Massachusetts Lacrosse Player Aidan Kaminska Dies at Age 19
Jun 2, 2022
EAST HARTFORD, CT - MAY 28: A lacrosse stick lies on the field following the completion of the NCAA Division I Mens Lacrosse Semifinals game between the Maryland Terrapins and Princeton Tigers on May 28, 2022, at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Terrapins defeated the Tigers 13-8. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The University of Massachusetts Amherst
announced the death of Aidan Kaminska, a player on its men's lacrosse team, on Wednesday. He was 19.
Kathy Reakes of the Suffolk Daily Voice
reported Kaminska "died suddenly" on Monday at his family's home
in Port Jefferson, New York. A cause of death was not released.
Kaminska played football and lacrosse
at Port Jefferson High School. He set a Long Island high school record by recording 17 receptions in a game for the Royals, per Reakes.
"The district was informed of the
sudden passing of one of our alumni from the Class of 2020, Aidan
Kaminska," Port Jefferson superintendent Jessica Schmettan wrote in
a letter Tuesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the former
student's friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult
time."
He didn't play for the Minutemen during
his true freshman season in 2021, but he was voted to the Colonial Athletic
Association's All-Rookie Team after a 2022 campaign in which he scored
nine goals in six games.
Kaminska scored a hat trick in his
final game, a loss to Towson in the CAA tournament semifinals on May
5.
"The Massachusetts athletics
department extends condolences to Aidan's family, friends, teammates
and coaches. University resources are available for members of the
UMass community to utilize during this challenging time," the
school's statement read.
Suffolk County Police haven't announced any details related to Kaminska's death.
NCAA Lacrosse Championship 2022: Maryland Beats Cornell to Complete Perfect Season
May 30, 2022
Maryland attack Anthony DeMaio (16) celebrates his goal against Cornell during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
The No. 1 Maryland Terrapins defeated the No. 7 Cornell Big Red 9-7 in the 2022 NCAA men's lacrosse championship on Monday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, for their first title since 2017 and fourth in school history.
The win pushed Maryland's record to 18-0 and they became the 13th team in NCAA men's lacrosse history to complete a perfect season.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ @TerpsMLax completes the 18-0 season with a 9-7 win over @CornellLacrosse. pic.twitter.com/YrrN3Nb1qS
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 30, 2022
The Terrapins got out to an impressive start despite giving up the first goal of the game on a shot from Cornell's CJ Kirst with 7:28 left in the first period. Maryland bounced back when Eric Malever came around from behind the net to tie the game 1-1 with 5:47 left in the first.
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 30, 2022
Following Malever's goal, Maryland went on to score four consecutive goals, inflating their lead to 5-1 with 13 minutes remaining in the second period. Anthony DeMaio scored three of those goals before finding Owen Prybylski in transition for the team's fifth tally.
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 30, 2022
Kirst responded with his second goal of the game with 11:49 remaining in the second period to cut Maryland's lead to 5-2, but the Terrapins added two more goals from DeMaio and Logan Wisnauskas to take a 7-2 lead into halftime.
We know @mikegolicjr loves mayo. But what about DeMaio???
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 30, 2022
While Maryland started the second half with two quick goals from Wisnauskas and Jonathan Donville, the Terrapins' momentum faded and they allowed the Big Red to get back into the game when Aiden Blake scored with 4:34 remaining in the third period to make it 9-3.
Wisnauskas on ๐ฏ@TerpsMLax leads 9-2 and all of their goals have been assisted.
Cornell dominated the fourth period, outscoring Maryland 4-0 on goals from Michael Long, Hugh Kelleher, Spencer Wirtheim and John Piatelli, but the Big Red's comeback fell short as they couldn't overcome the big first half from the Terps.
Michael Long nets one in for the Big Red โผ๏ธ@CornellLacrosse's looking to rally in the fourth ๐ช
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 30, 2022
Maryland goaltender Logan McNaney essentially won the game for his team as he remained solid through Cornell's fourth-period onslaught. He made 17 saves on 40 shots and made a number of key saves in the final minutes of Monday's game.
It was the perfect end to a perfect season for the Terrapins, who dominated each of their opponents en route to the championship game, defeating Vermont, Virginia and Princeton in the NCAA tournament before holding off Cornell for the title.
NCAA Lacrosse Championship 2022: Maryland vs. Cornell Schedule, Preview
May 29, 2022
Cornell attack Michael Long, second from right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Rutgers during the second half of an NCAA college lacrosse semifinal game, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse National Championship Game finally has its competitors, with the seventh-seeded Cornell Big Red set to take on the top-seeded Maryland Terrapins at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, May 30.
The Big Red had a dominant performance against the sixth-seeded Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Final Four on Saturday to punch their ticket to the championship game for the first time since 2009.
The Terrapins had a similarly impressive outing against the fifth-seeded Princeton Tigers in the Final Four to get back to the championship game for the second straight season and third time since 2017.
Cornell and Maryland haven't met since the quarterfinals of the 2018 NCAA tournament. The Terrapins knocked the Big Red out of the tournament that year with a 13-8 win to reach the national title game.
Maryland owns a 15-5-1 record all-time against Cornell.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2022 national championship game.
Where: Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut
When: Monday at 1 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN2
Men's Final Four Scores
(7) Cornell def. (6) Rutgers 17-10
(1) Maryland def. (5) Princeton 13-8
Cornell's Road to the Championship Game
Cornell has impressed throughout this year's tournament, though the team didn't face much of a test in the first round against Ohio State, defeating the Buckeyes 15-8.
The Big Red had a much more difficult time with Delaware in the quarterfinals. Both teams were tied 7-7 through the first three quarters of last Saturday's matchup, and Cornell rallied for three goals in the fourth quarter to defeat the Fightin' Blue Hens 10-8.
In the semifinals, Cornell dominated sixth-seeded Rutgers for a 17-10 victory to move to 14-4. It was a continuation of what has been an impressive offensive showing for the Big Red in the tournament.
That said, Cornell has been solid offensively throughout the 2021-22 campaign. John Piatelli, the team's leading scorer, has tallied 65 goals this season, which includes a five-goal outing against Rutgers on Saturday. In addition, CJ Kirst has notched 53 goals, and the Big Red have three other players who have tallied at least 22 goals this year.
Cornell goaltender Chayse Ierlan, though, will need to be much better against top-seeded Maryland in the championship game. The senior has a 11.07 goals-against average this year and a .527 save percentage.
The Terrapins are averaging 17.3 goals per game in this tournament and are lethal offensively. If Ierlan can't step up, the championship game could be grueling for the Big Red.
Cornell has not won an NCAA title since 1977. A win would mark its fourth victory in the national title game.
Maryland's Road to the Championship Game
The top-seeded Terrapins have cruised through the NCAA tournament and will be the favorite against the seventh-seeded Big Red.
Maryland opened the tournament with a massive 21-5 victory over Vermont, which was highlighted by a nine-goal second quarter. It went on to defeat Virginia 18-9 in the quarterfinals.
The semifinals brought more of a test for the Terrapins as the Princeton Tigers were down just 7-4 at halftime, but Maryland went on to score six goals in the second half to reach the championship game with another dominant outing.
While both Cornell and Maryland have boasted explosive offenses, the Terrapins will have the upper hand offensively in the title game.
Logan Wisnauskas, Maryland's leading scorer, entered the semifinals with 55 goals. However, he's not the only player who has contributed significantly on offense this year as both Keegan Khan and Owen Murphy entered Saturday's Final Four with 32 goals.
The Terrapins have six players with at least 25 goals this season and 11 players who have reached double digits in scoring.
In addition, Maryland has also received solid goaltending from both Logan McNaney and Drew Morris. McNaney has posted a 8.64 goals-against average and .575 save percentage, while Morris has posted a 13.08 goals-against average and .544 save percentage.
Maryland's combination of offense and goalkeeping prowess will make this incredibly difficult for Cornell in Monday's championship game.
If the Terrapins win the title, it will be their first since 2017 and fourth overall.
Prediction: Maryland def. Cornell 16-9
Delaware State Women's Lacrosse 'Incensed' at 'Traumatizing' Bus Search by GA Police
May 11, 2022
PROVIDENCE, RI - MAY 08: A general view of lacrosse sticks on the sideline during halftime of the Ivy League Tournament championship college lacrosse game between the Pennsylvania Quakers and the Yale Bulldogs on May 8, 2022, at Stevenson-Pincince Field in Providence, RI. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Liberty County (Georgia) Sheriffโs Office deputies stopped a bus carrying the Delaware State women's lacrosse team home on April 20, claiming that bus driver Tim Jones was "improperly traveling in the left lane," per Kevin Tresolini of the Delaware News Journal.
However, the team said the deputies then searched their personal belongings below the bus for narcotics, raising questions about why the traffic stop and search were initiated. Members of the team and its staff said they believe they were racially profiled during what they characterized as a "traumatizing" experience.
The Hornets played Stetson University in DeLand, Florida on April 19 to end their 2022 season. The next day, Delaware State traveled north to head home to Dover.
Along the way, they were stopped by police as first recounted by sophomore lacrosse player Sydney Anderson in a May 4 article for TheHornet Newspaper, DSU's student publication.
Per Anderson, police officers boarded the bus and said that they would be checking their luggage for narcotics, which appears to be confirmed in a video she posted on YouTube.
"If there is anything in y'all's luggage, we're probably gonna find it. I'm not looking for a little marijuana, but I'm pretty sure you guys' chaperones probably gonna be disappointed if we find any," an officer is seen saying.
"... If there is something in there that is questionable, please tell me now because if we find it, guess what? Weโre not gonna be able to help you."
Anderson explained what occurred afterward:
The officers instructed Mr. Jones to open the bus trunk, as they proceeded to go through the ladies personal belongings. Everyone was confused as to why they were looking through the luggage, when there was no probable cause. The team members were in shock, as they witnessed the officers rambling through their bags. They brought the K-9 dog out to sniff their luggage. The cops began tossing underwear and other feminine products, in an attempt to locate narcotics.
Every time the students turned their heads, more officers appeared at the scene. The cops kept doubling, as they went from two to six officers. They checked bags for 20 minutes, then explained it was necessary, in case of child trafficking or drugs.
DSU president Tony Allen wrote a letter to the school community and said he reached out to Delaware Gov. John Carney, the state Attorney Generalโs office, Delawareโs congressional delegation and the Congressional Black Caucus.
"They, like me, are incensed," Allen wrote. "We have also reached out to Georgia Law Enforcement and are exploring options for recourseโlegal and otherwiseโavailable to our student-athletes, our coaches, and the university."
Pamella Jenkins, the team's head coach, also commented Monday:
The infuriating thing was the assumption of guilt on their [deputies'] behalf. That was what made me so upset because I trust my girls.
One of my student-athletes asked them 'How did we go from a routine traffic stop to narcotics-sniffing dogs going through our belongings?' The police officer said that on this stretch of highway there are a lot of buses that are smuggling people and narcotics and they have to be diligent.'
Anderson noted in her article that the search was "traumatic" for the team and noted the "underlying racism" the team said it endured on that day:
The fact of the matter is the underlying racism the Delaware Womenโs lacrosse team endured. The officers tried to get them to admit to having drugs, while there was none in their possession. The officers conducted an unlawful search because there was no probable cause. Majority of the team members had never experienced an encounter with the police, making this a traumatic incident for them.
Eventually, the deputies allowed the team to go, per Jenkins. In addition, the bus driver did not receive a citation.
Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman defended the stop Tuesday, saying he did "not believe any racial profiling took place" and that "no personal items on the bus or person(s) were searched" despite numerous accounts implying otherwise.
Allen made clear in his letter that "nothing illegal was discovered in this search, and all of our coaches and student-athletes comported themselves with dignity throughout a trying and humiliating process."
DSU, which was established in 1891, is a public historically Black land-grant research university. The women's lacrosse team, which plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference, had just wrapped up a three-game road trip to end its season that included stops at Kennesaw State (Georgia) and Jacksonville University (Florida) before the year-closing Stetson matchup.
Tufts Lacrosse Player Madie Nicpon Dies After Choking During Hot Dog Eating Contest
Oct 21, 2021
Lacrosse balls sit on the sidelines of the field before a Premier Lacrosse League game between the Redwoods and the Chrome, Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. The Redwoods won 14-11. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Madelyn Nicpon, a lacrosse player at Tufts University, died on Sunday at the age of 20.
Per Nancy Haggerty of the Westchester Journal News, authorities confirmed that Nicpon choked during a hot dog eating contest on Saturday.
Nicpon fell unconscious at a charity fundraiser event and first responders performed "extensive life-saving procedures." She was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where she died the following day.
The Tufts' lacrosse team posted a message on Instagram in remembrance of Nicpon:
Scooter was a true friend and teammate. She truly valued her relationships with her teammates and coaches. Her reach was far beyond our teamโshe was a true connector on campus and touched every single person she met. She has and will continue to inspire us every day. We should all strive to live life a little bit more like Scooter didโa person that valued love, loyalty, compassion and friendship.
According to Nicpon's obituary, she was studying pre-med at Tufts in order to become a pediatrician.
Nicpon was in her third year at the school. She appeared in four games with the lacrosse team over the previous two seasons.
Prior to attending college at Tufts University, Nicpon graduated from Suffern High. She played field hockey and ran indoor track and field, in addition to playing lacrosse, as a high schooler.
NCAA Lacrosse Championship 2021: Virginia Holds off Maryland's Late Rally, Wins Title
May 31, 2021
EAST HARTFORD, CT - MAY 31: Maryland Terrapins attacker Logan Wisnauskas (12) runs against Virginia Cavaliers defender Jared Connors (28) as goalie Alex Rode (38) waits during the Division I Mens Lacrosse Championship held at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field on May 31, 2021 in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Larry French/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The Virginia Cavaliers survived a furious late comeback bid by the Maryland Terrapins, winning the NCAA Lacrosse Championship on Monday, 17-16.
Connor Shellenberger and Matt Moore led the Cavaliers, each posting four goals and two assists in the victory, while Jeff Conner notched three goals and an assist.
Virginia took a 16-11 lead with just over 11 minutes in the game before Maryland stormed back, cutting the deficit to one with only 11 seconds remaining. Maryland won the preceding faceoff, and Luke Wierman had an open shot on goal just before time expired, but Virginia goalie Alex Rode made the clutchest of clutch saves, preserving the title for the Cavs.
With the win, Virginia defended its 2020 national championship and won its ninth national title overall.
After the game, Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany had nothing but praise for Rode's efforts in goalโhe had 12 savesโdespite Maryland putting 16 on the board:
He is a fantastic goalie every day. The rest of the country just gets to see it mostly in April and May. He steps up big. It's funny, I just talked to him. He said, 'I just won a national championship and I sucked.' I was like, 'No, no, you were solid!' He wants to make 15-20 saves a game, and he thinks he should make more saves. But they're too talented, Maryland just brings too much good heat."
Rode's final heroics and Virginia's efficient offensive display spoiled a monster performance from Maryland's Logan Wisnauskas (five goals, one assist, 10 shots).
Jared Bernhardt (two goals, three assists) and Kyle Long (one goal, three assists) had strong performances for the Terrapins as well, who nearly pulled off an epic comeback in the final quarter.
Anthony DeMaio would like to let everyone know THE TERPS ARE STILL IN THIS!!
Virginia's bid to repeat as champions after winning the title in 2019 was put on hold last year after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 campaign. The repeat may have been delayed, but it's hard to imagine the Cavaliers finally getting it in a more dramatic or memorable fashion.
NCAA Lacrosse Tournament 2021: Semifinal Bracket, Schedule After Quarterfinal Results
May 23, 2021
Duke's Joe Robertson celebrates after scoring against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college Division 1 championship semi-final lacrosse game in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Joe Robertson scored in overtime to
help No. 2 seed Duke overcome an upset bid from Loyola during
Sunday's quarterfinals in the 2021 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship.
Maryland and Notre Dame also went to overtime before Anthony DeMaio scored the winner for the Terrapins in the day's second quarterfinal.
North Carolina and Virginia previously
advanced to the semifinals during Saturday's action. Let's check out
all of the latest tournament information followed by a recap of
Sunday's play.
Sunday's Quarterfinal Results
(2) Duke d. Loyola; 10-9 (OT)
(3) Maryland d. (6) Notre Dame; 14-13 (OT)
Semifinal Matches (May 29)
(1) North Carolina vs. (4) Virginia
(2) Duke vs. (3) Maryland
Day 4 Recap
Duke and Loyola traded the lead back
and forth all game, but it appeared the underdog Greyhounds were
primed to earn the program's fifth Final Four appearance with two
goals 48 seconds apart by Dan Wigley and Kevin Lindley to take a 9-8
lead with just over two minutes left in regulation.
Loyola defenseman Cam Wyers, one of the nation's best defenders, was called for an unnecessary
roughness penalty with 1:38 remaining, however, which opened the door
for Brennan O'Neill to score the tying goal for the Blue Devils 29 seconds later.
Duke's
last-second possession in regulation failed to produce the winner, which sent the teams into sudden-death overtime.
The Blue Devils earned the first
possession of overtime, but Wyers forced a turnover to put the upset
in the hands of Loyola's attackers.
They failed to convert, and Robertson,
who'd already showcased his flair for the dramatic with two overtime
goals earlier in the season, stepped up for Duke again in a crucial
spot.
"I think when the game's on the
line, that's my favorite part," Robertson told reporters. "That's
what makes it exciting. That's why athletes competeโbecause you
have a chance to lose. You'll be more upset if you didn't take a shot
than if you miss a shot or it gets saved."
His goal sent Duke to its 13th Final
Four for a chance to compete for the program's fourth national title.
Meanwhile, the day's second game looked
like a potential blowout in the making as Maryland rushed out to a
5-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Notre Dame fought back by outscoring
the Terrapins by a 6-2 margin in the second to send the game into
halftime tied at seven.
The seesaw nature of the match
continued in the second half as the Fighting Irish built a three-goal
lead early in the fourth period only for the Terps to score three
times in 46 seconds to level the contest.
After a barrage of goals throughout the game, the final 4:24 of regulation was scoreless to set up another overtime thriller. This time it was DeMaio punching his team's ticket to the penultimate round.
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 23, 2021
The NCAA tournament resumes with the
semifinals Saturday followed by the championship match in its annual
slot on Memorial Day afternoon next Monday. The Final Four will take
place at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Syracuse Lacrosse's Chase Scanlan Suspended from Athletics After Arrest
May 7, 2021
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 07: Chase Scanlan #22 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates a goal against the Colgate Raiders during the second half at the Carrier Dome on February 7, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
Syracuse University announced that men's lacrosse attackman Chase Scanlan has been suspended from the team following his arrest Friday.
Roshan Fernandez of the Daily Orange tweeted Syracuse's statement on the matter:
SU Athletics' statement following Chase Scanlan's arrest this morning, which states that he's been suspended from all athletic participation: pic.twitter.com/Mm5AGYPJD1
According to Allie Kaylor of the Daily Orange, a Syracuse Police Department spokesperson said Scanlan was arrested and charged with criminal mischief.
Per US Lacrosse Magazine, a district attorney said Scanlan is alleged to have broken a woman's phone and gotten into a physical altercation with her.
On April 29, Marnie Eisenstadt of Syracuse.com published a photo of a damaged wall at a Syracuse South Campus apartment, and it was reportedly part of the investigation into Scanlan.
According to US Lacrosse Magazine, Scanlan was originally suspended from the Syracuse lacrosse team on April 20. Kaylor noted that the suspension occurred after the university's department of public safety classified Scanlan as having been involved in a "domestic incident" on April 18.
Scanlan was reinstated on April 26, but his Syracuse lacrosse teammates reportedly threatened to walk out if he was allowed to practice with the team, so he practiced individually with a coach instead.
Scanlan, a redshirt sophomore, transferred to Syracuse after his freshman season at Loyola in 2019.
Marquette Rescinds Lacrosse Scholarship over Snapchat Post About George Floyd
Jun 2, 2020
VILLANOVA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: The Marquette Golden Eagles logo on a pair of shorts before a college basketball game against the Villanova Wildcats at the Finneran Pavilion on February 12, 2020 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Marquette University announced it has rescinded a scholarship offer to a female lacrosse player after she made insensitive remarks on Snapchat about George Floyd's killing.ย
Per Devi Shastri of theย Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel,ย Marquette spokeswoman Lynn Griffith confirmed the decision Monday:
"Following an internal review involving the Division of Student Affairs, Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and Intercollegiate Athletics, and in alignment with our Guiding Values, Marquette University has made the decision to rescind the incoming student's offer of admission and athletics scholarship, effective immediately.ย
"As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, we are called to build a nurturing, inclusive community where all people feel safe, supported, welcomed and celebrated."
Shastri noted the student's post made a comparison between kneeling to protest during the national anthem and Floyd's death:ย "Some ppl think it's ok to (expletive)ย kneel during the national anthem so it's ok to kneel on someone's head. come at me. y'all brainwashed."
Floyd, 46, was killed in Minneapolis on May 25 when police officer Derek Chauvin jammed his knee into the back of Floyd's neck after Floyd had been handcuffed and was lying on the ground on his stomach.ย
Chauvin and the three other officers at the scene were firedย May 26. Chauvin has been charged withย third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by Minnesota state prosecutors.ย
