Princeton Takes Costa Rica, Hofstra Turns Japanese, Nobody Plays On the Moon

I'm going to start a company called College Lacrosse Worldwide and Other Incredible Dry Goods and Services, Ltd. It'll be big, I tell you. I'll be in the Fortune 1, sitting atop a pile of gold coins that I will swim in like Scrooge McDuck (as soon as I pay a physicist to make that possible). That'll be a great day and I'll be sure to forget all the little people that got me to that point.

Unfortunately, it appears as if I may have a tough job cornering the entire market on worldwide college lacrosse action. As it turns out, some schools have already dipped their toes into the trade or business, totally poisoning my ability to become a "Three Comma" entrepreneur.

Princeton, fresh off making the world an awesome place to live, headed out to Costa Rica to teach some folks out there the game and, presumably, to eat fried plantains until tummy explosion. Obviously, lacrosse needs some serious development on the isthmus nation as it's popularity is well below soccer and (I'm just guessing here) kicking rocks like soccer balls. That didn't deter the Tigers in their mission of goodwill, though, and it seems like everyone had a blast:

It was an historic occasion for the sport of lacrosse in Costa Rica. No American college team had ever played here before, as the sport is in its infancy and the players in white for the home team were complete novices compared to their American guests.

And while the game itself was not very competitive, to the point where nobody knew what the final score was, it was still a great event.

Princeton arrived early to the stadium to tape lacrosse lines on the soccer field, though it was FieldTurf. The teams lined up pregame on the tape for the side of the box as the Costa Rican national anthem was played - and sung by the CR players - followed by the Star-Spangled Banner, complete with singing by the Princetonians.

For the purists, Costa Rica definitely scored three goals. Princeton scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25 and could have scored triple that if had wanted to.

Instead, the Tigers brought out a lineup that included All-America goalie Tyler Fiorito on attack and fellow All-Americas Chad Wiedmaier and John Cunningham with shortsticks.

Almost nobody played the right position, and Eric Sanschagrin, who started in goal for the Tigers, finished the game playing offensive midfield.

Even manager Mark Tanner got into the fun, scoring a goal of his own in the third quarter. Travis Boyce, who had scored the first goal by a player in the class of 2012 when he scored with a pole in the first fall scrimmage of freshman year, scored the final goal for the class as well to end the scoring.

Even Coach Bates' son Nick -- all of 10 years old -- got in on the action, scoring two goals. He got a standing ovation and wasn't sent to a rebel detention facility for crimes against the Costa Rican government. So that's a good thing.

Meanwhile, out in Japan . . .

. . . Hofstra was getting its groove on at the International Lacrosse Friendship Games. The Pride went to the Far East for a series of scrimmages against some university and all-star talent, but the trip was highlighted by a fist-smashing with the Japanese national team:

The Pride staff arrived at Edogawa Stadium with JLA staff and met the Hofstra team on the field at 11:00 a.m. with all of our belongings. We would be going back to the hotel tonight. But the Opening Ceremonies of the 23rd International Lacrosse Friendship Games was up first. Edogawa City Mayor Masami Tada and JLA President Hiroshi Kimura, the Japanese Men's National Team, the Women's National A and B squad and Hofstra participating. Coach Tierney spoke for more than three minutes to the crowd of approximately 4,000.

An elementary school band provided pregame music and we thought it was really cool when they played the respective national anthems. Formal pregame introductions had an NCAA Championship Tournament feel.

As expected, the game itself was exciting and a battle. The Japanese National Team was very good and will turn some heads at the next World Championships. You can see that they work hard for excellence. It was a spirited and exciting game and we came out with a hard-fought, 11-10 victory. What a surprise-the Pride was involved in another one-goal decision!

Senior Mike DeNapoli was named the Most Valuable Player and received a special presentation. He also addressed the crowd and thanked them for the award and their support of the game of lacrosse.

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! Don't mess with THUNDERDOME!, Japan!

Also, Hofstra went to go see sumo wrestling and visited Tokyo Disney. The first item sounds like they're trying to learn face-off technique; the second item I didn't even know was a thing.