Fall Season Concludes at Georgetown, Stony Brook

by Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

Fall Ball Homes: Men | Women

It's last licks for fall ball this weekend, with a stacked slate at Georgetown and a crucial exhibition for the U.S. men's team.

Georgetown Fall Invitational

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Site: Multi-Sport Field, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Lax fax: Free admission. More at guhoyas.com.
Who’s in: Florida, Georgetown, James Madison, Louisville, Maryland

Why you should go:
This will most likely be your final chance to get your college lacrosse fix in before the spring. You’ll be able to see each team play a few times and return home in time to escort your favorite trick-or-treaters around the neighborhood. “Every team competing will be playing their best fall ball of the season,” said Georgetown head coach Ricky Fried. “They will have had over a month of playing together by then.” Georgetown and Maryland will excite the local fans, while Louisville coach Kellie Young will get to draw against her old team, JMU. Florida returns to a region from which it plucked many sought-after recruits. If you get a few extra moments, tour the gorgeous Georgetown campus that overlooks the picturesque Potomac River.

First impressions:
Wherever they go this season, the Gators will showcase a full team of newcomers, and a talented corps at that. UF midfielder Caroline Chesterman is a transfer from UVA that will undoubtedly add leadership to the young squad. Georgetown midfielder Sophia Thomas has her head coach excited to show her off. “She had a phenomenal senior year (in high school) and is tenacious on both sides of the field,” said Fried. JMU midfielder Jess Giles comes into her freshman campaign also highly touted. At Mount Hebron (Md.), she was selected All-Metro and All-Howard County by The Washington Post. The Terps also bring in an impressive freshman class, headlined by midfielder Katie Schwarzmann.

U.S. Men's Training Team Exhibition

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m.
Site: Lavalle Stadium, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Lax fax: US Lacrosse member discount. Purchase tickets here.
Who’s in: USA Blue, USA White

Why you should go:
Who's in and who's out? Judging from the U.S. training team's performance against Navy, Maryland and Virginia two weeks ago, there are probably more players on the bubble than there are locks, as head coach Mike Pressler and his staff try to whittle down 41 of the nation's best players to the 23 they'll bring to Manchester next summer.“ The toughest call right out of the box is three goalies,” Pressler said of Brian Dougherty, Adam Fullerton and Mickey Jarboe, all of whom shined at times Sunday. “One of the three is not going to join us, and that’s going to be difficult."

First impressions:
If this crop of players has not impressed you yet, you're on the wrong Web site.