svanderwal

Lyco on the Prowl

2010-09-02T16:59:00.005-04:00

Warrior's Soccer is again on the prowl, and off to a good start. The Lycoming Men's Soccer team opened up their season with a 3-2 win over the Misericordia Cougars. Sophomore Jimmy Deasel lead the Warriors with 2 goals, and freshman goalkeeper Nial Krach made 8 saves. The Men's soccer team plays again on Saturday in the Kickoff Classic against Montclair at 11am.

The Lady Warriors soccer team fell to Misericordia 2-1 on Wednesday. The Warriors were able to keep a close game into the second half with help from freshman goalkeeper, Caitlin Dougherty, who made 5 saves in the first half. In the 50th minute Misericordia broke the scoreless tie with a header off of a corner kick. The Cougars would score again, and Warrior's senior Kaitlin Horn would try for a comeback with a late goal. The Lady Warriors play again on Wednesday (9/8) at 430pm against Lancaster Bible College.

New Year, New Chalanges

2010-08-29T22:11:00.004-04:00

Well, tomorrow is the start of yet another school year. This year brings about many changes for me. It is my senior year of college, and I am now the sports editor for the school paper. I will continue, as best I can, to blog often about lacrosse but I am looking to expand my blog to include all of the athletic programs at Lycoming College.

The first topic of discussion is that of lacrosse coach Brian Anken. Anken, the coach for the Lycoming Warriors has resigned from Lycoming and accepted the head men's coaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). It is with a sad heart, and many memories that I say goodbye to Coach Anken who has taught me so much about lacrosse and myself. All I have to say to Coach is best of luck, you will be greatly missed... and GO NAVY BEAT VMI!!!

Second issue is that of Sports Information Director (SID). Lycoming has recently hired a new SID, Joe Guistina. Joe attended rival college Susquehanna University and graduating in 2004. I look forward to a great senior year working with Mr. Guistina.

So here in begins a new journey, a journey into sports and senior year.

Finals are Over, and Post-Season Play is Around the Corner

2010-05-01T08:03:00.008-04:00

After a week of reviews, and a week of finals, my fellow peers and I have once again completed another school year. Everyone other than the athletes, and the team managers have moved out making campus quiet and lonely. Although the schoolwork and tests are over, there is still one thing keeping us few brave souls on campus... PLAYOFFS! That's right, today is the last day of regular season play for the Lycoming Warriors. The Warriors faceoff against Manhattanville today at home. The game is scheduled for a 1pm start.

The Valiants come into today's game with an overall record of (5-10), and they are (4-6) in the MAC conference. The Warriors come into today with an (8-7) overall record, and a (7-4) MAC conference record.

Today not only marks the conclusion of regular season play, today is also Senior Recognition Day at Lycoming College. Lycoming Men's Lacrosse will honor seniors, Greg Haspert (Midfield), Ed Williams (Midfield), Mike Doherty (Midfield), Nate Walter (Attack), Brad Schaeffer (Attack), Kevin Devenney (Defense), Sam Foreman (Midfield), Shawn Lowman (Long Stick Midfield), and Steven Henz (Student Coach). The seniors will be greatly missed by all. Congratulations seniors!! I will miss you all!!

GO WARRIORS!!!!

Battle for Bragging Rights

2010-04-22T12:54:00.003-04:00

It's a never-ending rivalry, with no end in sight. The Army and the Navy have always battled it out on the field. No matter the sport, the most anticipated game is that of Army vs. Navy. This past weekend, Army took the upper-hand, beating the Midshipmen 7-6 on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. With the win, Army guaranteed itself at least a share of the Patriot League regular-season title and will play for the outright title Tuesday night at Lafayette. The winner of that game will host the Patriot League Tournament April 30 and May 2.

Most people forget, that after these young men graduate they join the men and women defending our country and its ideals. They may battle it out on the field, but after graduation they are right there watching each others backs.

Blue Devils Win Big

2010-04-20T12:47:00.004-04:00

The Duke Blue Devils beat Virginia on Saturday night, breaking the Cavaliers longest home winning streak. The Blue Devils beat Virginia 13-9 in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 fans. Virginia had won its previous 15 games at home since the last time Duke came to Charlottesville and defeated the Cavaliers on April 12, 2008.Virginia, the No. 1 team in the nation in ground balls per game, lost the battle to the Blue Devils, 31-23. Duke also won the faceoff game (17-8).

The Rutgers men's lacrosse team held its own in the first half against No. 2 Syracuse Sunday night but the Orange showcased a second-half scoring spree and a stringent defensive effort to give SU a 11-5 win in front 3,253 fans at Yurcak Field and a nationally-televised ESPNU audience.The Scarlet Knights (5-6, 1-2) entered the game against the Orange (10-1, 3-0) with the nation's second-best committed turnovers average (11.88) but gave up a season-worst 26, including 15 in the first half. SU limited RU to a season-low 25 shots. Rutgers entered the game averaging 37 shots per game. Syracuse fired 36 shots on the night.

Tewaaraton Thoughts

2010-04-15T12:57:00.005-04:00

This morning LaxPower posted the Tewaaraton Trophy nominees. The tewaaraton trophy is the most distinguished award in the world of lacrosse. It is an honor just to be nominated. The following men's players were nominated for the award:

Drew Bezek, Le Moyne – Senior (Defense), Lowville, N.Y.
Billy Bitter, North Carolina – Junior (Attack), Stowe, VT
Shamel Bratton, Virginia – Junior (Midfield), Huntington Station, N.Y.
Jay Card, Hofstra – Junior (Attack), Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Brian Carroll, Virginia – Senior (Midfield), Towson, MD
Grant Catalino, Maryland – Junior (Attack), Webster, NY
Ken Clausen, Virginia – Senior (Defense), Downington, PA
Ned Crotty, Duke – Senior (Attack), New Vernon, N.J.
Kevin Crowley, Stony Brook – Junior (Midfield), New Westminster, B.C.,Canada
Curtis Dickson, Delaware – Senior (Attack), Port Coquitlam, B.C., Canada
Brian Farrell, Maryland – Junior (Midfield), Baltimore, MD
Ryan Flanagan, North Carolina – Junior (Defense), West Islip, N.Y.
John Galloway, Syracuse – Sophomore (Goalkeeper), Syracuse, N.Y.
Cody Jamieson, Syracuse – Senior (Attack), Six Nations, Ontario, Canada
Mark Manos, Drexel – Sophomore (Goalkeeper), West Chester, PA
Jack McBride, Princeton – Junior (Attack), Madison, N.J.
Jordan McBride, Stony Brook – Junior (Attack), New Westminster, B.C.
Parker McKee, Duke – Senior (Defense), Old Greenwich, CT
Sam Miller, Salisbury – Sophomore (Defense), Ithaca, N.Y.
Rob Pannell, Cornell – Sophomore (Attack), Smithtown, N.Y.
Max Quinzani, Duke – Senior (Attack), Duxbury, MA
Steele Stanwick, Virginia – Sophomore (Attack), Baltimore, MD
Jeremy Thompson, Syracuse – Junior (Midfield), Nedrow, N.Y.
Joel White, Syracuse - Sophomore (Defense), Cortland, N.Y.
R.J. Wickham, Navy – Sophomore (Goalkeeper), Penn Yan, N.Y.

Big City Classic, Big Opener

2010-04-08T13:01:00.006-04:00

The newly constructed Meadowlands Stadium will hold it's first event this weekend when 6 big Division I lacrosse teams travel to the garden state Saturday for the 2nd Annual Big City Classic. Delaware, Hofstra, Virginia, Syracuse, North Carolina, and Princeton will once again play at the Meadowlands for the classic starting at 1pm on Saturday. The new stadium holds up to 1.6 million fans. Last year the classic boasted 22,308 fans. The event is sponsored by Inside Lacrosse. For more information on the Big City Classic and how to get tickets go to the Big City Classic Website.

Time to Apologize

2010-04-06T12:58:00.004-04:00

Former Blue Devils lacrosse coach, Michael Pressler, dropped his slander lawsuit against Duke University. Coach Pressler was let go in 2006 after allegations of a rape surfaced. The Blue Devils canceled the remainder of their 2006 season. After months of investigation the three lacrosse players were acquitted of the charges, but not before their names were dragged through main stream media circuits, changing the boys lives forever. Duke officials declined to discuss details of the settlement, but publicly apologized to Pressler for any “adverse consequences” that the media stories had on the coach or his family.

Little Brother of War

2010-04-01T11:34:00.005-04:00

A lot of things have changed since lacrosse was discovered by French missionaries in the 1600's. Lacrosse had stood the test of time; changing and adapting to the demands of modern day players. The Iroquois word for lacrosse, "tewaraathon" means "Little Brother of War". This reminds us today of the reasons that the creators of this game first played lacrosse. Today the most important aspect seems to be having the newest and best equipment. When lacrosse originated, the importance was in pleasing "the Creator". Original lacrosse sticks were made of wood and animal hides. Making a traditional wooden crosse is not a simple feat. Rather the wooden crosse is a masterpiece of artwork, and making them is an art form. Getting the stick, or crosse, to the right shape and dimensions is tedious and takes years to perfect. In a world of titanium and aluminum shafts and plastic heads, we lose a sense of tradition and meaning of what it truly means to be a lacrosse player. It's sad that traditional wooden crosses aren't used more. It would be a true acknowledgement to the originators of the game. I would love to own a traditional wooden crosse. The history, the meaning, a true testament to time.

Traditonal Wooden Crosses can be ordered at: http://www.antique-skis.com/lacrosse-sticks/cat_5.html

New Names at Big Games??

2010-03-28T13:24:00.006-04:00

There are always 6 teams that are always on the minds of lacrosse fans when it comes to the division I championship bracket. Normally the names that come to mind are Syracuse, Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Maryland, and Cornell. This year things are looking a lot different. Teams that fans have come to expect to be in the running for the championship title are falling in the ranks, and teams that in the past haven't had a shot at the championship are sitting pretty according to LaxPower Standings. Syracuse, who was ranked #1 at the beginning of the season has fallen to #5 in the ranks. The lowest rank that the Orange have had since missing out on the tournament in 2007. Some names that most people wouldn't expect to hear, Lafayette and North Carolina, who are ranked #2 and #3 respectively. North Carolina has been turning heads in the past few years, but this is the first time that the Tarheals have been able to break the top 10. Johns Hopkins on the other hand is currently ranked #19. A disappointing standing after last years seasons quarterfinal loss to Virginia. As an avid fan of Division I lacrosse it will be interesting to see how these teams hold up in the next few weeks of play. The championship bracket may look very different this year than in years past.

Bid Day for Lycoming and D III Lacrosse

2010-03-25T12:57:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was a big day for D III Men's Lacrosse. Lycoming lacrosse celebrated a huge win over Misericordia, 17-5. The Warriors had a great day, with several players scoring multiple goals and assists. Sophomore Ethan Payne (#5) had a huge day with 6 goals, senior Nat Walter (#16) had a career high nine points with 4 goals and 5 assists, and freshman Stephen Romano (#3) had a career high of 4 goals and 2 assists. Senior Mike Doherty(#12) and sophomore Tim Clemente (#31) did wonders on faceoffs, winning 18. The boys were able to beat Misericordia on groundballs, 32-13. The Warriors were able to successfully clear the ball 12 out of 13 times, while only allowing the Cougars 6 clears. Not only was the offense strong, but the defense played well. Lead by senior Shawn Lowman (#39), junior JB Campamella, and sophomore Victor Marchetti (#11) shut down the Cougar offense. The Warriors are now 4-3 and play again on Saturday the 27th in Williamsport against Eastern.

Other Scores in D III Lacrosse:
DeSales 21, Alvernia 1
Eastern 7, Widener 5
Elizabethtown 7, Messiah 6
Elmira 16, Susquehanna 13
Franklin & Marshall 9, Swarthmore 7
Gettysburg 11, Dickinson 5
King's 15, Lebanon Valley 3
Manhattanville 11, Fairleigh Dickinson 7

Tough Season Continues

2010-03-18T12:58:00.005-04:00

The Navy Midshipmen are not having the year that everyone expected. The Midshipmen lost to Towson yesterday, bringing their overall record to 3-4. This season the Midshipmen were expected to one again face off against Bucknell for the Patriot League Championship, but now the idea of appearing in the league championship seems doubtful. The Midshipmen have lost to Towson, Lafayette, Loyola, and North Carolina. At this point Navy fans have got to be upset with the season. Navy was hoping for a bid to the NCAA Division I Championship, it would be their first appearance at the championship since 2004. After their loss the Midshipmen fell in rank to #23 , a disappointing and rather upsetting season.

Lycoming Men's Lacrosse has the week off this week and will resume play on March 24, at Misercordia University.

Maryland tops Towson

2010-03-16T13:02:00.003-04:00

The Maryland Terps beat out the Towson Tigers on Saturday 12-8 at Byrd Stadium. While the Terps were playing at Byrd Stadium, Stevenson University borrowed the tigers field to hold their game against Lycoming Men's Lacrosse. Stevenson had issues with their field due to recent snow and rain that hampered field conditions. The Warriors made the long trip to Towson in the rain, passing adoring fans with signs along the way. Stevenson (#2 in D III) ended up with the win 18-7 over the Warriors. The Warriors are now 2-3. The Warriors have the week off this week and will resume play on March 24th at 4pm away at Misercordia.

On another note, the Midshipmen took a hard fall this past Friday to Lafayette, 15-8. Looking ahead at the rest of the Midshipmen's season, it's not going to be an easy ride. Navy is going to have a hard time against ALL of their remaining competitors. It's going to be a very hard road to the Patriot League Championship.

Where are they now??

2010-03-11T13:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday ESPN.com posted an article about the three Duke Lacrosse players that were wrongfully accused of rape in 2006. The article discusses where the boys are now and what they have been up to the past few years. This article come just weeks after the accuser, Crystal Gail Mangum, was arrested on numerous charges ranging from child endangerment to arson and fraud. One thing that hasn't really come to light is the fate of the prosecuter, Mike Nifong. When searching you can find that Nifong was " disbarred for dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation, making Nifong the first prosecutor in North Carolina history to lose his law license based on actions in a case. Nifong was found guilty of criminal contempt and served one day in jail." Interesting that this has missed main-stream news.

For the full article go to: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4980370

Big Weekend, Close Calls

2010-03-09T12:56:00.007-05:00

This past weekend was filled with big games and close calls for many teams. The Syracuse Orange face the Virginia Cavaliers this past Sunday. The teams were ranked #1 and #2 respectively, however Virginia was able to hang on and take the win, 11-10. Navy Beat Bucknell on Saturday afternoon in Annapolis, 8-7. Cornell Big Red beat the Army Black Knights on Saturday in overtime, 12-11.

Prime time lacrosse has started, and the match-ups are getting tougher and tougher. This season North Carolina Tar Heels are proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Another team proving their worth is the Scranton Royals. Their 12-5 win over Ithaca was a major hurdle for the Royals, and one that caught the attention of many.

Lycoming Men's Lacrosse is off to a good start. The Warriors come out of the first week of play 2-1, with wins over SUNY Maritime and Elmira, and a loss to Dickinson. The Warriors will face St.John's Fisher on Wednesday in Williamsport. The Warriors will continue the season without midfielder Steven Henz who suffered a season ending knee injury in Saturday's game against Elmira.

Lyco Lax Loco for Season Start

2010-02-25T12:59:00.005-05:00

The past two years the Lycoming College Lacrosse team has met and surpassed expectations. Under Head Coach, Brian Anken, the Warriors have acquired a 25-21 record over the past three seasons. The past two years the Warriors finished off their season in the MAC Playoffs against the Widener Pride. This year, the Warriors have high expectations. The Warriors will start their season off on Saturday the 27th at 1pm in Williamsport, against SUNY Maritime. The boys will then travel to Carlisle, Pa on Wednesday to face off against Dickinson College. The team will round out the week with a game in Williamsport on Saturday the 6th against Elmira. This year, the Warriors faceoff man, Mike Doherty, was named a Pre-Season All American, and the team was featured in an online lacrosse magazine. The Warriors are ranked third this season in the MAC league behind FDU-Florham (#1) and Widener (#2). This season the Warriors look forward to the MAC Playoffs and beating Widener in the playoffs, something the Warriors have been unable to accomplish in past seasons. Here's to the best season yet!! Let's Go Warriors!!!

Attackman Anchored to Bench for Remainder of 2010 Season

2010-02-23T13:20:00.006-05:00

Midshipmen faced a tough loss this past weekend against Loyola, but even tougher yet is the loss of one of their top attackmen for the season. Tim Paul, suffered a severe knee injury in Saturday's game, that has ended his season.Paul learned Sunday that he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while battling for a ground ball late in the fourth quarter. "Paul said the injury occurred when his cleats caught in the artificial turf after he turned quickly." Reported HometownAnnapolis.com. Paul, a senior from Parkton,is slated to undergo surgery sometime in the next three to four weeks and definitely will not return this season. Paul led Navy in scoring last season with 32 points on 18 goals and 14 assists en route to being named an honorable mention All-American. The Loyola High graduate received the Coach William H. "Dinty" Moore Award as Navy's Most Outstanding Offensive Player in 2008 and 2009.

Bucknell Buckles Down, Blows Past OSU

2010-02-23T12:59:00.004-05:00

Bucknell Men's Lacrosse (#19) is projected to have a good season this year. After falling to Duke (#2) in overtime last week, the Bison faced off against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes and the Bison have both been making headway in the game of lacrosse over the past few years. The Bison definitely came into this season with high expectations after last years fall to the Navy Midshipmen in the Patriot League Championship. The Bison are back this year, and will be a strong contender for the Patriot League title. This past weekend the Bison defeated Ohio State 11-5 on Saturday afternoon. The Bison picked up their game, outscoring Ohio State 9-1 over the final 37 minutes of play. The Bison faceoff against Towson on Saturday the 27th at Towson.

It All Comes Full Circle

2010-02-18T12:57:00.006-05:00

The accuser in the infamous Duke rape case, Crystal Gale Mangum, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, five counts of arson, assault and battery, communicating threats, three counts of misdemeanor child abuse, injury to personal property, identity theft and resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer. According to the Durham County Police. For more on this story go to, WRAL.com.

On the same topic, the charges against the three Sacred Heart lacrosse players has been dropped.Charges were immediately dismissed in the case of one player, Nicholas Travers, 18, of Smithtown, N.Y. Charges against the others -- Zachari Triner, 18, of Mansfield, Mass. and Timothy Sanders, 19, of Ashburn, Va. -- will be dismissed automatically if the case is not revived in the next 13 months. The three players had been suspended from the Sacred Heart lacrosse team, and their status will now be re-evaluated.

ESPN's coverage of collegiate lacrosse starts this weekend on Feb. 19th. Coverage concludes on May 31st after the championship game.Overall, ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will combine to offer 42 regular-season and all 15 NCAA tournament games.For the fourth straight year, the ESPN networks will televise the entire NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, with 2010 being the first year in which every game will be in high definition. For the full ESPN lacrosse TV schedule go to, http://www.laxpower.com/common/tv2010.php

Duke and Navy Off to a Great Start

2010-02-16T12:56:00.005-05:00

Duke (#2) beat out the Bucknell Bison (#19) in front of a crowd of 7000 fans on Saturday. The Bison held there own however, taking the Blue Devils into overtime. The Blue Devils ended up having to come from behind to take the win. At the end of the forth quarter, the score was tied at 11. Crotty gave a quick pass to an open Howell, who scored the winning goal. The Blue Devils will start their season Feb. 20th against Notre Dame in Durham, NC.

The Navy Midshipmen (#11) beat out the VMI Keydets in their season opener Saturday afternoon at Rip Miller Field. The Midshipmen came out firing early on in the game, with a 7-0 lead. The Midshipmen have struggled in the past against VMI. The Midshipmen faced three stick violation penalties. Meade, had mixed emotions after the game stating that he was happy with the win, but that "There are some new stick rules that went into effect this year and stick penalties could become a huge factor in the game. I just don't remember us getting called for stick penalties like this. We'll sit down and address it and make sure that what we are playing with fits within the parameters." The Midshipmen continue their season, Feb. 20th against Loyola in Annapolis, MD.

Sacred Heart Players Listed Inactive

2010-02-11T12:56:00.003-05:00

Sacred Heart Lacrosse program has been facing some criticism this year after three of their players were involved in a sex scandal. Tim Sanders, Nicholas Travers and Zachari Triner, are listed on the teams roster for this spring season but the boys won't be taking the field. The sex scandal is not the first to hit the college lacrosse world. Looking back, Duke Lacrosse canceled their 2006 season after their players were involved in a rape investigation. Both the team and the players ended up making it through the scandal, the program and the boys both faced consequences.

Duke Needs Better News, Unlike Syracuse

2010-02-09T12:59:00.005-05:00

It was only a few years ago that the Duke Lacrosse program was rattled by a rape case... Now they are reporting that one of their players has been suspended due to conduct unbecoming of a player. A few questions come to mind. What did junior Sean Brady do to get suspended? Why hasn't more information become available about the misconduct? Is the Duke Lacrosse program trying to cover something up or hide something? Will Brady be able to re-join the blue devils for his senior year?

The junior, Sean Brady, a goalkeeper for the blue devils, was suspended on Thursday, January 28th. At this time, no more information has been made available concerning the conduct of Brady.

On another note, the Syracuse Orange are off to a strong start. The Orange won both of their scrimmages this past Sunday against Hofstra and LeMoyne. A good start to defending their national championship title. The Orange scrimmage again on the 12th against Maryland.

Division I Standings

2010-02-04T13:01:00.003-05:00

The Pre-Season Division I Standings came out this week. The standings are as follows...
1 Syracuse
2 Duke
3 Virginia
4 North Carolina
5 Johns Hopkins
6 Cornell
7 Maryland
8 Princeton
9 Notre Dame
10 Hofstra

The Division I poll at LaxPower continues on listing teams up to #20. On another note, pictures were posted from the Navy-UMBC 'Snow Bowl'.
SnowBowl Pictures.

Dowling Duo

2010-02-02T13:09:00.004-05:00

The Dowling Golden Lions got recognition from Inside Lacrosse this month. The Attack duo of John McClure and Kyle O'Brien have been labeled as the best attackmen duo. The article also states that McClure is in contention for player of the year honors. The Dowling Lacrosse website quotes the article as: "Player of the Year Watch: A 54-goal scorer for the Golden Lions a year ago, McClure was a preseason first-team All-America and this year's Face-Off Yearbook. With feeding machine Kyle O'Brien (31 assists) returning as well and a new-look ECC, McClure could blow up even bigger as a senior." To read more about the Dowling Duo check out Dowling's Lacrosse Web page at:
http://www.dowlingathletics.com/news/2010/1/28/MLAX_0128105302.aspx?path=mlax

Navy Sitting Pretty

2010-01-28T11:39:00.004-05:00

This morning, LaxPower posted the Patriot League and Division I pre-season standings. Navy fared quite well. The Midshipmen stand at #1 in the Patriot League Standings, and 12th in the pre-season Division I standings. In the Patriot League, the Midshipmen are followed by Bucknell... A repeat of last years Patriot League Championship?? I think so. The entire Patriot League Standings in order are as follows: Navy, Bucknell, Colgate, Army, Lehigh, Lafayette, and Holy Cross. Navy will have no problem winning the Patriot League Championship once again. The only issue the Midshipmen face is the Division I Playoff bracket. The past few years the Midshipmen have fallen just shy of the Semi-Final games held at the NCAA Championship Weekend. Standing at #12 in the pre-season standings, the boys will have a lot to accomplish to acquire a spot in the Semi-Finals. If the Midshipmen make the Semi-Final Division I playoff game, it will be their first appearance since the 2004 Division I Championship game in which the Midshipmen fell to the Orange of Syracuse by a score of 14-13. It was my first trip to the Championship Weekend, one of the best defensive games I've ever seen, and the game that made me a die hard Navy fan.

HEYYYYYY POSKAYYY!!!

2010-01-26T12:45:00.008-05:00

There's a name we don't hear as often. Matt Poskay, the all time highest scorer in high school lacrosse and infamous University of Virginia midfielder and All-American, has slowly drifted out of the news headlines since his college days. What happened to Poskay?? Where did Poskay go?? After college, Poskay was selected in the second round of the MLL draft (2006). Poskay has been with the Boston Cannons since 2006, and was selected as the rookie of the year in 2006 and the MLL All-Star team in both 2007 and 2008. This year, Poskay will be joining Drew University Men's Lacrosse for the 2009-2010 season as an assistant coach.

I was in attendance for the 2006 Men's Division I championship in which Poskay and the University of Virginia Cavaliers won the national championship. I was also able to get the signatures from half the players on the 2006 Virginia Championship Weekend t-shirt. I still own the t-shirt and still wear it from time to time. I also met the goalie Kip Turner #15, who is also currently playing for the Boston Cannons, and Long-stick midfielder Derek Pilipiak #29. For those boys, "SMURFS!!"

Lyco Lax Season for the Books

2010-01-21T13:02:00.005-05:00

Lycoming College men's lacrosse team looks forward to one game every season, Widener. In regular season play the Warriors end up victorious, but when it comes to post season play the Pride always advance. It's a horrible fate that the Warriors are desperate to overcome. This season could be the season. The top four scorers return to the field this year, led by senior attackmen Edward Williams (33g, 13a) and Nathan Walter (30g, 17a), while the defense and midfield has key cogs coming back, including fellow seniors Kevin Devenney (16 CTs) and Michael Doherty (64% on faceoffs). This season the Warriors are set to travel and beat Widener on April 24 at 1pm. It's sure to be a great game. This is one stat girl looking forward to what promises to be an amazing season!! Let's go boys!!

Headstrong Foundation, Strong Players

2010-01-19T12:55:00.004-05:00

The HEADstrong Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for blood cancer research, announced today it will sponsor the First Annual HEADstrong Rivalry Games, an invitational featuring five Philadelphia-area boys' conference games and a major Division III showdown. The event will be held at Widener University in Chester, PA., on Saturday, April 3. The host Pioneers, winners of four of the last five Middle Atlantic Conference championships, meet nine-time defending Colonial States Athletic Conference champion Cabrini College at 3:30 p.m. Between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., the five scholastic league matchups will be held for varsity and JV. They include two-time defending state champion La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep (Catholic League), District 11 champion Emmaus vs. Easton (Lehigh Valley League), Pennsbury vs. Neshaminy (Suburban One National Conference), Unionville vs. Sun Valley (Ches-Mont League) and Ridley vs. Strath Haven (Central League). Times of the scholastic games will be released later.

The best friend of 23-year-old Eddie DiDonato, who was shot six times during an altercation in the Old City section of Philadelphia early Sunday morning, said the former Villanova men's lacrosse captain and scholastic All-American from La Salle College High School remains in critical condition but is coherent and squeezing the hands of family and friends.
DiDonato, of Blue Bell, and the suspect, Gerald Ung, 28, of Philadelphia, were caught on tape by Fox 29 surveillance video cameras just outside the Fox 29 studio at 2:45 a.m. Sunday. The video shows DiDonato heading toward Ung during the altercation before taking the shots.
Ung, of the 300 block of South 43rd Street, was immediately apprehended and charged in the shooting. Ung was arraigned early Sunday morning on charges of Attempted Homicide, Aggravated Assault and related offenses. According to reports, Ung, originally, of Virginia, is a third-year law student at Temple University.

Bigger Battles to Win

2010-01-14T13:04:00.001-05:00

Former University of Hartford men’s lacrosse coach Jack McGetrick was recently featured in an article on Inside Lacrosse. McGetrick, an elite athlete who currently has the reigns of the Bellarmine lacrosse team, now has another battle to fight and a “game” to win off the field. Last month, McGetrick was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After receiving the shocking and devastating news, the Intercollegiate Mens Lacrosse Coaching Association has joined forces to help alleviate the cost of McGetrick’s treatment, which is uncovered by insurance. Spearheaded by the IMLSCA, lacrosse programs around the country will be running youth clinics on January 24, with all proceeds going to a fund to benefit McGetrick.In McGetrick’s 11 seasons with the Hawks, he was the winningest lacrosse coach in the program’s Division I history, posting 87 victories including eight seasons with a .500 or better record. As a part-time college coach and full-time high school teacher in Somers, Conn., McGentrick was named the 1997 NCAA Coach of the Year after taking the Hawks to a national ranking. He piloted Hartford to another appearance in the national polls again in 2000, and led the Hawks to two America East regular season titles in the 2000 and 2003 seasons.McGetrick has not yet missed a practice and doesn’t intend to let his chemotherapy keep him off the sidelines. This season, McGetrick will return to the Hartford sidelines for the first time since his departure in 2003. His Bellarmine Knights will take on the Hawks on Saturday, March 13 at Alumni Stadium.

Are you ready!!!?? 24th Season of the NLL starts Friday!

2010-01-12T13:09:00.003-05:00

The 2010 National Lacrosse League season, the 24th for this professional indoor league, begins tonight (Friday, January 8th) in Orlando. The Orlando Titans (relocated from New York this year) host the Philadelphia Wings at 7:35 pm ET. The game will be played at Amway Arena, the home arena of the NBA's Orlando Magic. It's the first of five games on opening weekend. Once again this season, every NLL game will be broadcast live and free of charge on the NLL Network, which can be found online at the league's official web site, NLL.com.

Eleven teams will compete this season, six in the Eastern Division and five in the Western Division (see below). The changes from last season are as follows: New York relocated to Orlando. San Jose relocated to Everett, Washington (25 miles north of Seattle) and is now known as the Washington Stealth. The Stealth will play at Comcast Arena, which is also home to the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. The Portland franchise opted not to play in 2010 and its players were dispersed to the 11 returning clubs in a draft held over the summer. The playoff format remains the same, with the top four teams in each division advancing to a single-elimination playoff tournament.

Navy Lacrosse Releases Schedule

2009-12-08T13:01:00.004-05:00

Six nationally-televised games and seven top 25-ranked opponents highlight the 2010 Navy men's lacrosse schedule released Friday by 16th-year Navy head coach Richie Meade. Navy will play its traditional six-game Patriot League slate, along with seven nonconference battles that include five programs in the Baltimore-Washington DC area.

Navy is on tap to play a pair of scrimmages (Jan. 30 vs. UMBC, Feb. 6 at Virginia) prior to officially kicking off the season on Feb. 13 at home against VMI (12:00 pm). The Mids' meeting against the Keydets marks the third consecutive year the two military institutions have met in what has been both programs' season opener. Anchored by Evan Sullivan's hat trick, Navy dealt VMI a 13-5 loss to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Mids kick off conference action on March 2 when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for the second straight year to face Lehigh. Though Navy owns a 27-1 series advantage, winning 24 in a row, the Mountain Hawks gave the Mids all they could handle in last year's contest. Navy came out the victor with a 10-8 decision, but the Mids were forced to score seven goals in the third period after Lehigh took an early 5-1 advantage. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.

GO MIDSHIPMEN!!!

Pre-Season All Americans and Lacrosse in Uganda

2009-12-03T13:01:00.004-05:00

Eight members of the Syracuse men's lacrosse team were selected as preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse on Monday, Nov. 30. Headlining the Orange's selections was junior longstick midfielder Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) who was picked to the first team. Syracuse and Duke each had eight players recognized, the most of any school. After last year's showing in the men's championship weekend the Orange deserve to have their players recognized with such honor. The eight players listed for the orange are,junior longstick midfielder Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) who was picked to the first team, junior defenseman John Lade (Randolph, N.J.) and senior attackman Cody Jamieson (Six Nations, Ontario) and were picked to the second team. Junior Stephen Keogh (Toronto, Ontario) was named to the third team at attack. Junior midfielder Josh Amidon (Lafayette, N.Y.) and junior goalie John Galloway (Syracuse, N.Y.) were also named to the third team. Junior midfielder Jovan Miller (Syracuse, N.Y.) and senior defenseman Matt Tierney (Montclair, N.J.) were honorable mention choices.

Scranton University is making news. The men's lacrosse team at the school has raised $4,000 towards a goal of $5,000 for their "Christmas in Uganda" fund-raising project.All money raised will fund projects such as social entrepreneurism, education, healthcare, AIDS and malaria awareness, as well as introducing the sport of lacrosse to disadvantaged children.Donations from $10 to $600 dollars are currently being accepted by the Royals' men's lacrosse team at the following web address: www.firstgiving.com/scrantonlacrosse. Donors can choose from six levels to assist this worthwhile cause. Donations may also be mailed to the University of Scranton men's lacrosse team, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, Pa. 18510.

APply Your Thoughts and Stories

2009-12-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

It seem as though the only time that the Associated Press publishes a story about lacrosse it's always a story with a negative connotation... The Duke rape case, the Hobart lacrosse death from alcohol and oxycodone, and now 3 Sacred Heart players are charged with conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

In today's times, the media is very important to the image of organizations... in this case the lacrosse community. It is important to get articles published that show lacrosse in a better light. Take it from someone who has had articles published in local newspapers and online news sources, it's so easy to get articles published. Take it upon yourself and take pictures and write articles and submit them to your local newspaper.

It Never Fails...

2009-11-19T12:59:00.004-05:00

The NLL is at it again. With the start of the NLL season looming about 8 weeks away, the NLLOA, National Lacrosse League Official's Association, is still trying to reach a contract settlement with the league. Last year the NLL season was canceled then when a contract settlement deadline came and went without a settlement. Weeks after the announcement of the season cancellation, the different parties came to an agreement and the season was allowed to start as originally planned. Seems like the NLL has issues when it come to negotiation.

In other news, Miles Thompson, has officially signed his letter of intent. Miles signed a letter of intent to play for Albany. Miles younger brother Lyle also plans to play for Albany. According to the boys father, Lyle has already verbally committed to Albany.

We 'Band of Brothers'

2009-11-17T13:04:00.006-05:00

Most lacrosse teams are like their own family, like brothers. No teams are more like brothers than the Army and Navy lacrosse teams. These inidviduals count on each other on an off the field. From day to day they are watching each others back on the lacrosse field but, in the long run they are watching each others backs on the battlefield. ESPN recently ran a story about Army lacrosse. The article called the team a 'Band of Brothers', and rightfully so. The story was very fitting in that Veterans Day was this past Wednesday, the 11th. Army will face off against Navy in the second annual Day of Rivals on April 17 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4651994

WE FEW, WE LUCKY FEW, WE BAND OF BROTHERS

Lax Fans Await Season... and Video Game?

2009-11-12T13:00:00.003-05:00

For the past few years the lacrosse community has buzzed with talk of a video game. Blast Lacrosse was the first lacrosse video game that was produced by the National Lacrosse League, and was only released for Sony Playstation. The word on the street is that this new lacrosse lacrosse game will be college oriented and will be released for the Xbox gaming system. The lacrosse community has potitioned and even started groups on social networking sites to show that there was a fan base out there that was anixously awaiting a video game all it's own.

It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year!!

2009-11-10T13:08:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year people!! The lacrosse world is at a stand still and fans are forced to watch taped games from the previous season to get there fill of the hard hitting action they so yearn for. For me it's replaying the 2004 final betwenn Syracuse, who at that time were still the Orangemen, and the Navy Midshipmen. Syracuse defeated Navy by a score of 14-13. The game was closely contested throughout, but Syracuse pulled away in the final minute with Mike Powell scoring the key goal to go along with his five assists. The lacrosse championship is Syracuse's ninth.

It was my first trip to the Championship Weekend, and it is still by far my favorite game... with the 2009 Syracuse Cornell final as a close second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD0FNTSjLxc

Cassese Named to National Team

2009-11-05T13:00:00.005-05:00

Coach Kevin Cassese was notified of his appointment to the roster of the U.S. National Lacrosse team around lunchtime on Monday. After surviving the first cut back in June, which diminished the applicant pool from 84 to 39 men, Cassese returned to his job coaching the Mountain Hawks, waiting for the next round of trials to begin. This will be the third time that Cassese dons the uniform of the U.S.A. In 2002, Cassese helped the U.S. to a gold-medal finish over Canada with a score of 18-15 in Perth, Australia. In 2006, the U.S. fell short to Canada in the finals 15-10 in London, Ontario. The U.S. and Cassese will be looking to avenge the loss.

Former Navy Standout Inducted into Hall of Fame, Seibald named to National Team

2009-11-03T12:59:00.005-05:00

Three-time All-American and Navy lacrosse's all-time leading scorer Jeff Long will be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, Md. A member of the Class of '77, Long is the 13th Navy player to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame and the fourth in the last four years. One of the youngest Navy players in the National Hall of Fame, Long played for legendary coach Dick Szlasa, who under his direction, led the Mids to 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1973-82).Long came to the Academy as a highly-decorated player out of Rochester, N.Y. where he garnered all-league recognition four years and was a two-time All-American while playing at Irondequoit High School. He continued that success at the Academy where he would flourish as one of the nation's premiere attackmen over a four-year span.

Cornell graduates Max Seibald and Ryan McClay were selected to the 2010 U.S. Men's Lacrosse National Team on Monday, governing body U.S. Lacrosse announced.A training team roster of 41 players was whittled to 23 after three fall exhibition weekends in West Point, Annapolis, Md., and Stony Brook.McClay was the No. 5 selection by the New Jersey Pride in the 2003 Major League Lacrosse Draft and currently plays for the Boston Cannons. Seibald finished his playing career at Cornell as the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, as well as the winner of both the USILA Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award, for the Outstanding DI Player of the Year, and the USILA Lt. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award, for the Outstanding Midfielder of the Year. Seibald is one of just three Cornell players to earn All-American honors four times during their career. Seibald was taken second overall in the 2009 MLL Draft by the Denver Outlaws and was named an All-Star in his first season before helping the team to an appearance in the 2009 MLL Championships.

US Lacrosse Boosting Programs

2009-10-27T13:03:00.002-04:00

Forty-five lacrosse organizations in 23 states will receive US Lacrosse Equipment Grants this year.US Lacrosse has donated equipment to over 300 fledgling lacrosse programs with the retail value of more than $1,650,000. The US Lacrosse Equipment Grant is one of the most impactful programs that US Lacrosse offers. It directly supports the growth of lacrosse across the country, allowing more youth to have the opportunity to play the sport each year. The program is supported by US Lacrosse memberships and the generous financial donations of lacrosse enthusiasts from coast to coast.Lacrosse programs applying for a grant must show a demonstrated financial need and priority is given to those residing in a state or region where lacrosse opportunities are currently limited or absent. Applicants can choose from a girls' package, boys' package, program (boys' and girls') package or a physical education program package.

Big City Classic

2009-10-22T14:12:00.002-04:00

Delaware, Hofstra, Virginia, North Carolina, Princeton, and Syracuse will all be in New Jersey on April 10 for the second annual Big City Classic held at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. Delaware and Hofstra will face off in the first game at 1:00 p.m, followed by the Virginia vs. North Carolina game at 4:00 p.m. The third game will be played during prime time, with Princeton and Syracuse set to face each other at 6:30 p.m. Last year the inaugural Big City Classic broke the attendance record for a regular season, lacrosse-only event with 22,308 fans in Giants Stadium. The second year of the event will break new ground for the sport as the first event ever to be played at the new Meadowlands Stadium. This state-of-the-art facility will open its gates to lacrosse fans at the Big City Classic before serving as the new home for the National Football League's Giants and Jets.

Quinnipiac Victourious Army and Navy set for showdown

2009-10-20T13:01:00.002-04:00

The Quinnipiac Men's Lacrosse team came up victorious this weekend at the inaugural Connecticut Cup.The Quinnipiac University men's lacrosse team defeated Yale twice and also edged Fairfield to win the First Annual Christian Prince Memorial Tournament for the Connecticut Cup. The Bobcats defeated Yale and Fairfield in round-robin play, before beating Yale in the championship match.

In other news, Army and Navy have set the date for their annual showdown. Although not as known as the infamous Army Navy football game, the Army Navy lacrosse game is a high intensity game that all enjoy. Plus who doesn't like a good Army Navy battle?! The Black Knights will gear up for their annual grudge match with the Midshipmen that will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the second year in a row as part of the Smartlink Day Of Rivals on April 17. As a lacrosse fan I am looking forward to the Army vs. Bucknell and Navy vs. Bucknell games. Army squares off with Bucknell on April 10 in Lewisburg, PA. I know that I'll do my best to be there.

Midshipmen Host National Team

2009-10-15T13:09:00.002-04:00

Navy will host Maryland, Virginia and the U.S. Men's Lacrosse National Training Team this weekend in a fall tournament on the campus of the academy. Navy's initial game will be against one of two U.S. National Training Teams.

The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm have announced the acquisition forward Ryan Hoff and a future 2011 second round draft pick from the Rochester Knighthawks in exchange for goaltender Aaron Bold, forward Cody Johnson, and defenseman Ian Rubel. The Knighthawks selected Hoff in the third round (34th overall) in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft.

On another note, and a reminder Dowling will be holding thier fall tournement this weekend in Brookhaven. I will be there rooting on the Golden Lions!!!
Oct. 18 Dowling Wishmakers Fall Classic!!!

Causeworthy Lacrosse

2009-10-13T13:01:00.008-04:00

The Upper Darby Hish School Lacrosse team got to meet the men and women of the Alpha Company 801st Brigade Support Battalion 4th Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division. The high school lacrosse team supported the men and women by holding car washes and fundraisers to aquire money to make care packages. THe team ended up sending more than 100 care packages weighing over 1 ton. Each box cost $11 in shipping. The boys even made homemede cookies to package up and send overseas.

Everyone should take the Upper Darby Lacrosse Team as an example and should consider doing something along the same line. When deployed anything and everything that the soldiers receive is a morale booster. For more information on starting up a fundraiser to support the troops check our the America Supporting Americans website. Another way to go about making in difference in a soldier life, find a local soldier and write letters. It's an easy way to make a difference.

Lacrosse Programs Already Involved with America Supporting Americans included:
Arcadia University
Brown University
Bucknell
Clark University
Cornell University
Doc's NYC Lacrosse
Duke University
Eastern York Lacrosse
Emmaus HS Boys Lacrosse
Fairfield University
Fordham
Franklin Pierce University
Glen Ridge HS
Gonzaga HS
Greenwich HS
Haverhill HS & Home Grown Lacrosse
Hobart College
Iona College
James Caldwell HS
Johns Hopkins University
LAX Club, NY
Lycoming College
Maryland United
Matignon HS
Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst Northeast
Northport HS
Norwich University
Ocoee HS
Ohio State
Presbyterian
Queens University
Riverwood High School
Robert Morris University
Rollins College
Sachem LAX
Sacred Heart University
Saint Andrew's High School Varsity LAX
Saint Ignatius HS
Saint Leo University
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Xavier HS
Seton La Salle Catholic HS Girls Lacrosse
South Jersey Blackstorm HS
Susquehanna
Upper Darby HS Royals
US Merchant Marine Academy
US Air Force Academy
Union College
Univ. of Albany Men’s Lacrosse
Univ. of Dallas Women’s Lacrosse
Univ. of Detroit Jesuit
UVM
Virginia Episcopal
Virginia Wesleyan College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Lee Univ
Warren Area
Washington College, MD
Wesley College Men’s Lacrosse
Western New England College
Wheaton
Wootton H.S. Varsity Boy’s Lacrosse, MD
Worthington Kilbourne HS
Yale University

For more on the Upper Darby High School's mission check out, http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/10/12/life/doc4ad304670a985251104842.txt

Fall Ball Benefits Everyone

2009-10-08T12:53:00.005-04:00

Everyone one benefits in fall ball season. The players get to work on their game, the coaches get to try out new things, and the fans who are starting to have withdraw symptoms are getting their lax fix. There are alot of fall ball games going on this month.
Starting tomorrow you have Ohio State vs. Johns Hopkins, St. John's vs. Alumni, Maryland vs. Alumni, Detroit vs. St Joseph's, (Grass)Rutgers vs. Penn (Stadium), 3rd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic, Detroit vs. Lafayette, (Stadium)Rutgers vs. Drexel (Grass), Hofstra vs. Penn, Mount St Mary's vs. Drexel, Lafayette vs. St Joseph's, Hofstra vs. UMBC, Villanova vs Mount St Mary's, Villanova vs. UMBC, Manhattan vs. Alumni, Hobart vs. Harvard, Navy vs. Syracuse, Penn St. vs. Georgetown, Hobart vs. Georgetown, Navy vs. Penn State, Harvard vs. Syracuse, North Carolina vs. Brown, Marist vs. Alumni, Widener vs. York, Wesley vs. Wheeling Jesuit, 3rd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic, Widener vs. Ursinus, York vs. Scranton, McDaniel vs. Wheeling Jesuit, Ursinus vs. York, Wesley vs. McDaniel, Scranton vs. Widener, Scranton vs. Ursinus, Vermont vs. Siena, UMass vs. Le Moyne, Albany vs. Holy Cross, Adelphi vs. Colgate, Vermont vs. UMass, Adelphi vs. Siena, Albany vs. Colgate, RMU vs. Holy Cross, UMass vs. Colgate, Holy Cross vs. Le Moyne, WNEC vs. Bentley, Vermont vs. RMU, Bentley vs. Siena, Albany vs. Le Moyne, Adelphi vs. WNEC, Vermont vs. Bentley, RMU vs. Siena,Ohio Wesleyan vs. Springfield, NYIT vs. Union, Cortland vs. NYIT, Ohio Wesleyan vs. Union, Cortland vs. Springfield, Ohio Wesleyan vs. NYIT, Cortland vs. Union, Springfield vs. NYIT, Cortland vs. Ohio Wesleyan, Springfield vs. Union, Eastern vs. Dickenson, Immaculata vs. Alvernia, Immaculata vs. Harford CC, Alvernia vs. Harford CC, Lacrosse For SmilesOld Redskins Park, Notre Dame vs. Team Canada, Susquehanna vs. Marymount, Neumann vs. Centenary, Susquehanna v. Neumann, Marymount v. Centenary,Susquehanna v. Centenary, Neumann v. Marymount and Team England vs. Loyola.

Those are the match ups for THIS WEEKEND!! That is just one weekend of men's lacrosse. If the lacrosse junkies out there don't get their fix this month, then there are problems. Go out this weekend and enjoy the fall weather and the fall lax!!! Click for a schedule of all the games and tournements this fall.

Denver to Faceoff against Big-wigs

2009-10-06T12:57:00.002-04:00

University of Denver's Men's lacrosse team will faceoff against Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on the DU campus. Fans will get the chance to see their favorite Outlaws players at both the game and clinic, including DU assistant coach Matt Brown. This will be the first scrimmage of the 2009-10 season under coach Tierney and the first time the Pioneers have squared off against a professional lacrosse team. Bothe the Outlaws and the UD men's lacrosse teams are lacrosse powerhouses.

Women's Nick Colleluori Classic Raises Big Bucks

2009-09-29T12:57:00.004-04:00

The first ever Women's Nick Colleluori Classic was played on September 26th, at Hofstra University. Ths classic, which was set up for a Hofstra lacrosse player who passed away from cancer in 2006, had never been a women's tournement. This year Hofstra changed that, and in the processa raiesed over $32,000. 12 teams participated in the event. Those teams were, Hofstra, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Albany, Bentley, Adelphi, C.W. Post, Stonehill, Long Island, Iona and a pair of post-collegiate teams (New York Athletic Club and Team 27 - a team comprised of Hofstra alumnae usually known as the Long Island Lady Lizards).

US Lacrosse is taking steps to educate players and coaches on the importance of AED's, Automatic External Defibrillators. To help provide AED's to schools and lacrosse programs, the government has set up a grant that provides an AED and comprehensive management of AED and CPR training to lacrosse leagues or US Lacrosse chapters. This is a great step for US Lacrosse. The more equipt and better trained the coaches and staff are for an emergency, the better the chance of saving lives.

2009-09-24T12:55:00.003-04:00

It will be a battle of the sexes this Friday the 25th when the University of Louisville Women's lacrosse team takes on the Bellarmine Men's lacrosse team. The two teams are coming together to raise money for Pediatric Brain Tumor month in honor of the University of Louisville adoptee Emily Beck, who is battling cancer. For more information on Emily or Pediatric Brain Tumor month visit, http://www.firstgiving.com/emilybeck .

Dowling Men's Lacrosse, Division II out of Long Island, announced their second annual Wishmakers Fall Classic to take place on October 18th. The Classic will feature Dowling, Stony Brook, and Manhattan. The classic is sponsored by Adidas. All proceeds from the gate as well as money raised from 50/50 and prize raffles, concession sales, and merchandise sales will go towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help children with life-threatening illnesses to fulfill their dreams. Last year in the premiere of the Wishmakers Classic, Dowling was able to raised over $4,000. There were over 400 fans in attendance last year. Check out the schedule for this year's Wishmakers Classic. http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=208701

After a recent article in Inside Lacrosse, where Matt Poskay let the world know that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer, Poskay is in the news again. Matt Poskay is joining the Drew University coaching staff.

Common Sport, Common Injuries

2009-09-22T13:02:00.004-04:00

There is an article online this morning about the growth of lacrosse and the growth of the number of injuries contributed to youth lacrosse. David Marshall, M.D. talked about the most common injuries in lacrosse. "The most common injuries among boys playing lacrosse are contusions, abrasions, ligament sprains and muscle or tendon strains. Girls playing lacrosse most often experience facial injuries from being struck by a stick or ball," wrote Marshall. The article continues on to talk about the most effective treatment for these injuries. I can speak on behalf of my brother when I say, take all the time needed to properly treat an injury. Trying to rush the healing process to get back on the field is never a smart decision. To read more about lacrosse injuries please read the rest of David Marshall's article at http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2009/09/22/doctor-is-in-common-injuries-in-young-lacrosse-players/?cxntfid=blogs_better_health .

Another thing in lacrosse news that caught my eye was the fact that Paul Rabil threw out the first pitch at the Orioles game on Monday evening. This isn't a really big deal, but in my town lacrosse people and baseball people don't get along. There is normally a dispute over which sport is getting more attention or who should get new equipment. It's very rare to see lacrosse people and baseball people coming together in my town.

News Hits College Athletics

2009-09-17T12:57:00.007-04:00

It was announced today that the President of the NCAA has passed away. Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, was 67 years old. The 67 year old president passed away on Wednesday of pancreatic cancer. Brand had been diagnosed with cancer in December of 2008. Brand began his tenure in January 2003 with the NCAA after serving as president for Indiana and Oregon. Brand was set in changing the typical "dumb jock" stereotype of the athletes. Brand understood the importance of athletics as well as that of a good education. The infamous NCAA commercial, "There are over 380,000 student athletes, and about all of us are going pro in something other than sports," will be a long lasting reminder of Brand's impact on college athletics.

Inside Lacrosse picked the "Best" Lacrosse Towns. It's not a big surprise that most of the towns in the top 5 have been host to the Lacrosse Championship Weekend in the past few years, but their #1 pick may surprise you. Denver, was the #1 pick for "best" lacrosse town. After seeing this, two things come to mind.
1) No way!
2) Does this mean that the Championship Weekend will be heading out west??!
For me this is a very sad and depressing thought. I feel that the best lacrosse hot-beds are (by state not city) New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Canada. Lately, Florida and Colorado have come to be big lacrosse towns.

Lacrosse making HEADway

2009-09-15T12:47:00.021-04:00

In lacrosse news this week, Inside Lacrosse reported that the 3rd annual Nick Colleluori Classic will be held on Saturday October 10th and Sunday October 11th beginning at 9:00am. The classic will be held at Ridley High School in Folsom, Pennsylvania. The classic will showcase 12 Division I teams and 8 Division II teams. Nick Colleluori was a 2004 graduate of Ridley High School. After high school Nick worked hard to make the Hofstra Lacrosse team. In September Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. In Novamber of 2006, Nick lost his battle with cancer. Before he passed away Nick had the idea of starting a foundation to help those who have been diagnosed with blood cancers, as well as put an end to this horrible disease. The HEADstrong Foundation is what came of Nick's idea. Since 2006, the HEADstrong Foundation has become a staple in the world of lacrosse. The now infamous neon green shoelaces and and neon green "27 Relentless" tshirts can be seen almost anywhere in the lacrosse community.

In other news, the Associated Press released an article about lacrosse this week. The article discusses how many colleges and universities are adding lacrosse programs to their athletics department to help the schools cash flow. The article titled, "College short of cash? Just add lacrosse", talks about several schools that are planning to or have already started to add lacrosse to their athletic programs.

2009-09-10T12:57:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was a big day for the National Lacrosse League. Yesterday, September 9, 2009 was the annual NLL Draft . Sid Smith, a powerhouse for Syracuse Lacrosse, was the first pick overall in the draft yesterday. Smith was a member of the 2008 and 2009 Syracuse Orange National Championship teams as well as a 2007 Minto Cup winner with the Six Nations Arrows and a 2006 National Junior College championship winner with Onondaga County College. Sid Smith will join the Rochester Knighthawks in the upcoming season. The secon overall pick was Ilija Gajic, who will also join Sid Smith and the Knighthawks. The third overall pick was Zack Greer, who will be joining the Swarm. Other first round picks included, Cliff Smith, Alex Gajic, Garrett Billings, Joel Dalgarno, Max Seibald, Corey Small, Kyle Clancy, Stephen Leblanc, and Scott Tinning.

It is also growing close to the 2010 season in which the NCAA head dimensions are to go into effect. The main dimension change is the minimum 3 inch throat width. The full regulation changes can be found at http://www.collegelax.us/news/2008/12/21/us-lacrosse-statement-on-2010-ncaa-lacrosse-stick-specification-changes/ another place to find information on the changes also look at, http://www.comlax.com/NCAA_2010_HEAD_SPECS_Q(1.13.09).pdf .

Instant Replay, and Touching a Piece of History!!

2009-09-08T13:06:00.006-04:00

Well there isn't much going on in the world of Lacrosse this week, although LaxPower is reporting that the NCAA is going to explore the use of instant replay in the 2010 season. The NCAA is hoping that the instant replay will serve as another set of eyes for the officials. In such instances where the ball hits the inside of the goal pipe and then bounces out, the officials would be able to look at the replay image and signal a scored goal. You can read more about the NCAA instant replay on the http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/ncaa+news/ncaa+news+online/2009/association-wide/lacrosse+to+explore+instant+replay+in+2010_09_03_09_ncaa_news

Something else that you should take a look at is two brothers out of LaFayette High School in New York. The Thompson brothers are members of a long line of lacrosse players. As members of the First Nation, Onondaga Nation, the two brothers have lacrosse breed into them. Lacrosse started out as a First Nation sport used to solve territory disputes and other conflicts between tribes. The game has changed quite a bit since those days, but the Thompson boys still feel the connection to the game that their ancestors once played. Check out the article http://www.onondaganation.org/news/2009/2009_0714b.html about the Thopmson brothers. Also check out the youtube video about First Nation Lacrosse players in the sidebar.

Check out the video about the Thompson Brothers at http://www.lukaskorver.com click on "Watch" and the name of the video is "Medicine Game"

NCAA Championship Weekend Game Times; Navy Fall Ball; Zack Greer Reebok

2009-09-03T13:32:00.007-04:00

Today the NCAA made it official... the game times for the 2010 Championship Weekend have changed. These time changes are said to be a way to move college lacrosse to prime-time tv. In the past the Saturday semi-final games have been held at noon and 3pm. The new Saturday scheduel has the semi-final games at 4 and 6:30pm. As for the Moday championship game, well the time has changed from 1pm to 3:30pm. What about D II and D III games? Well as of now, there isn't any talk of the NCAA changing the times of the Sunday D II and D III games. As a fan of college lacrosse and the NCAA Championship Weekend, there are plus sides and down sides to the time changes.

For the past 7 years my family has packed up the car and made the trip to the Championship venue, spending our days at the stadium and our nights enjoying local food and tourist attractions. With the time change, we will spend all day tailgaiting in the parking lot... Does anyone see a promlem here?? With the games being so late in the afternoon, college students and high schoolers alike will have more time to drink in the parking lot. Underage drinking and alcohol poisioning is a sure fire bet. As if the cops and rescue medical responders don't have enough to deal with, now we are going to add drunken underaged kids to their list of problems. Another issue that factors into the championship weekend is travel. Memorial weekend traffic is crazy no matter where you go. Let's take a major city, bring in about 60,000+ die hard lacrosse fans, and a game that starts at 3:30pm on Monday, and what do you get?? Disaster!! Traffic out of the stadium in 2010 is either going to be a disaster or attendance for the final game will be at a 7 year low. As a college student I can't help but feel bad for those people in the workforce who are to report to work early on Tuesday morning. Some people have the option to spend Monday night in the city, while others must go to work. I know I won't be driving home at 6:30-7pm on Monday night. All in all I see this as a big mistake... the near prime-time tv coverage will be nice, but who is watching tv on Memorial weekend?? People are outside grilling, simming, partying, and watching fireworks... unless they are AT the games.

In other news, Navy Lacrosse announced they will hold two fall ball tounements this October. These tournements will include, Syracuse, Team USA Blue and White, Harvard, Hobart, Georgetown, Penn State, Maryland, and Virginia. Games will be held on October 10th and October 18th. Games will be held at Farragut Field and Rip Miller Field. For more information check out, http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=16057&page=1 . Go Midshipmen!!! Wish I could be there!

NLL Insider announced that Zack Greer will be the new spokesperson for Reebok. In the past 3 years Reebok has become a fast growing name brand in lacrosse apparel and equipment. Greer will join names such as Matt Alrich and Dan Dawson who are also representitives for Reebok. Greer will have his own line of '88' equipment including heads and shafts. Greer is a high hopeful in the upcoming NLL entry draft.

Introduction to Author and Blog

2009-09-01T14:46:00.003-04:00

So my name is Stephanie. I have never blogged before, and I won't lie I'm only blogging as a requirement for a college media writing class.

This blog is all about LACROSSE. Everything lacrosse. From teams, to individual players, to equipment, and everything in between. I may be a girl, but I do not follow girls lacrosse. I only really follow men's lacrosse. Due to the fact that I am from New Jersey, I follow Jersey high school lacrosse, mostly North Jersey. I have attended the past 7 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships, and have grown to become a Navy Lacrosse fan. Go Midshipmen!!! As for pro lacrosse I tend to enjoy MLL over NLL. In the pro leagues I tend to favor the Rochester Rattlers and the Boston Cannons.

Some of the best places to keep up with lacrosse news are:
http://www.maxpreps.com/national/national.htm
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/
http://www.laxpower.com/
http://nll.com/
http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/

*svanderwal*