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College Crosse Prospectus: Blaze Riorden - Box Forward

All the lax news and then some for January 14, 2017.

By Chris Jastrzembski
NCAA Lacrosse: Quarterfinals - Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Albany Great Danes Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, College Crosse Nation!! Thanks for making us a part of your day! Let’s get to the links!

A Quick Message

As some of you may have heard, the Eagles site I interned at for 7 1⁄2 months, Birds 24/7, shut down Thursday. It’s a sad time, and I enjoyed my tenure there.

I wish the best of luck for Josh Paunil and Brandon Lee Gowton, who I’ve worked with for the past few months. I’ll still be here, and I hope to continue the Birds 24/7 reporting legacy with some really good things this season.

What You Missed

Every new lacrosse program starting up in 2017.

ESPN is going to air the entire Ivy League Tournament this season!

Lacrosse The Nation

Friendly reminder for tomorrow!

Today, the US Women’s National team takes on Florida in two scrimmages, kicking off at 3 pm. Make sure you check out our Joe Keegan’s great analysis on the USA’s ‘Aces’ ride.

A great story on former Albany goaltender Blaze Riorden preparing himself for playing his preferred box lacrosse position of forward in the NLL, from Alex Beilman of Bandits.com.

It was Albany teammate Ty Thompson that introduced him to playing box lacrosse in their freshman year at school.

“He invited me down to the Reservation the summer of my freshman year,” he said. “It just so happened the junior B tryouts were going on when I was there.”

Thompson encouraged Riorden to try out as a forward, knowing that he had offensive ability and could contribute. He ended up quitting his job and played box lacrosse there for the rest of the summer.

“The first summer was a learning experience to say the least,” he said.

The lessons took well, as each summer playing for the Akwesasne Indians saw Riorden improve at the indoor game. He broke out in the 2015 playoffs, scoring 17 goals and notching 16 assists, as the Indians claimed the Founder’s Cup.

Mandatory:

Meanwhile, practices continued for teams.

Working out is also important!

The Murph Test. In honor of Lieutenant Mike Murph. We always Fight, Finish, Attack. #gobiggreen #dartmouth

A video posted by Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@dartmouthmlax) on

Some teams are taking their talents to the cameras!

GEAR!

A third generation Jasper, current head coach Drew Kelleher hopes to bring Manhattan back to lacrosse prominence, from Pete McHugh of Manhattan.edu.

Although the team won just three games in 2016, progress was evident. Parker Giarratana -- the first student-athlete Kelleher recruited to Riverdale -- led the team in scoring, was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year and one of the top 25 freshmen in the country by Inside Lacrosse. Fellow freshman Dylan DeMuro joined Giarratana on the MAAC All-Rookie Team, and sophomore goalie Michael Zingaro started all 15 games in his first full season, including a highlight-reel goalie goal. Eighteen new faces will add talent and depth to the 2017 squad.

Not only did Kelleher make the team more competitive on the field in 2016, he has quickly reconnected generations of men’s lacrosse alumni, including members of the club teams of the 1980s and more recent graduates. Kelleher has started an annual on-campus networking event with alumni from different careers and backgrounds, and current student-athletes. The events have enabled student-athletes to learn more about potential internships and job opportunities within the Jasper alumni network, while the alumni and students can share stories about playing lacrosse and establish a common bond with those who have come before them.

“There’s definitely been a concerted effort to reach out to alumni,” said Nick Silva ’04, a member of the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame who was named the MAAC Player of the Year after that 2002 championship season. “Drew and [assistant coaches] John Odierna and Andrew Hodgson have been keeping us engaged and connected with the program through emails and social media and the in-season and off-season events. That speaks volumes to alumni.”

Philly Jawns

The Sixers won their THIRD STRAIGHT GAME (five in their last six) AND THIS HAPPENED.

AND THIS!

#NBAVote Joel Embiid.

The founder of Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, Bill Morey, has died at the age of 87.

World News

Paralyzed NYPD officer Steven McDonald passed away at the age of 59.

Video of the Day

What if Kanye West made a soap opera?

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