Cox, Foote and Baker Earn NLC Honors

DAVIDSON, N.C. – After leaving Howard University with one of the most decorated lacrosse careers in the history of the program, senior Desiree Cox was named to the National Lacrosse Conference Second-Team All-Conference.

Last year Cox was name the NLC Attacker of the Year and compiled an astounding 68 goals, ranking her No. 7 in the nation. Her four goals per game average made her second-best in the country. She also posted 77 points, 26 draw controls and averaged 4.53 points per game in the 2009-10 season.

By the conclusion of the 2011 season Cox finished first on the team in goals (55), shots (126), draw controls (46) and points (57) and fourth in groundballs with 28.

Cox was also named to the 2011 NLC All-Academic Team alongside teammates Ashley Foote and Janae Baker.

To be eligible for recognition on the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must be a sophomore in class standing, carry a GPA of 3.40 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have been a starter or key reserve. Cox, Foote and Baker earned grade point averages of 3.61, 3.57 and 3.42, respectively.

 Desiree Cox

First Team All-Conference
Goalie:
Juli Liebig – Longwood
Kristen Masullo - Liberty


Defense:
Lily Graham - Davidson
Rachel Hannon - Jacksonville
Hannah Riggs - Longwood

Midfield:
Alanna Parker - Davidson
Sara Kuhlman - High Point
Ellyn Spangenberg - Jacksonville
Cara O’Brian - Longwood

Attack:

Janae  Baker

Ann Fucigna - Davidson
Grace Gaeng - High Point
Morgan Derner – Jacksonville

Second Team All-Conference
Goalie:
Karli Tobin - Jacksonville

Defense:
Erin McGuire - Davidson
Jasmine Jordan - High Point
Courtney McLaughlin - High Point

Midfield:
Emily Bossonneault – Detroit
Kaitlin Stewart – Jacksonville
Jennifer Freymond – Liberty
Jamie Beamish – Presbyterian

Ashley Foote 

Attack:
Chelsea Thompson – High Point
Desiree Cox – Howard
Kelsey Dean – Longwood
Shannon Hartford - Presbyterian

Player of the Year
Goalie: Juli Liebig – Longwood
Defense: Lily Graham – Davidson
Midfield: Cara O'Brian – Longwood
Attack: Grace Gaeng – High Point
Coach of the Year: Lyndsey Boswell – High Point

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant

VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Howard University Lacrosse Falls Short in NLC Consolation Game to Liberty, 16-13

DAVIDSON, N.C. – After dropping to Jacksonville in the National Lacrosse Conference quarterfinals, the Howard lacrosse team was awarded a consolation game where they faced the Liberty Flames. Despite fighting back from a seven-point deficit, the Lady Bison (4-13) were unable to score enough before time expired, officially ending their season with a 16-3 loss. Ironically just one year ago, the tables were turned as the Lady Bison defeated Liberty (7-11) in their final game of the 2010 season with a 17-11 victory.

Liberty got off to a 3-0 start before Cynithia Smalls got on board for the Lady Bison with 22:57 on the clock. Senior Desiree Cox added a goal while freshmanCourtland Lackey tacked on two scores in the first half.

The score was 10-4 by halftime and Howard began their offensive attack to attempt to get back in the game and went on a 5-2 run until the clock hit 10:51.

2011 Howard University LAX ROSTER

Smalls, Cox and Lackey scored in the run before Liberty scattered the third goal of the half, pushing the game to a 13-9 score. Cox scored two back-to-back goals to inch Howard within two goals, the closest that the Bison had been to Liberty's lead all game. Liberty, however, slowly pulled away with two additional goals and another in the final minutes of the game.

Lackey and senior Ashley Lawrence also scored late in the game, but it was not enough to overcome the Flames' then-15-13 lead.

Both Lackey and Cox finished with five goals a piece to led the Bison while Smalls finished with two goals and the Bison's lone assist. Lackey also led the team in groundballs with five while Cox recorded four draw controls. Both Smalls and Lackey tallied a pair of caused turnovers.

For more information on the Lady Bison lacrosse team, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Howard Lacrosse Drops to Jacksonville in NLC Quarterfinals

Saturday, Apr. 30
Howard  vs. Liberty, 9 a.m. —  Live Stats •Live Video
Jacksonville vs. Davidson, 11:30 a.m. —  Live Stats •Live Video
High Point vs. Longwood, 2 p.m. —  Live Stats •Live Video
Presbyterian vs. Detroit Mercy, 4:30 p.m. — Live Stats •Live Video

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Howard lacrosse team fell in the quarterfinals of the National Lacrosse Conference Tournament on Friday at Richardson Stadium at the hands of the Jacksonville Dolphins. Senior Desiree Cox and freshman Courtland Lackey led the Bison with three goals a piece in the 22-7 loss.

Lackey got Howard (4-12) on the board quickly with 28:55 on the clock, responding to JU’s Morgan Derner who scored in the opening seconds of the match. Jacksonville (13-4) went on to take a 13-0 run in the first half before Cox and Chastity Dailey recorded late goals. Lackey was the only member of the Bison to record an assist, giving her four points in the game to lead Howard.

Howard’s leading scorers – Lackey and Cox – each dispersed two goals in the second half helping the Lady Bison to hold their NLC opponents 7-4 after halftime. Goalkeeper Amber Meeks recorded 15 saves in the match while Dolphin’s Elizabeth Gatch recorded four.

Overall HU was outshot 46-15 and Jacksonville maintained the draw control advantage 21-10. Cox was credited with four draw controls on behalf of HU. The Lady Bison were narrowly edged in groundballs 28-19. Leading the Bison in groundballs was Sydney Satchell with five. Five members of the Lady Bison recorded a caused turnover.

The loss marked the second time the Lady Bison dropped to the Dolphins this season. The Lady Bison will face Liberty University at 9:00 a.m. Saturday in the double elimination tournament.

For more updates on the Howard lacrosse team during the offseason, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON
VISIT: NATIONALLACROSSECONFERENCE
VISIT: Howard- Website •Stats •Roster •Schedule

HU's Lackey Scores Winning Goal in Sudden Death Overtime

 Midfielder Courtland Lackey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For nearly three hours amongst 80 shots, 23 groundballs, and 38 saves the Lady Bison lacrosse team battled back and fourth with the Fresno State, ending every period in a tie, until quadruple-overtime where junior Courtland Lackey found the back of the net to give Howard (4-11, 0-7 NLC) the thrilling 19-18 win in the team’s season finale.

In the first half the Bulldogs (0-13, 0-5 MPSF) jumped off to a 4-0 run and Lackey broke their skid with Howard’s first score of the game on a free position shot. Howard went on to produce two 3-0 runs before the end of the half, pulling the Bison up to a 7-7 tie with Fresno State by the end of the first.

Senior Desiree Cox – who entered her final game inside Greene Stadium ranked No. 16 in the nation in most goals scored with 43 – included two scores in the first. Cynithia Smalls also recorded a score in the opening half. Lackey went on an offensive attack, scoring the last three goals of the half, including an unassisted bomb into the back of the net with 0:18 left before halftime.

Exploding in the second half was Smalls who posted three quick scores for the Lady Bison. With 15 minutes into the second half Howard was on a 7-1 run and notching scores alongside Smalls in the run was Lackey, Cheryse Cox, Chastity Dailey and Desiree Cox, giving Howard the 14-8 lead.

Before Howard could close out the game in regulation, the Bulldogs fought back with a 8-2 run, which included the game-tying goal by FSU’s Kara Concheck who scored with 20 seconds left in regulation, pushing the game into overtime.

The Bulldogs scored first in the overtime, but Ashley Lawrence tied the game back at 17 a piece to give the Bison life for a second overtime. Smalls scored first for the Bison in the second-overtime, but FSU answered back with another tying goal.

Going into triple-overtime the game transitioned into a sudden death, in which the first team to score would take the game. The third-overtime went scoreless courtesy of HU goalkeeper Amber Meeks who blocked three shots from entering into the net. She also made a key save in the fourth-overtime, leaving room for Lackey to make her triumphant finish. Meeks recorded four saves in the overtime series and tallied 17 total in the game.

Lackey’s game-breaking goal was her sixth in the game and marked a career-high, tying Desiree Cox for most goals scored in a single game for the Lady Bison. Lackey also led the team defensively with five caused turnovers while Sydney Satchell and Ashley Foote finished with three. Foote also garnered seven draw controls for Howard.

Desiree Cox finished with four goals, marking her eight game of the season with at least four goals. Fellow senior Ashley Lawrence scored a goal and recorded three draw controls for the Lady Bison. Cheryse Cox finished with two scores and led the team in assists with two.

With the regular 2010-11 season in the books the Howard lacrosse team will prepare for the National Lacrosse Conference Championship in Davidson, N.C. set to begin on April 28 inside Richardson Stadium. For more information on Bison lacrosse during the conference tournament, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Howard's Cox, Lackey Split 10 Goals in Final Road Game

DETROIT, MICH. – The Howard lacrosse team dropped to Detroit Mercy 20-14 in their final road game of the regular season. The Lady Bison (3-10, 0-7 NLC) was led by their top-two leading scorers – Desiree Cox andCourtland Lackey – who grossed 10 of HU's 14 goals, splitting five scores a piece.

Lackey was first to score for the Bison after the Titans (3-10, 2-5 NLC) jumped off to a 4-0 lead in the first ten minutes of play. Detroit would score two back-to-back goals before the Lady Bison rallied a trio of goals byChastity Dailey, Lackey and Cox, shortening Detroit's lead, 6-4.

Cox led another offensive attack in the final six minutes, giving HU it's first two goals in a late 4-0 run and put Howard within one goal of tying Detroit, who at this point led 9-8. Both NLC opponents traded goals until the final seconds of the half and HU trailed two goals as Detroit held the 11-9 advantage.


Videographer: HUReaction; Drew Hall Step Team - HU RestFest 2011

Although Detroit outshot the Bison 26-12 and doubled HU in groundballs (20-10), solid defensive play by Howard goalkeeperAmber Meeks helped to keep the game close as she finished the half with eight saves compared to the Titans who were held to zero.

Howard nearly matched Detroit in draw controls in the first period with 10 while the Titans finished with 11. Ashley Footesacked five draw controls in the game to lead the team. She also finished first on the team in groundballs with four and was one of five Bison to cause a turnover.

In the second half, the scoring frenzy slowed on both sides, HU was outscored by Detroit however, 5-9.

Detroit got off to another 4-0 lead before Cox chimed in with a Bison goal. Cox would score again and Lackey also scored twice in the final half. Ashley Lawrence scored Howard's 14th and final goal of the game before Detroit went on to score three more before time expired.

The Lady Bison lacrosse team will return to Greene Stadium for their season finale on Wednesday, April 20 against Fresno State at 7 p.m. For more information on the Howard lacrosse team, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Howard's Lackey Scores Three in Loss to Jacksonville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard lacrosse team returned to Greene Stadium after a six-game road campaign, marking their first National Lacrosse Conference match at home. The Lady Bison (3-10, 0-6 NLC) faced off against NLC leader Jacksonville, but were unable to overcome the Dolphin’s (11-4, 6-0 NLC) 15-goal first half lead and eventually fell 22-6.

Howard contained the NLC’s No. 1 team in the opening minutes of the game as the Dolphins scattered only two scores in the first ten minutes of play. HU surrendered the draw control advantage (12-5), allowing Jacksonville to score 13 additional goals by the end of the first.

Cynithia Smalls was the only member of the Bison to score in the first half where she sliced JU’s 8-goal run.

Senior Desiree Cox was shutout of the first half and attempted to score within the final minutes, but was unable to convert her two shots into points on the board.

After JU scored two early goals in the second, the control of the game transitioned into the hands of the Lady Bison. Until the final five minutes left in regulation, HU held Jacksonville to three goals and led 5-3 in the half.

Ashley Lawrence was the first to score for the Bison and Courtland Lackey went on to add three goals. Cheryse Cox also chimed in, nailing Howard’s fourth goal of the game.

The Dolphins would regain an offensive momentum however, and went on a 4-0 run in the final two minutes, concluding the game at 22-6.



Howard tallied 12 groundballs compared to JU’s seven but were outshot, 39-16. Ashley Foote led Howard with seven groundballs while Lackey led with five shots.

Up next the Lady Bison will take on Detroit Mercy for their final away game on April 16 at noon before returning back to Greene Stadium for the season finale against Fresno State at 7 p.m. For more information on the Howard lacrosse team, visit www.howard-bison.com.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University

VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Six HU Bison Score in 17-7 Win over Wilmington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After splitting four games at Greene Stadium over the course of the season, the Howard lacrosse team looked to sack their third consecutive win at home against Wilmington (Del.) on March 9. The match marked Wilmington’s (1-2) third match of their regular season and they too were hoping to capitalize on another consecutive win, however, Howard (3-3) would be the team to come out on top, stretching their winning streak to three games, as they defeated Wilmington, 17-7.

The Bison found a fluid rhythm, racking in seven goals in the first half. Six members of the Bison tallied goals in the win, while senior Desiree Cox finished with seven goals and a game-leading two assists. Behind Cox in scoring was Cynithia Smalls with three goals, Cheryse Cox and Tynes Taylor with two, and Ashley Lawrence with one.

Cox exploded in the early minutes of the game with three quick scores after charging down the field and dodging multiple defenders with ease. Cox added two more goals before the close of the half.

Following halftime Wilmington picked up momentum after Howard gave their opponent a goal where a Howard defender mistakenly flipped the ball into the net with the intention of passing it to goalie Amber Meeks on a scramble in the box. Wilmington’s Danielle Niccoli shortly after scored their fourth goal on a free position shot.

Howard quickly regained control of the game with three goals of their own, extending their lead, 11-4.

Defensively, Howard kept Wilmington off balance, limiting their opponents to a mere 24.1 shooting percentage (7-29). Meanwhile Howard boasted a 65.4 shooting percentage, scoring 17 goals on 26 shots. Meeks recorded an astounding 15 saves and allowed only four shots to get into the net, marking the fewest points scored by an opponent thus far into the season.

Up next the Lady Bison will travel to meet St. Francis (Pa.) on March 13 in hopes of claiming their first win on the road and fourth consecutive win. Visit Howard-Bison.com for more updates on the Howard lacrosse team.

Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
Visit: howard-bison.com

Howard Bison Lacrosse Cruises to Second Straight Win

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard Bison lacrosse team captured their second consecutive win after defeating Frostburg State, 12-8 in a game grounded on solid defense.

After melting seven minutes off the clock, junior Cheryse Cox positioned her sister and fellow teammate Desiree Cox to score the opening goal of the game. Three minutes later Cheryse garnered her first goal of the game on a free position shot.

Howard (2-3) concluded the first half leading FSU (1-3), 6-5.

Howard University Women's Lacrosse Team is the first LAX Team to be fielded
by any Historical Black College or University.  The Division I Bison Lacrosse are
members of the National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) and are coached by
 Coach Sarah Schermerhorn
(2011 Team Photo courtesy of Howard University Athletics)

Upon returning from halftime, Cynthia Smalls recorded a speedy goal with 29:35 on the clock. Several goals scored on free position shots allowed the Bison to push further to the forefront with a 10-6 lead. Howard maintained their lead for the remainder of the game and allowed their opponents a mere three scores in the second period.

Desiree led the Bison in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with four goals while Cheryse recorded three goals. The Cox sisters, together, have scored 30 of Howard’s 51 goals this season. Desiree also holds an impressive .800 shot-on-goal percentage.

Smalls and Courtland Lackey added to the win over Frostburg State with two goals apiece. Ashley Lawrence also scored a goal and defensively led the Bison with three caused turnovers. Currently, the Bison lead their opponents in caused turnovers, 46-44.

Bison goalie Amber Meeks held FSU to a .276 shooting percentage, recorded 15 saves and held their opponents to the fewest points allowed in a single game thus far into the 2010-11 season.

The Bison will look to extend their winning streak to three games on March 9 when they take on Wilmington (Del.) at 3 p.m. at Greene Stadium. Visit Howard-Bison.com for more updates on the Howard lacrosse team.

Box Score         HU Women's Lacrosse Roster

NEXT GAME: Wednesday, March 9, 3:00 PM, Greene Stadium, Howard University, Washington, D.C., Bison vs. Wilmington University Wildcats

By Tiffany White
Sports Information Assistant
Visit: Howard-Bison.com

Desiree Cox Scores Winning Goal in HU Overtime Thriller

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior Desiree Cox lifted the Howard women’s lacrosse team to their first win of the season with the game-winning in an overtime thriller against the Marywood University Pacers. Cox’s six goals helped push the Bison to their 15-14 win.

The Bison flew to an early 5-0 lead over the Pacers before eventually allowing four unanswered goals. Howard would regain control and never let up their lead and ensued to score four additional quick goals in the second half.

Howard Bison Midfielder Desiree Cox

In the later part of the second period, however, Marywood’s Kimberly Commisso took advantage of a free position shot and inched Marywood within a goal of Howard’s 11-10 lead. Cox immediately responded with a goal to push Howard back up, 12-10.

A critical point in the final minutes of the game came when freshman Imani McLeary sacked her second yellow card, allowing Marywood another free position attempt. Marywood’s Taylor McKeown took advantage of the opportunity and successfully tied the game at 12 goals a piece with 7:12 left on the clock.

Junior Cheryse Cox garnered a free position shot of her own immediately following Marywood’s score and broke the tie to bring Howard up 13-12. Another Marywood score would bring the game back to a tie. Marywood would attempt to take the game with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, but HU’s goalie Amber Meeks garnered a crucial save in the net to send the match into overtime. Meeks would go on to finish the game with 12 saves.

Commisso jumpstarted the first overtime period with a goal, giving Marywood their first lead of the game. Desiree would have an opportunity to tie the game with a free position shot with time expired, but missed. She would rebound, however, to claim her fifth goal of the game off an assist from Cheryse. Cheryse led the Bison with two assists on the day.

Desiree would be granted another pair of chances after scoring what would have been the game-winning goal, however the point was taken away as a result of a Marywood foul. With less than a minute remaining, Desiree was allowed another free position shot, where she nailed the goal that afforded the Bison their first win of the season.

Desiree scored a season-high six goals in the game and led the Bison with 15 shots. Cheryse chimed in with thee goals on 12 total shots, while Courtland Lackey added two goals on three shots. Chastity Dailey, Ashley Lawrence, and Cynithia Smalls finished the game with a goal a piece to assist Howard in it’s highest scoring game thus far into the season.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
Visit: howard-bison.com

Division I Howard Nips Pacers in Overtime, 15-14

Washington, D.C. – Desiree Cox scored with just 23 seconds to play in the second overtime period to lift Division I Howard University to a 15-14 win over Marywood University in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Tuesday afternoon. The victory lifts the Bison's record to 2-3 on the young season while the Pacers finish their season-opening Spring Break trip with a 1-1 mark.

Howard built a 5-0 lead over the first 12:43 of Wednesday's contest before Marywood rattled off four consecutive goals to close the half and trail by a slim, 5-4 margin at the intermission. Allie Sodl started the Pacers' run with an unassisted tally at the 15:36 mark of the first half and Diana D'Achille scored just over three minutes later. Taylor McKeown netted the final two goals of the half for the Pacers.

The Bison opened the second half with a 4-0 run to reclaim a five-goal cushion at 9-4 when Courtland Lackey scored unassisted with 22:16 left on the clock. Marywood's Kimberly Commisso countered just 13 seconds later and D'Achille and McKeown followed with goals of their own to make the score 9-7 with 19:58 to play. Liz Fowler assisted on McKeown's third goal of the game to record the first point of her collegiate career.

Box Score

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Howard Bison score high in loss to Presbyterian Blue Hose

 Midfielder Desiree Cox, Hendersonville, Tenn.

WASHINGTON, DC – After failing to overcome an early 12-2 deficit, the Howard lacrosse team fell to Presbyterian, 19-9, in what was a statistically even match on Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Bison (0-3) generated their highest scoring performance on the season.

An early goal would ignite the Blue Hose with only 55 seconds chipped off the clock. Presbyterian (1-2) went on to disperse 11 more scores throughout period to secure the win. Following halftime the Bison produced their best offensive stance of the season, as they battled back to generate a 5-0 opening lead.

Leading the Bison for the third consecutive game in scoring was senior Desiree Cox, who was a part of four goals, scoring three and assisting one. Headlining alongside the senior midfielder was her younger sister Courtney Cox who snagged three goals of her own on the day. The freshman’s triple-scoring day pushed her to second on the team in goals (4) behind her sister who leads the Bison with seven.

Courtney Lackey also added to Howard’s successful offensive putout with a pair of goals and Taylor Tynes also chimed in with a score.

Howard kept it even with Presbyterian in the latter half of the game at seven goals a piece. HU would produce 15 shots in the second half, three more than PC, marking the first time this season that the Bison were able to outshoot an opponent in a half.



Presbyterian finished with a 20-9 advantage in draw control, but the Bison limited PC to only 30 shots, the lowest an opponent committed against Howard all season. Howard finished with 26 shots in all and junior goalkeeper Amber Meeks finished the game with nine saves as did the Blue Hose.

The Howard Bison will look to take their first win of the season on Tuesday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m. against Marywood at home.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Link: Howard University Athletics

Coming Friday/April 4th on PBS: Morgan (State) Lacrosse Story

Photo: Morgan State University's 1975 Lacrosse Team -'Ten Bears'

INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY FOR PBS: 'THE MORGAN LACROSSE STORY'

View Movie Trailer for The Morgan Lacrosse Story: Click on Blog Title Above.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story, is slated to air nationally on PBS April 4th at 10 pm. The film chronicles the rise of the country’s first and only college lacrosse team at a historically black university--Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. .....Produced by Luke David.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story will begin airing on public television (PBS) on April 4th at 10:00 PM. Contact your local PBS station to find out when it will be aired locally.

This Documentary Brings Alive the Legacy of the First and Only College Lacrosse Team at a Historically Black Institution in the 1970's.

WASHINGTON, DC - College lacrosse was at the center of a significant storm in the early 1970's, a riveting story that is coming into full view for the first time on television with The Morgan Lacrosse Story, a new documentary film for PBS. An accounting of the first and only college lacrosse team at a prestigious and historically black institution, Baltimore's Morgan State University.

When a young white administrator reluctantly accepted the position of head lacrosse coach at Baltimore’s Morgan State University, a six-year journey culminating in a shocking upset began. The Bears’ solidarity and determination to succeed changed the sport of lacrosse forever, even as they played in a racially charged period in our nation’s history — the early 1970s.

An emotionally-charged film that deals with issues of race and class during the Civil Rights Era, The Morgan Lacrosse Story uses the official team sport of Maryland as a vehicle to tackle complicated issues, and to honor the legacy of a groundbreaking team who would eventually pull off one of the greatest upsets in intercollegiate sports history.

By introducing viewers to the courageous individuals who made this important part of history and allowing them to tell their stories directly, this highly dynamic one hour documentary film connects the audience to the real emotions of their experience.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story was deeply inspired by the book Ten Bears, co-written by Chip Silverman, the team's coach, and Miles Harrison Jr.

"It's rare to get the chance to work on something that you want to be a part of, a legacy worth preserving," David says. "Once I became aware of this story, there was no way I was going to let it go, or leave it in someone else's hands.

"With the archival resources that Chip had available, we knew we had to get things moving right away while everything was still intact. The real hook came once I started meeting the players and I realized how compelling they were as individual characters, let alone the civil rights backdrop of what they accomplished."

The Morgan Lacrosse Story is set in Baltimore, but the themes contained within quickly reveal themselves to be universal. The events of the team's formation and rise to prominence are re-told by the players themselves, and examined in historical context by thoughtful and informed narration by Wendell Pierce from HBO's "The Wire".

In addition, hundreds of photographs from the collections of Silverman and his players have been gathered for the film, as well as newspaper clippings from almost every game they played.

Through the prism of a sport infused with the spirituality of its Native American roots, the Morgan Lacrosse Story shows how this determined group harnessed the power of the game to change the college landscape forever.

"This is a positive story," Luke David concludes. "So many stories about race relations have a sour ending or feel hopeless, but here there's a resolution and a spiritual element. I hope people take the time to watch it, absorb the material and realize that things aren't always as inclusive as we think they are, but with courage things can be different and better."

-------------
I expect this documentary to be as good as "Black Magic" was last month and it's definitely worth your time to watch and learn about the rich sports history of HBCUs during this era.

-beepbeep McDonald

On Chip Silverman: Ailing ex-coach made lasting mark on lacrosse at Morgan State

Even as he lies on a hospice bed with cancer, Chip Silverman perks up when he hears his fiancee, Gail Wolven, answer questions about his days as Morgan State's lacrosse coach. Silverman, 65, has been flooded with visits, phone calls and text messages from former players since he was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma Oct. 5.

The cancer has spread through his body, but Silverman is strong in spirit. He speaks barely above a whisper. "The turnout has been great," Silverman said of the players' response. "It's amazing. I've been blown away by it. I know it's my time."

But Silverman has been more than just a lacrosse coach. He has been the head of the state drug commission and authored several books, including Ten Bears, which he co-wrote with Dr. Myles Harrison Jr., and Diner Guys. He also is an accomplished photographer.

PLEASE CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING ON BLOG TITLE.

READ MORE ON THE MORGAN LACROSSE DOCUMENTARY FILM AND VIEW PREVIEW TRAILER: http://meacswacsports.blogspot.com/2008/03/morgan-state-bears-lacrosse-story.html