Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. A legend will hang up his whistle at the end of the 2023 season.
Bill Tierney, 70, announced that he will retire after his 42nd season coaching Division I men’s lacrosse. He enters his final season with Denver with a career record of 429-147 and seven national championships, the most in NCAA Division I history.
More here.
Denver will hold a press conference Friday. We’ll have more on the afternoon from Patrick Stevens.
2. Two-time defending champ RIT is still the favorite.
The Tigers enter the upcoming spring season No. 1 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseason Top 20, a familiar spot for a team that has captured the last two D-III men’s championships.
Christopher Newport, another loaded team, checks in at No. 2, while Bowdoin is No. 3 on the strength of faceoff specialist Ethan Barnard.
More here.
3. Middlebury is “scary good” entering 2023.
The Panthers top our Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Women’s Preseason Top 20, and this team might be even better than the one that captured a national title last May. After minimal graduation impacts from last year’s roster that some might have considered inexperienced, the Panthers are back for more.
Tufts, the D-III runner up the past two seasons, is No. 2. TCNJ, a national semifinalist, is No. 3.
More here.
