🐢 MARYLAND NAMES NEW NO. 1

At the University of Maryland, wearing No. 1 for the Men’s Lacrosse team means something. This season, the legendary number belongs to senior defenseman Ajax Zappitello.

On Monday, Maryland announced that Zappitello is switching numbers to carry on the Terrapins’ legacy.

This tradition began with Andrew Whipple in the mid-1990s. Since then, every single player who has worn the No. 1 for Maryland has been named a USILA All-American.

Traditionally, Maryland has given the No. 1 to an offensive player. Joe Walters and Grant Catalino wore the number with pride in the 2000s. Matt Rambo, Jared Bernhardt and Logan Wisnauskas each won a Tewaaraton Award while wearing it. Mike Chanenchuk and Connor Kelly are both current pros who had the honor of wearing the number with the Terps.

Zappitello is only the second long pole to wear No. 1 since it became a Maryland tradition. He follows in the footsteps of former teammate and current New York Atlas defenseman Brett Makar, who wore it for one season before going No. 3 overall in the 2023 PLL Draft.

Zappitello is a Portland, Oregon native heading into his fourth season with the Terps. Last season, he tied for the team lead in caused turnovers (21) despite missing the last four games of the year due to injury.

After going undefeated and winning the NCAA Championship in 2022, Maryland finished 10-6 and was booted from the NCAA Tournament by Army in the first round. As the Terps lean further into their defensive identity, Zappitello is tasked with leading his team back to the top of the Big Ten in 2024.

⭐️ Unleashed All-Star Game

Last year, the Premier Lacrosse League showed us what it looks like when some of the best men’s lacrosse players on the planet compete in Sixes. Now, the league is extending that opportunity to the best women’s lacrosse players.

On Monday, the PLL announced an All-Star Game in conjunction with Unleashed Women’s Lacrosse. This Sixes exhibition will be played on Feb. 17 at The St. James during the PLL Championship Series.

“ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC,” former Boston College star Charlotte North commented in reaction to an Instagram post about the news.

Full rosters have yet to be announced, but a group of pros are locked in to coach a clinic on the same day as the game. Those players include Grace Griffin, Abby Bosco, Lizzie Colson, Ally Mastroianni and Livy Rosenzweig.

Click the button below to sign up for the clinic.

🔙 ACC Tournament Returns in 2024

For the first time in five years, the ACC will hold a Men’s Lacrosse tournament this spring.

The 2024 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship will be held on May 3 (semifinals) and May 5 (final) at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

There are five Men’s Lacrosse programs in the ACC — Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia, Syracuse and North Carolina — but only four teams will qualify for the conference tournament. Based on last year’s standings, Syracuse would have edged out UNC for the final spot in the tournament.

The ACC previously paused its conference tournament because the winner was not awarded an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament (conference must have at least six teams to earn an AQ). Last season, the ACC produced three NCAA at-large bids — Notre Dame, Duke and Virginia — and all three programs made it to Championship Weekend.

📈 From MCLA To The NFL Draft!?

We’ve seen lacrosse players make it to the NFL before, but former Montana Grizzlies midfielder/running back Marcus Knight may have the wildest path to the draft yet.

Last week, Knight officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Knight started his collegiate football career at the JUCO level in 2018, then exploded for a program-record 25 touchdowns after transferring to Montana for his sophomore season. Injuries/COVID-19 derailed his football momentum, leading Knight to join Montana’s MCLA lacrosse team in 2023.

Knight had 23 points (16G, 7A) in his lone lacrosse season at Montana, helping the Grizzlies win the PNCLL Division II Championship.

Last fall, Knight transferred to Tennessee Tech and scored six touchdowns in his final collegiate football season. Click here to watch some of his lacrosse and football highlights.