Aurora University (IL) Prepares for Inaugural Year

The trouble with being the first at anything is there is no history to use for comparisons.

So for Brendan Dawson, Aurora University men’s lacrosse coach, thoughts of what he has coming back from last year simply do not exist since this will be AU’s maiden voyage in the sport.

There are indications the Spartans, who open the season Saturday at the College of Wooster, might be pretty good. AU dominated both Illinois State University and Judson in recent scrimmages.

“We did well in the scrimmages but we saw some things that we need to work on,” Dawson said.

Dawson, a graduate of Salisbury College where he was a member of four (2 as a player and 2 as an assistant coach) NCAA Division III national championship teams, was given the job of starting the AU program in June of 2009 and has spent the last 20 months recruiting and formulating his plans.

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St. Josephs (NY) Adds Women's Lacrosse

Patchogue, N.Y. – St. Joseph’s is pleased to announce the hiring of Bob Vlahakis as the head coach of the Golden Eagles newest athletic program, women’s lacrosse.
According to athletic director Donald Lizak, the hope is for the women’s lacrosse program to begin playing a varsity schedule in the spring of 2012.
Vlahakis joins the highly decorated coaching staff at the Patchogue campus with an overwhelming resume of success. At Shoreham-Wading River High School, Vlahakis led the girls lacrosse program to four New York State Championships (2007-10), five Long Island Championships (‘06-‘10), seven Suffolk County Championships (’04-’10) and six Suffolk County and New York State team sportsmanship awards.

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Posted in: California,College,Connecticut,Cut Sports,Facilities,Florida,Georgia,Illinois,Industry,Media,Michigan,Montana,New York,Postseason,Professional,Rules,TV Coverage,Utah,Video Games

One New Conference and Two New Programs

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Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association formed

ALAMOSA, Colo.— Seven different NCAA Division II institutions from three states have joined together to form the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, which has commenced operations this spring. Five men’s and four women’s teams founded the association, which has the philosophy “to promote men’s and women’s intercollegiate lacrosse for the mutual benefit of its member institutions by providing scheduling and recognition opportunities,” as stated in the recently ratified WILA bylaws.
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Defiance C. Adds Lacrosse, Hires Marc Graham as Coach

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College athletics department has announced that it will add men's lacrosse in 2011-2012, with a full varsity season slated to begin in 2012-2013. Marc Graham has been hired to start the team, which will bring the number of varsity athletic programs offered at DC to 21.
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University of Tampa Adds Division II Men's Lacrosse Program

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa athletic department has announced the addition of a men's lacrosse program, which will begin competition in the spring of 2012. The team will compete at the NCAA Division II level, increasing UT's number of varsity sports to 18.
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Posted in: Coaching Hires,Colorado,Conferences,Division II,Division III,Florida,Ohio

What's Not to Like About Lacrosse? (Video)

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In Defense of the Big Hit

Head injuries have always been a major concern in almost all types of athletic competition.  Over the last decade it seems there have been countless studies concerning concussions and concussion symptoms.  More recently concussion awareness has penetrated even the most casual sport fans world as the NFL has caused controversy by laying out some hefty fines to several high profile players.  Naturally concerns in regard to head injuries have made their way to the lacrosse world, with the state of New York almost going as far as to mandate helmets in the girls game at the high school level.  On the Men's side the NCAA has said they will strictly target hits to the head this year.  Even Quint Kessenich chimed in in support of the new rules after seeing them in action in a pre-season scrimmage.

Posted in: College,Rules,Viewpoint

New MLL Charlotte Team President Speaks

Jim McPhilliamy has reason to be excited about a new Major League Lacrosse franchise in Charlotte, N.C. And, he has reason to believe the sport will succeed.

"The sport's growing tremendously here. Everybody's out throwing a ball around. There are nets everywhere," he says. "It's growing like wildfire."

Senior sports management executive Jim McPhilliamy led the efforts to bring the team to Charlotte. McPhilliamy will be the team president of the currently-unnamed franchise in Charlotte, he said over the phone late last week.

Charlotte and Columbus, Ohio, were tabbed by the league for expansion in 2012, Inside Lacrosse reported and the league later confirmed.

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