PBLA website “Our game will be faster, more physical, and provide non-stop crowd-pleasing action that will surely take the professional lacrosse game to the next level.”. That’s a bold statement by the league but keep reading and you’ll see how they plan on following through.

Leadership Team

• Commissioner, Steven Donner
  •  12 years as the president/CEO of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League (NLL)
  • 9 years as the director of marketing for the Buffalo Sabres
• CEO, Carmen Kesner
  • 15 years of experience working with professional and college sports organizations.
• COO, Brian Mankameyer
  •  15 years of business development and corporate leadership experience, as well as a strong background in interpreting professional sports analytics
• President of Business Ops, John Livesy Jr
  • 20 years of experience from professional sports teams including the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and the Buffalo Bills (NFL)
  • former commissioner of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
• Chief Player Performance Officer, Russ Buller
  • Former Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Diego Padres
  • Former Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance and Nutrition at Tulane University

What Makes the PBLA Different

Rule Changes

• Smaller Goalie Pads, slightly smaller goal (4×4’9 is now 4×4’6)
  • Dallas Eliuk will run a goalie training camp to catch the goalies up on technique/style
• Ability to choose between a penalty served or a penalty shot.
  • 2 minute penalty or: 1 penalty shot
  • 5 minute penalty or: 1 penalty shot and 2 minutes time served
• Substitutions through the offensive end of the bench
  • Encourages 2-way players, penalizes teams that sub during transition

Americans

Rosters are primarily American players, giving them the opportunity to showcase their athleticism despite not having years of technical box lacrosse training.

Fans First

The PBLA teams will look to make game day feel a little different by featuring block parties and unique fan experience opportunities before, during, and after the game.

The PBLA Teams

Clicking on the link within each team will take you to the team’s homepage. For a rundown of our favorite team logos read here or here.

Binghamton Bombers

Location: Binghamton, New York

Coach: Neal Powless

• Netherlands National Box Lacrosse Team, Head Coach 2017-Present
• As a producer of the movie Crooked Arrows, I am still called in to present and share about the  roots of the game.
• Played in the NLL for 7 years
• Member of 3 Hall of Fames, a 3X All-American and 2002 All-World Attackman. 

Official Team Page

Charlotte Bootleggers

Location: Charlotte, NC

Coach: Jon Lantzy

• Coached in the 2005 NCAA Title Game for Duke University
• Current Coach of Durham Academy High School
• Former Player for Detroit Turbos and Buffalo Bandits
• Former NCAA Player at Michigan State University

Official Team Page

Elmira Renegades

Location: Elmira, New York

Coach: Brian Hobart

• Head Coach Penn Yan Academy – 20 seasons 
• NLL experience with Rochester Knighthawks, Philadelphia Wings, New York Riptide, Halifax Thunderbirds 
• MLL Coaching Experience – Hamiliton Nationals, Rochester Rattlers, Connecticut Hammerheads
• USA Lacrosse Assistant General Manager 2019 FIL World Games 

Official Team Page

Hampton Hammerheads

Location: Hampton Roads, Va

Coach: Jim Milligan

• Coached for 14 years in the National lacrosse league (Edmonton Rush, Chicago Shamroxs, Toronto Rock, Philadelphia Wings, New England Blackwolves, Vancouver Stealth)
• Coached for 14 years in Major Series Lacrosse for Peterborough Lakers and Cobourg Kodiaks.
• Coached Team Ontario to 3 gold medals in the Canadian Championships
• As a player won 3 Junior Canadian Championships, Minto Cup, playing for Peterborough Maulers

Official Team Page

Jim Thorpe All-Americans

Location: Jim Thorpe, PA

Coach: Randy Chrysler

• 2002-Buffalo Bandits defense coach
• 2004-06- Six Nations Arrows Express Jr.A Coach, 3x Minto Cup finalists 
• 2012-Buffalo Bandits scouting staff
• 2009-18- Niagara Thunderhawks Jr.B
• 2021- IBLA Morristown Rally (N.J  State champion)
• 2022- Owner/H.C Tuscarora Jr.B Tomahawks

Official Team Page

New England Chowderheads

Location: New England

Coach: Martin Bowes

• Lacrosse Coaching Business (2015-Present)
• Assistant Coach Saint Michaels College Mens Lacrosse (2020-22) 
• High School Head Coach at Quincy High School (2013-15)
• MLL Player for Boston, Atlanta, Florida (2013-2018)

Official Team Page

Trenton Terror

Location: Trenton, New Jersey

Coach: Luke Wiles

• 3x NLL All-Star with 450 career points
• Coaches box lacrosse across the country for:
  • Pro Star Lacrosse Camps
  • New Jersey Northmen
  • Bluestar
  • Wiles Ways

Official Team Page

Salem Mayhem

Location: Salem, VA

Coach: Lindsay Sanderson

• Former GM and Head Coach of the Philadelphia Wings (NLL)
• Member of Ontario and Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
• GM of the Orangeville Jr B team

Official Team Page

Syracuse Spark

Location: Syracuse, New York

Coach: Ron Cogan

• Head Coach, Onondaga RedHawks, Rochester Armory – UCBLL – 2021, Salt City Eels – 2021
• IIJL Offensive Coach World Champion U16 Haudenosaunee Dehontsigwaehs – 2022
• Head Coach – FNLA Pee Wee National Team – Canadian National Championships 2018
• Has coached in the community of the Onondaga Nation where he grew up for over 15 years.

Official Team Page

The Schedule

Schedule information is out! Click here

How to Watch

• Game of the Week on LSN
• Weekly games on Sports Tv
• Bi-Weekly Show on LSN, Hosted by Kevin Sylvester

Go to a Game

Ticket information is available, look at the schedule and then call/

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The Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA), an American based box lacrosse league aimed at recapturing the beauty that was lacrosse in the 1990’s, has released their team logos this week. In addition to new logos, the league announced an eight team to be located in Salem/Roanoke.

PBLA Logo Drop : Part 2

Previously the league had released the team locations before entering a multi-week competition to determine the names of the teams. Those team locations and names are as follows.

Binghamton, NY

Charlotte, NC

Elmira, NY

Hampton, VA

New England

Syracuse, NY

Trenton, NJ

If you are interested in seeing the rest of the league’s logos, follow the link HERE!

Logo Drop

New England Chowderheads

Of the three logos dropped today, this is my third favorite, which isn’t bad since I like them all. The captain figure is really cool, the ships wheel with the C is also very clean. My only gripe is that the primary logo feels a little busy with the waves in the background. Six colors seems a tad busy to me, removing the wave might streamline the entire look.

Elmira Renegades

The Renegades logo is sick, the helmet looking like a lacrosse helmet is cool, although it looks like a field helmet. The font work and color scheme will be really cool to see on game day.

Syracuse Spark

Firstly, I’m glad we’ve moved away from Sparkle Muffins by name but we’ve kept the spirit of the Sparkle Muffin being a spider. The spider in the primary logo is tenacious and the synergy with the burning S logo is very well thought out. I’m not sold on the color scheme yet, I feel that similarly to the Chowderheads, the Spark have one/two too many colors involved.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned fore more PBLA news coming up soon, rumor has it that we have coach and player announcements coming in the near future.

For more about the PBLA visit www.pbla.com or @watchpbla on Twitter.

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Each week we will be diving into the vault and bringing some history to the youngsters who just don’t know what they don’t know. This week, we will be looking at the 1981 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse champions.

It’s important to note that the women’s game did not have NCAA championships of any kind until 1982. Lacrosse was one of twelve women’s sports that the NCAA added championships for during the 1981-82 school year.

NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Champions

Division 1

North Carolina (14) vs Johns Hopkins (13)

The Blue Jays couldn’t secure back-to-back national championships during the 1981 season as the Tar Heels narrowly clinched their first ever men’s lacrosse championship. North Carolina was led by Coach Willie Scroggs, who led the team to a 12-0 record and an epic come from behind victory in the national championship. Attackmen Jeff Cook of Johns Hopkins, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Division 2

Loyola (14) vs Adelphi (17)

After falling in the 1980 NCAA National Championship game, Adelphi was able to regain the title in 1981 which was their second title in three years. The Panthers were coached by Paul Doherty. 1981 would be their final NCAA Division 2 Men’s Lacrosse tournament until 1993.

Division 3

Hobart (10) vs Cortland (8)

In a rematch of the 1980 final, the defending champions Hobart defeated Cortland 10–8, to win their second NCAA Division 3 National Championship in a row. This was the second national championship in a run of ten straight championships under the tutelage of Dave Urick. Coach Urick was the recipient of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s Francis L. “Babe” Kraus Award awarded to the coach of the year.

Next Week

Next week we will be taking a look at the 1982 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Champions. 1982 was the first year that the women’s game had a national championship.

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The Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA), an American based box lacrosse league aimed at recapturing the beauty that was lacrosse in the 1990’s, is releasing their team logos this week.

PBLA Logo Drop : Part 1

Previously the league had released the team locations before entering a multi-week competition to determine the names of the teams. Those team locations and names are as follows.

Binghamton, NY

Charlotte, NC

Elmira, NY

Hampton, VA

New England

Syracuse, NY

Trenton, NJ

Today the first four PBLA logos were released and we must admit, we are impressed! The primary logos are really good but I’m already a huge fan of many of the secondary logos as well. Each one is inspired by the region and identity that the team has or is trying to build. Below we have the four logos that dropped today with some quick comments.

Logo Drop

Hampton Hammerheads

Binghamton Bombers

Charlotte Bootleggers

Trenton Terror

Thoughts

Best Primary Logo

My favorite primary logo in the group has to be the shadowy figure in the Terror logo. As much as I love the logo I don’t think it’s perfect either, as the words “Trenton” and “Terror” lack a touch of synergy with the amazing figure.

Best Secondary Logo

The secondary logos for the Charlotte Bootleggers are a personal favorite. Clean, easy to read, will look great on apparel, and instantly relatable to the teams name.

The Rest

The Binghamton Bombers logo is also clean, gives a lot of Top Gun vibes, but it lacks the edginess of the other three options.

The Hammerheads logo work is clean, the Hammerhead Shark itself is beautiful, my only gripe is that the word “Hampton” being in grey makes it difficult to read, but that’s really nitpicking.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned until Wednesday when the other three logos are released along with some juicy details about the league.

For more about the PBLA visit www.pbla.com or @watchpbla on Twitter.

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This week we introduce a new weekly series geared towards coaches. Each week we will spotlight one of the greats in our sport, a practice friendly drill, and motivational quote that can be used to get the team going.

Coaches Spotlight

Bill Schmeisser

Coach Schmeisser, also known as “Father Bill”, was a player and coach for Johns Hopkins University (Class of 1889). He spent 10 years as coach for the Blue Jays, 1902, 1903, 1905-1909, and 1923-25. He led the program to 8 national championships.

Schmeisser never took payment for coaching and made his living primarily as a lawyer. He passed away in 1941 at the age of 60. He was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1957. Annually, the best defensive player in the country is awarded the William C. Schmeisser Defensive Player of the Year award.

Drill of the Week

This is more than a drill as it is technically 15, but these drills are so good that they have been bundled together for your convenience. If you’re looking to help your players develop their shooting, which we all should, these 15 drills are perfect. An added bonus, these drills are presented by Duke assistant Ron Caputo. This video is a must watch for all lacrosse coaches.

Quote of the Week

For Coaches: “Coaching is taking a player where they can’t take themselves.” – Jose Mourinho

For Players: “No one’s ever gotten better by practicing less.” – Ron Jaworski

Weekly Podcast

Listen in as Quint Kessenich speaks with Chaos Lacrosse Club head coach Andy Towers about the Premier Lacrosse League and in particular, Andy’s unique coaching style. There are plenty of nuggets in this thirty minute episode, if you’re looking to change your coaching style or even just learn a little bit more about Andy, give this episode a quick listen and get better today.

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“Enjoy the moment, get after it, respect the game” wise and impactful words from official Matt Palumb before today’s game. One thing’s for sure, the Maryland players took those words to heart as they played a complete lacrosse game and enjoyed (almost) every moment of it in front of more than 22,000 fans.

Maryland (17-0)

The Terps came into this game as 6.5-7.5 goal favorites, trying to put a cap on their perfect 17-0 season and winning the National Championship that alluded them in 2021. Outstanding goalie play from Logan McNaney (71%) carried the team throughout the game, bailing the defense out on several occasions. Anthony DeMaio led the offense with 4G/1A while Luke Wierman’s 65% at the dot kept Cornell from ever gaining to much momentum. The Maryland lacrosse program has struggled to climb the Memorial Day hump on multiple occasions, but today was a new day for the Terps.

Cornell (14-4)

They may have gotten off to a slow start but if this game had an extra ten minutes I would’ve put my money on the Big Red. With both their goalie and face-off units below 50% they relied on an impressive ride and gritty groundball play through out. Gavin Adler led the team with 7GB’s and 2 CT’s. The “best” attack unit in lacrosse struggled after the first quarter forcing the midfield to produce offensively.

Game Recap

Quarter 1

Right away we noticed the absence of Roman Puglise on the first d-mid pairing, with increased roles for Bubba Fairman, Alex Smith, and Jake Higgins. Even with a faint presence of Puglise the Maryland defense smothering early on. Cornell came with a strategy of inverting d-mids with no success. Halfway through the quarter and Cornell was proving that the moment wasn’t too big.

Finally at the 7:28 mark CJ Kirst strikes first with a somewhat unassuming goal to give the Big Red the lead. At 5:47 Malever tied it up on an excellent cut from x. McNaney had several timely saves, bailing the Maryland defense routinely. One of those saves resulted directly in an Anthony DeMaio goal to give the Terps their first lead with 3:21 to go. DeMaio then caught a skip pass and shot around two defenders from range making it 3-1 Maryland. With 98 seconds to go we had our first glimpse of the daunting Maryland EMO unit, 26 seconds later DeMaio would hit his third of the game off of dizzying ball movement inside. 

End of Q1: Maryland leads 4-1

Quarter 2

A Cornell mistake (offside) leads to a juice goal as DeMaio finds Pryzbilski trailing down the middle for the pole goal.

Kirst stops the bleeding with a fantastic rollback lefty to beat McNaney far side. DeMaio then caught a skip pass for yet another lefty rip to counter Kirst. The No.1 PLL draft pick Logan Wisnauskas buried one near side and extended the lead to 5 to close out the second quarter.

End of Q2: Maryland Leads 7-2

Quarter 3

Wisnauskas scored at 12:37 to open the second half. Jonathan Donville, the former Cornell captain and No.1 overall NLL pick, had a beautiful inside finish to advance the lead to seven.

Aidan Blake would then score off of an off-ball cut to the crease to bring Cornell within 6.

End of Q3: Maryland Leads 9-3

Quarter 4

Cornell would strike first on a goal from Michael Long, but Luke Wierman did an excellent job at the dot making sure that the Big Red weren’t able to pair goals together. Seven minutes in and Maryland was starting to look tired, making several mistakes and creating opportunities for Cornell. Those mistakes turned directly into back-to-back goals for Kelleher and Wirtheim and brought the game to 9-6.

For three minutes we saw frantic play with offsides, failed clears, and poor passes ending with a Cornell timeout (which essentially bailed out Maryland giving them a much needed break). With 35 seconds to go Piatelli hit his first goal of the day off of a well executed pick play, 9-7 Maryland. Wierman did his thing and won his final face-off to secure the win and the undefeated lacrosse season for the Maryland Terrapins.

Standout Performances

Maryland

#2 Bubba Fairman: 2GB, 1CT

#16 Anthony DeMaio: 4G, 1A, 3GB

#30 Logan McNaney: 17 saves, 71%

#36 Ajax Zappitello: 5GB, 1CT

#52 Luke Wierman: 65%, 5GB

Cornell

#15 CJ Kirst: 2G, 1A

#27 Hugh Kelleher: 1G, 1GB, 2CT

#77 Gavin Adler: 7GB, 2CT

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The two conferences with the highest winning percentage thus far are set to square off this weekend, as the Big Ten and Ivy League have 3 matchups.

While there is no doubt that both conferences are strong, there are still question marks about just how good the Big Ten is from top to bottom. What we do know is that this weekend will certainly give us a much clearer picture of not only the conference but also the entire lacrosse landscape.

Big Ten vs the Ivy League

#RV Penn State vs #4 Cornell

Cornell at #4 is aggressive and I’m not sure that I agree. They are 4-0 but the lone impressive win is against Ohio State (a great win) while the other three wins hold little value. Penn State is a complete wild card beating Yale, losing to Penn by 1, but also sitting at 2-4 overall. This game comes down to which version of Penn State we get, if we see the team that beat Yale, expect Cornell to fall.

#7 Princeton vs #3 Rutgers

Both teams are elite but Princeton is my favorite rolling into this one. Rutgers is great, but their 6-0 record is misleading as 5 of the wins were against unranked teams. Princeton on the other hand beat Georgetown 10-8 while losing to Maryland 15-10 proving that they are without a doubt a Top 10 team. Big Ten bias aside, I’m all Tigers in this one.

#13 Michigan vs Harvard

The Maize and Blue are rolling into Saturday with the best start in program history at 7-0. It certainly helps when junior attackman, Josh Zawada, has already broken the programs single season scoring record. However, the Wolverines have yet to meet a defense as strong as that of Harvard. I expect Coach Byrne’s defense to create issues early, but I expect the powerful trio of Zawada, Boehm, and Bonomi to carry the Wolverines to a tight victory.

Other Big Ten Games

#9 Notre Dame vs #10 Ohio State

Perhaps the biggest game in the conference this weekend, we’ll see if the Buckeye defense can give Notre Dame the same treatment that it gave UNC earlier this season. All eyes should be on the talented ND attack against the physical Buckeye defense.

#RV Hopkins vs #17 Syracuse

Two teams on the cusp of relevancy, no one knows just how good either of them are, but expect the winner to be ranked next week.

#1 Maryland vs Albany

Light work for the ‘Terps this weekend. The Danes are good but lack the depth and top end talent to compete with this years Maryland.

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We are in the thick of it as games continue to gain more momentum as the season goes on. As we enter the fourth full week of the season, the lacrosse landscape is beginning to take shape. Teams that we thought would be great preseason (Loyola, Lehigh, Bryant) have fallen out of the polls while Jacksonville, Michigan, and Boston have proven that this year is different.

One of the best parts of college lacrosse is the growing storylines that change from week to week. Sometimes it’s teams feeling like they have something to prove, coaches returning to old stomping grounds, or specific players on a mission that week. Regardless, we have handpicked seven games to be on the lookout for this weekend.

Looking ahead to a big Saturday of lacrosse, here are seven games and storylines to watch.

Seven Division 1 Saturday Storylines

#11 Cornell vs #6 Ohio State

12:00pm ESPN+

Cornell is off to a strong start at (3-0) but have yet to play a currently ranked team. Look for the Buckeyes to assert some physical dominance in this one on their way to 5-0.

#16 Michigan vs #17 Delaware

12:00pm BTN+

Michigan returns home after a gutsy road win and look to extend their winning streak to 7. The Blue Hens will be the biggest test of the season thus far, in a game that will give us all a better idea of just how good the Wolverines really are.

#7 North Carolina vs #19 Denver

12:00pm ACCNX

Denver has underperformed to this point at (3-2) but they have the offensive firepower to overwhelm UNC’s inconsistent defense. Along with great face-off play to counter Tucci and Tyeryar, the Tar Heels are officially on upset alert.

#10 Duke vs (RV) Richmond

12:00pm ACCNX

Like fellow SOCON rival High Point, the Spiders always play Duke tough. The Blue Devils are the clear favorite, but they’ve had lapses this season and have shown they can be vulnerable. Look for this one to be close until late in the game.

#3 Georgetown vs #18 Princeton

12:00pm FLO

The Hoya’s are a wagon but no one knows how good the Tigers are just yet. They rolled through two teams that they should have before losing to Maryland by just 5 goals, in a game where they were a bit short handed. Don’t be surprised if this one is way closer than the sportsbooks think (Georgetown -3.5).

#7 Notre Dame vs #1 Maryland

2:00pm ACCNX

Maryland is the better team today, but I think this game is a coin flip later in the season. My reasoning, the Irish need more time to hit their stride while Maryland hit the ground running from game one.

(RV) Penn State vs #5 Penn

4:00pm

UPenn should dominate this game, but that’s exactly what we said about Yale last week and look what happened. The Nittany Lions are a team that when everything goes well can hang with top 10 teams, but on an average day, they’re more like a 20-25 ranked team. Which Penn State team do we get Saturday?

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This week we take a quick look at 12 games to be on the lookout for this upcoming weekend. Think of this article as an appetizer to get you ready for a big weekend of lacrosse. It was difficult to narrow this list down to just 12 games, as there is so much good lacrosse on this weekend it was difficult to choose.

Brown vs. Vermont

Vermont looks to get back to .500 while Brown tries to build on their close game with UNC.

#7 Duke vs. #10 Penn

A top ten matchup gives Duke another chance to show that the Jacksonville loss was a fluke.

Navy vs. High Point

A win in this game Navy is back in the ranked discussion, can High Point get back to .500 with one of the toughest OOC schedules in the country?

#19 Loyola vs. #5 Rutgers

A battle of brothers as the Kamish’s duke it out for a marquee win, propelling the victor further up the poles.

#2 Virginia vs. #9 Syracuse

The orange bowl gives Cuse another chance to prove that they’re the real deal this year.

Lehigh vs. #14 Cornell

A must win for Lehigh as they’ve quickly fallen out of the polls.

#4 Notre Dame vs. #3 Georgetown

All second screens will be playing this game in what could be the biggest game of the season so far.

#16 Denver vs. #13 Jacksonville

Despite being ranked lower, Denver is a 2.5 goal favorite, can Jacksonville get a second marquee in just 5 games?

#8 Ohio State vs. Harvard

The Buckeyes are a heavy favorite but Harvard’s physical defense matches up well with the talented OSU attack.

Marquette vs. Utah

A battle of fringe ranked teams will provide some clarity into how good the ASUN could be this year.

#12 North Carolina vs. #11 Johns Hopkins

Can UNC’s defense put 4 quarters together and stop a talented Jays offense.

Tuesday Special

High Point vs. #7 Duke

One of my favorite matchups year in and year out, the Panthers are always a tough game for the Blue Devils.

Best of the REst

Looking for more games this weekend? Check out our “Best of the Rest” which includes some matchups not many people are talking about.

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Week three is here and the season is already full of drama. Duke lost an early season game, not surprising, but the way the Dolphins are playing has them trending all the way into the top 15. Who will pull off the big upset this week?

This and every week of the season, I’ll be looking at the top games of the upcoming weekend. What makes them the top games is a combination of prestige, history, location, and impact on the polls.

#8 Duke vs #12 Denver

Can the blue devils get back on track against a stout Denver, only if their defense steps up this week.

Stream: ACC Network

Date: 2/19 @ 12:00pm

#11 Penn vs #3 Georgetown

Unleash Sam Handley and the rest of the Ivy League, a close game but I think the Hoya’s early season momentum continues.

Stream: ESPN+

Date: 2/19 @ 12:00pm

#15 Jacksonville vs Marquette

A traditional trap game, lets see how the Dolphins fare with the target on their back against the Golden Eagles.

Stream: YouTube

Date: 2/19 @ 12:00pm

#7 Yale vs #20 Villanova

Boy would I hate to be the first team in Yale’s way this season.

Stream: ESPN+

Date: 2/19 @ 12:00pm

#6 Rutgers vs #10 Army

The best goalie in the country against one of the top Attackmen, look for Nichtern vs Kirst all day.

Stream: BigTen+

Date: 2/19 @ 1:00pm

Towson vs #2 Virginia

The Cavaliers looked sloppy versus High Point, look for them to clean things up this week.

Stream: LSN

Date: 2/19 @ 1:00pm

#17 Cornell vs UAlbany

The Big Red seem ready, but how do they handle the annoyingly talented Danes?

Stream: ESPN+

Date: 2/19 @ 1:00pm

#5 North Carolina vs Ohio State

Look for the OSU Attack to give UNC’s defense trouble, but Chris Gray reigns supreme in this one.

Stream: ACC Network

Date: 2/19 @ 3:00pm

#14 Loyola vs #16 Johns Hopkins

Loyola just didnt look very good in game one, slight edge to the boys in blue.

Stream: ESPN3

Date: 2/19 @ 2:00pm

#1 Maryland vs #9 Syracuse

The team in Orange doesn’t have the depth to compete in this one, #bethebest.

Stream: ACC Network

Date: 2/20 @ 12:00pm

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The second weekend of the 2022 college lacrosse season is upon us. While we had a great Week 1 full of near upsets, this weekend is sure to answer some lingering questions.

This and every week of the season, I’ll be looking at the top games of the upcoming weekend. What makes them the top games is a combination of prestige, history, location, and impact on the polls.

The weekend preview will provide important matchups to look out for every weekend and provide any web streaming links if available.

TOP 3 d1 college lacrosse GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND

#2 MARYLAND vs #8 Loyola

Stream: Big Ten Network

Maryland impressed in Week 1 putting up 21 goals against High Point with 9 different goal scorers. The rumor mill is full of talk about Loyola struggling in scrimmages, and while we try not to give to much credence to those results, they do add to the question of what type of Greyhound team will we see this season.

Utah vs #17 Vermont

Stream: Unknown

The Utes nearly pulled off a major upset against Denver in Week 1. Vermont proved why they are worthy of being ranked by narrowly losing to an impressive Duke team. I expect this one to be a battle from start to finish.

While there may not be a stream for this game, college lacrosse fans should really be interest in the outcome of this game.

Syracuse vs Holy Cross

Stream: ACCN

Has any one program had as much uncertainty around it as ‘Cuse has headed into this season? The new coaching staff has energized the Orange faithful and college lacrosse fans alike, but the media is pretty split over wither or not they should even be ranked right now. We know that there will be a learning curve with new coaches but reports of early struggles against Michigan in a scrimmage (again don’t look into that to much) mean this game will act as a great barometer of what we may be able to expect from Syracuse this year.

Enjoyed the weekend preview? Come back next Friday to figure out what college lacrosse games to look out for!

CHECK OUT THE LINES FOR THIS WEEKEND BELOW:

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Opening weekend of the college lacrosse season is upon us. While we had a great appetizer last weekend between Mercer and Bellarmine, this weekend is the official start of spring lacrosse with 14 division one games slated.

This and every week of the season, I’ll be looking at the top games of the upcoming weekend. What makes them the top games is a combination of prestige, history, location, and impact on the polls.

The weekend preview will provide important matchups to look out for every weekend and provide any web streaming links if available.

Top 3 Games to watch this weekend

High Point at No.2 Maryland

Stream: Big Ten Plus

I’ll keep it simple, what does #2 Maryland look like without Jared Bernhardt. Don’t get me wrong, the Terps’ have more than enough talent to win the game and return to the NCAA tournament, but early season games are tough for teams looking to replace one of the greatest players in the last decade.

When High Point takes the field all eyes will be on Asher Nolting. The fifth year senior is on pace to eclipse 300 career points this season, the question for me is how much will he incorporate his teammates? In games against ranked opponents we’ve seen him play a high risk high reward style that puts up a lot of points (263) and a considerable amount of turnovers (257).

Detroit-Mercy at Ohio State

Stream: Big Ten Plus

Completely biased pick having worked at Detroit, but lets not forget that this has been a trap game in past seasons. In 2015 the Titans traveled down to Columbus to upset the Buckeyes 9-8. Not to mention expectations for the Nick Myers squad aren’t as high this year, having been picked 5th of 6 teams in the preseason conference rankings. Expect a gritty game between these two midwest programs.

No.12 Denver at Utah

Stream: N/A

A stout Denver program looks to start the season off with a bang while Utah and Coach McMinn are eager to get his new program on the right track. While Denver is a 5.5 goal favorite, this is the perfect time for an energized Utah program to shock the world.

Enjoyed the weekend preview? Come back next Friday to figure out what games to look out for!

Check out the lines for this weekend below:

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Every college lacrosse season features a sneaky underdog team that overachieves what was expected of them that season. These underdogs are typically determined by where that team fell in the preseason rankings.

There is no denying that the purpose of preseason rankings will vary depending on who you ask. Some people take them as the rantings of clueless mad men, some as white board motivation, and others have a very different idea of their meaning.

Looking at Inside Lacrosse CEO Terry Foy’s reasoning for example:

I took a look at the preseason favorites in each division and picked one team that I think could knock them off. The only rule, I wasn’t allowed to pick the 2nd place preseason team.

Division One underdog

Inside Lacrosse: (1) Virginia, (2) Maryland

USA Lacrosse: (1) Virginia, (2) Maryland

My Underdog: (4) Georgetown Hoyas

Kevin Warne has done it. He completely turned around the Georgetown program and has turned them into a perennially relevant force. Virginia and Maryland may be the top dogs in the preseason rankings but if there is a division one underdog that can do it, it’s the Hoyas. If there is a year that they could go the distance, its this year.

They return graduate students and preseason All-Americans: Owen McElroy (G), Gibson Smith IV (D), while bringing in transfer Will Bowen (D) from UNC.

I’m convinced that Georgetown will be relevant every year but this is the best chance Warne has had of bringing a championship to D.C.

Division Two Underdog

USA Lacrosse: (1) Le Moyne, (2) Lenoir-Rhyne

My Underdog: (8) University of Indianapolis

Midwest bias incoming.

The Greyhounds can play with any team in division two and they’ve proven it in recent years. With three preseason All-Americans, they have the potential to make some noise this year and we’ll get an immediate understanding of how good they are when they play No.2 Lenoir-Rhyne on February 5th. Keep a look out for attackmen Drew Billig to be one of the top scorers in D2 this season.

This team is the definition of a college lacrosse underdog to look out for this season.

Division Three Underdog

USA Lacrosse: (1) Salisbury, (2) RIT

My Underdog: (3) Tufts

This is probably the least impressive pick on the sheet but I’m so invested in what Coach D’Annolfo is doing up in Massachusetts that I don’t really care. Having spoken with coach during the past year, I’ll be surprised if I ever see Tufts outside of the top 10. Playing one of the most difficult schedules in division three in one of the best conferences around, I’m confident that the Jumbos will be battle tested and ready for the NCAA tournament.

They return a ton of talent and are sure to fight RIT and Salisbury for the highest scoring offense in the country.

NAIA

NAIA Ranking: (1) Reinhardt, (2) Indiana Tech

My Underdog: (3) Keiser University

Again picking the No.3 team to win isn’t a groundbreaking pick, but I honestly think that the Seahawks are underrated at No.3. Keiser has been on the edge of glory for many years now, but I think with all of the changes and turmoil in the NAIA this past offseason we could see a new champion crowned.

I’ve been a fan of how Coach Johnston runs the program for a while now and I think he has both the talent and the opportunity to make this the year.

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Jim Calder has lived a lacrosse life. His experiences as a player, fan, coach, and parent are the stuff of legends. I recently sat down with Jim to discuss his latest book, Tales of a Lacrosse Troubadour.

TALES OF A LACROSSE TROUBADOUR

About Jim

Jim Calder, born in Canada but raised in New York, grew up as one of the only Canadians to play purely field lacrosse. He took his talents to Hobart College where he was a 2x All-American and 2x National Champion. In 1978 he would be named to the Canadian national field team, a team that would win the World Championships. Jim Calder’s accomplishments in the game are to long to list but the fact that he is in both the Canadian Lacrosse Association and Hobart College’s Hall of Fames tells you just how special his life have been.

About the Book

This is Jim’s third book related to lacrosse, following in the footsteps of “Lacrosse the Ancient Game” and “Women Play Lacrosse”. The purpose and theme of the book are best described in an excerpt from Jim below:

This book is a product of the pandemic. We all miss our sport and it has been painful to deal with the realities of our time and what they’ve done to the game being played. Hopefully, we are almost through the worst. There has been a positive side as I was able to devote hundreds and hundreds of hours to the project. It kept me occupied when I needed something to help me deal with the drudgery of the days. It has been medicine.

Jim Calder

Where to Buy

You can buy Calder’s “Tales of a Lacrosse Troubadour” or any of Jim’s other lacrosse related books by visiting this site.

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