Area college lacrosse coaches like Towson?s Tony Seaman, Maryland-Baltimore County?s Don Zimmerman and Johns Hopkins? Dave Pietramala are excited about the opportunity to play against other teams in Saturday?s ninth annual Price Modern Lacrosse for Leukemia Fall Invitational Tournament at St. Paul?s School.
Even more important for the coaches, though, is being a part of an event that raises money for a great cause while teaching their players a valuable lesson about life.
“This event is a great way to see how our freshman and sophomores look and where we are as a team against some of the best teams in the country,” Seaman said. “But the greater goal here is to help the community and show the players there are things out there far more important than lacrosse.”
This year?s event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with each team playing two exhibition games. The cost is $5 per person, and a carload pays no more than $20. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Maryland chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Along with the three Baltimore-area schools, other participants include North Carolina, Washington College, Penn State, Mount St. Mary?s, Albany, St. John?s, Air Force, Villanova, Butler, Binghamton, Quinnipiac and Rutgers to make up the tournament?s largest field to date.
In all, event organizers said that after Saturday, the tournament likely will have raised more than $800,000 for the charity since 1998. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, more than 785,000 U.S. citizens have blood cancers.
“The No. 1 priority in an event like this is to focus on doing something for a great cause,” Zimmerman said. “While this a great way to compete against players in another jersey, this is more about helping others.”
Zimmerman said, to him, the best part of the tournament, which doesn?t keep official results, is getting the chance to interact with the honorary captains for each team. Those individuals are youngsters that have survived or are currently receiving treatment for a blood cancer. There will be a ceremony in the middle of the day to honor those captains.
Lacrosse for leukemia
» When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m.
» Where: St. Paul?s School
» Cost: $5 per person, not more than $20 per carload
» Did you know? Games will be 20-minute running quarters, and no official scores will be kept ? Gates open at 8 a.m. ? Some of the featured games include Syracuse vs. Towson (8:30 a.m.), Johns Hopkins vs. North Carolina (10:10) and UMBC vs. Villanova (2:30).
