🍿 DRIVE RETURNS TO TLN

When you go to the movies, do you prefer candy or popcorn?

Whatever you answered, grab some and click play on the 11-minute video below. One of TLN’s most popular series, DRIVE, has returned to YouTube with an all-access feature on the 2023 McDonogh lacrosse team that won the MIAA Class A Championship.

This mini-documentary follows McDonogh through the MIAA playoffs, including a riveting overtime win against Boys’ Latin in the semifinals and a dominant performance against Calvert Hall in the title game. Senior McCabe Millon — the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 and a current freshman at the University of Virginia — plays the starring role alongside his younger brother Brendan Millon (No. 1 recruit in 2025).

McDonogh is coached by Andy Hilgartner. Other key players featured in this short film include defenseman AJ Marsh and face-off specialist Zach Hayashi, both of whom are now freshmen at Navy.

The 2023 season marked McDonogh’s second consecutive MIAA Championship and fifth in program history, tying them with Calvert Hall and Boys’ Latin for the most Class A titles of all time. We made the case earlier this week that a three-peat in 2024 could set McDonogh apart as the best high school lacrosse team in Maryland history.

DRIVE first launched on TLN YouTube in 2016 and featured teams such as Notre Dame, IMG Academy, Culver Military Academy and others. McDonogh is now the third MIAA team to be featured, joining Boys’ Latin and Loyola Blakefield (both from 2018).

Click here to watch previous episodes of DRIVE.

🙏 JRODSTRONG Nears Funding Goal

Earlier this week, former Salisbury and MLL goalie Johnny Rodriguez announced that he has been diagnosed with ALS — a rare nervous system disease that is currently incurable.

Rodriguez started a GoFundMe to help cover the medical costs for his treatments, and he is closing in on his fundraising goal of $100,000 at the time of this newsletter. If you are in a position to help, here is a link to Rodriguez’s fundraiser.

In college at Salisbury, Rodriguez was a Division III standout who was named USILA National Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011. That honor helped him make the leap to the professional ranks. He is currently the head coach at Mater Dei High School in southern California.

1️⃣ The No. 1 Team is…

The 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse season starts two weeks from today, and preseason polls are starting to roll out.

Last week, USA Lacrosse Magazine released its preseason rankings with Notre Dame defending the No. 1 spot. Inside Lacrosse opened voting for its media poll this week, and some have shared their preseason picks for No. 1.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Anish Schroff revealed that he voted for Duke at No. 1, while also teasing a potential final four run for Syracuse.

The poll used for the official rankings you see on TV is the USILA Coaches Poll. Of the top four teams in that poll last preseason — Maryland, Virginia, Georgetown and Cornell — only one made it to Championship Weekend (Virginia).

Which team would get your vote for No. 1 heading into the 2024 season? Follow us on Twitter/X and let us know!