Dave Pietramala

At the 11th hour, the International Lacrosse Federationlegislated against the United States.At its meeting in Hong Kong last Sunday -- the final day of tryouts for the U.S. men's team that will compete in next year's World Championships -- the ILF voted to reduce rosters from 26 to 23. Lacrosse Foundation executive director Steve Stenersen called from Hong Kong to notify the U.S. coaches."

The Johns Hopkins lacrosse program has always considered "tradition" to be the best part of its sales pitch when wooing high school recruits. But the school doesn't mind admitting that even the grandest traditions can use a little updating as time goes by. That's why the school announced Tuesday that it plans to build a $10 million, 14,000-square foot lacrosse facility on the south end of Homewood Field that will serve as the home for its...

There has been plenty of speculation that Johns Hopkins won't make the NCAA lacrosse tournament, but I don't see that happening. As long as the Blue Jays (8-5) beat Army this weekend, they'll get in. Remember, this is still Hopkins we're talking about here. The Hopkins name is synonymous with the sport. The Blue Jays have some lightweights on the schedule, but they still play Maryland, Navy, Loyola, North Carolina, Syracuse and Princeton. That's a very tough schedule. This might be a "down" year for Hopkins, but the Blue Jays will rebound.

Johns Hopkins' 11-10 overtime win against Virginia vaulted the Blue Jays to the top of many polls and rankings. But being No. 1 is not something that is weighs on the players or coaches, according to coach Dave Pietramala. “It doesn't matter,” he said Wednesday. “You could pick a lot of teams for No. 1. UMass is 8-0, Loyola is 8-0. Part of that is just where you were ranked originally. I would tell you that being No. 1 doesn't mean anything right now.” Johns Hopkins (8-0)

Senior faceoff specialist Mike Poppleton will be a game-time decision for No. 12 Johns Hopkins' showdown with No. 4 North Carolina on Saturday. Poppleton, who has won 70.9 percent (100 of 141) of his draws this season, left Saturday's 15-8 victory over No. 13 Virginia with an unspecified injury shortly after winning four of six  faceoffs and scoring once. Poppleton did not return, and coach Dave Pietramala said a decision on Poppleton won't be made until Saturday. “He's good,” Pietramala said.

Rob Guida ended an eight-game absence from an unspecified injury by resuming his starting role in No. 15 Johns Hopkins' 7-4 victory over No. 4 Maryland at Byrd Stadium in College Park on Saturday. But there was a price he paid. By returning, the junior midfielder eliminated the idea of sitting out the remainder of the season and applying for a medical redshirt, which would have added another year of eligibility. Instead, he will finish out the three remaining games on the schedule and then have a final year of eligibility in 2014.

The Tewaaraton Foundation has named former Johns Hopkins lacrosse player, coach and athletic director Bob Scott as the recipient of the 2013 Spirit of Tewaaraton Award. Scott will be honored May 30 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. The Spirit of Tewaaraton is presented to an individual who has contributed to the sport of lacrosse in a way that reflects the values and mission of the Tewaaraton Award. Past recipients include former Maryland men's coach Dick Edell, former Loyola College women's coach Diane Geppi-Aikens, Baltimore native A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard and former Maryland player and longtime Cornell coach Richie Moran.

Johns Hopkins has several memorable rivalries with peers like Maryland, Virginia and Princeton. But when the Blue Jays and Syracuse - two programs that captured a combined 20 national championships - meet as they will this Saturday, there's an elevated sense of excitement around the Johns Hopkins campus in Baltimore. “It obviously is a little bit different,” junior midfielder John Ranagan said Tuesday. “We try to approach every game like it's the biggest game of the year.

No. 5 Johns Hopkins, which opened its men's lacrosse season Friday night with a 14-3 victory against Manhattan, did so without senior attackman Chris Boland , who sat out after violating an unspecified team rule. Asked whether there is a timetable for Boland's return, coach Dave Pietramala said: "No. That's something between Chris and our coaching staff, and it's an internal thing." Boland, a Jessup native, was a three-time Sun All-Metro selection and three-time All-American at Boys' Latin.

Shawn Nadelen channeled his inner Tony Stewart. In the aftermath of Towson's 12-6 loss to No. 4 Johns Hopkins on Friday evening, the Tigers coach borrowed a theme expressed by Stewart - the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who said last year that he would “run over my mother to win a championship” - when asked about coaching against Dave Pietramala, who coached Nadelen in his senior year with the Blue Jays. “It's a game. It could've been my grandmother out there.