Wings Fly Together
Critics who suggested the Philadelphia
Wings would not be a championship contender in 2014 because of radical reconstruction might want to reconsider. The revamped Wings showed in blitzing
the Bandits 17-13 in their National Lacrosse League opener that they are capable of big things. Newcomers Kyle Buchanan, Tracey Kelusky, Ryan Ward and Garrett Thul meshed wonderfully with incumbents Jordan Hall, Kevin Ross and Kevin Crowley in enabling Blane Harrison to record his first win as head coach in his first opportunity. The offense, fine-tuned by assistant
coach Jim Milligan, purred to the tune of 68 shots. “We had an opportunity to bring in some different kinds of players who are more experienced in the indoor game from a Canadian perspective, and we brought Millie back on the ‘O’ door, and he’s molded those guys into a motion offense,” Harrison said. The Wings in recent seasons have
made an effort to stockpile Americans. They actually have a similar number as in years past — 13 on their roster heading into the season — but some of the bigger names are not expected to play in 2014 at all. Brendan Mundorf and Max Seibald began the year on the physically unable to perform list, while Paul Rabil had surgery to repair torn abdominals in the fall. All three eyed staying fresh and available for Champion Challenge on Jan. 26, after which the 23-man U.S. roster for the FIL World Championship will be chosen. “We’re in a unique year,” said Wings co-owner Brad Brewster. “Generally speaking, having the world [championship] this summer, players know they have tryouts, and it almost adds another season to things when they’ve already got a full dance card.”
— Neil Stevens and Sean Burns
Brodie Merrill
>>
LAXMAGAZINE.COM DIGEST
Philly to host 2015, 2016 NCAA final fours The 2015 and 2016
NCAA men’s and women’s championships will be in Philadelphia, the NCAA announced Dec. 11. The Division I men’s final four and Division II and III championships return to Lincoln Financial Field, host of the 2013 final four, while the Division I women’s semifinals and Division III women’s championships will be at PPL Park in nearby Chester, Pa. Additionally, Navy-Marine
Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., and Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver will host the 2015 Division I men’s quarterfinals. Brown and Ohio State will host the 2016 quarterfinals. The 2016 Division II women’s championship will be at Metro State in Denver. The NCAA’s new selection
process awarded 523 sites as hosts for 82 of its 89 championships for the 2014-18 seasons. Lacrosse sites for 2017 and 2018 were not named, however. An NCAA spokesperson said bids for men’s championship weekend will be reopened, pending analysis after this year’s event at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Nine new nations set to
debut in Denver Nine first-time
entrants will highlight
a record 38-team field expected for the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s World
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Championship, hosted by US Lacrosse at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver July 10-19. The last time the U.S. hosted the world championship, in 1998 in Baltimore, there were just 11 nations competing. First-timers include Belgium, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Russia, Thailand, Turkey and Uganda.
MLL title tilt to Atlanta The 2014 Major League
Lacrosse championship will be held Aug. 23 at Kennesaw State University outside of Atlanta. An MLL game there last summer between the Rochester Rattlers and Boston Cannons drew more than 4,000 fans.
Army Ranger Carroll attempts comeback All-American defenseman
Casey Carroll will attempt another comeback at Duke. Carroll, who served five years as an Army Ranger after last playing for the Blue Devils in 2007, has been cleared by the NCAA to return to the field this spring. He would play the 2014 season at age 29. Pursuing a master’s
degree at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, Carroll attempted to use a fifth year of eligibility last year but tore the ACL in his left knee. “If you’re rooting for
anyone, we’re certainly rooting for him,” Blue Devils coach John Danowski said.
Former UConn women’s goalie dies Brittney Testa, a senior goalkeeper last spring for the UConn women’s lacrosse team, died Dec. 27 after losing control of her vehicle on River Road in Willington, Conn. She was 24.
NJIT hires Johnson The New Jersey Institute
of Technology in mid- December hired former Mount St. Mary’s assistant Travis Johnson to be its first varsity men’s lacrosse coach. NJIT will play its first NCAA Division I season in spring 2015. A conference affiliation for the team has not yet been found. Johnson said he’d like
to have 30 players on the Highlanders’ first team, ideally about five transfers and 25 freshmen.
Virginia midfielder faces assault charge Carl Walrath, a junior midfielder for Virginia, was due in court in January to face a felony assault charge and three misdemeanors in connection to an early morning fight Nov. 24 in Charlottesville, Va. Walrath, 21, is charged
with assaulting a police officer and faces other charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. He was suspended from the team.
February 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 13
©JOHN STROHSACKER (BM, 3) ; ©KEVIN TUCKER (1); © MOUNT ST. MARY’S (4)
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