Travis Love is a former Goalie for the Towson Tigers Men’s Lacrosse Team. From Westminster, Md. Love was a three-year varsity team captain at Winters Mill High School, where he was named All-American, Carroll County player of the year and helped lead the Falcons to 19-0 record and state championship.

The old saying about how things get sweeter with time could not be more wrong when I think about my first lacrosse stick. I have yet to see a cooler stick produced since, and if this thing was really as awesome as I remember, there will never be one. My first lacrosse stick was a bright blue, STX High-Wall, complete with soft-mesh and a painted white aluminum lacrosse shaft. This thing was a goal-scoring machine. Well, at least the way I remember it.

I was 6 years old playing on one of the Gamber Smallwood tyker teams. I am the oldest boy in my family, but recreational programs for girls hadn’t been introduced yet, so my older sister played boys lacrosse and stole my limelight. She was faster, and more skilled, and had a blonde pony-tail hanging out her helmet. I wish I could say I was embarrassed to have her on my team, but I think it was the other way around. She didn’t think I could hang, mostly because I couldn’t, but that’s beside the point. I was playing up an age group, since there wasn’t one for six year olds yet. I had a pretty deep understanding of the game for being so young though. Get the ball and throw it toward the goal. That was my whole game plan.

It took me a little while to really catch my stride. Once, I did though, I don’t think anyone would have been able to stop me if it hadn’t been the last game of the year. I remember it like it was yesterday. Our game was at Cockeysville, it was sometime in the second half of the game and I was on a fast break. (I use the term fast very liberally.) But anyway, I was barreling down the field, with the entire other team gaining on me every step I took. Right when I was about to shoot, some faster less coordinated kid tripped me from behind. I fell down and the ball squirted out in front of me past the goalie for the first goal of my illustrious career. Some may argue it was an accident, I know the truth though. My electric blue High-Wall was a machine. The best thing I can compare it to is the tuxedo from the film, “The Tuxedo” starring Jackie Chan. Even though the movie was just okay, the magical tuxedo that gave anyone that wore it special powers was an awesome storyline. My stick was something along those lines. Granted it didn’t make me run faster or jump higher, it single handedly scored the first goal of my career. It was like a reflex, or something in the sticks subconscious that slung the ball toward the net.

After that season, I had my magic wand for a couple more years before it broke during a ground ball drill of all things one cold day. I don’t remember if I ever got to say good bye. It’s one of those classic love stories where you really don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone. While I know I will never get to see it, touch it, or hold it again, the respect and love I have for that stick will live on. I will always be thankful for the times we had together. It sparked the fire that still burns today bringing me back to the game every time I get a chance.

Check out the latest vids from STX Lacrosse. See where they've been and experience where they're going with new lax gear from one of your favorite manufacturers.

Image Source: University of Maryland

Adult and Youth replicas will be available at our Kenilworth, Annapolis, Bel Air and Columbia Lax World Stores starting April 15!

Warrior Swag Slip On

This limited edition street shoe covers all of your swag needs. The slip on, hemp-based shoe is comfortable and makes for optimal chilling. While the sole is engineered for chilling on any surface.

Adrenaline Socks - J Train (Rasta)

You know what they say - inside every good shoe is a good sock - or something like that. Adrenaline socks are built to perform. Adrenaline Rasta socks are built to perform while simultaneously looking sweet.

Dynamic Rasta Lacrosse Shorts with Pockets

Who says you can't have great shorts to play in but still look stylish off the field. You already know Dynamic is the brand to turn to for awesome on-field lacrosse gear, but you also know that these hot-selling shorts look sweet off the field.

1: Join a Club Team
Find a club team from your area who participates in recruiting tournaments. These tournaments take place all summer along with a few in the fall. College coaches love to attend these tournaments. They are saturated with talent and are organized to be coaching friendly. Coaches receive rosters for each team to make it easy for note taking and recruiting. It is important that you get on a club team that is going to attend some higher profile tournaments. Coaches don’t go out of their way to watch four teams play. They like to be efficient with their time, seeing the most lacrosse possible using the least amount of gas.

2: Attend Recruiting Camps
Although some of these camps are priced ridiculously high, the attention you receive from hundreds of coaches at a time almost makes it worth it. Camps like Top 205, Hot Beds, and Blue Chip are all very high profile and receive a lot of attention from top tier programs. Some camps are by invitation only, such as Blue Chip. However, other camps that can be just as beneficial only require a recommendation from your high school lacrosse coach. In addition to serving as a great recruiting tool, these camps are about as much fun as you will ever have playing the game of lacrosse. There is one session where specific skills are worked on through drill work, and from then out it is all scrimmages. You get drafted onto a team, play a championship game, and finish the week with an all-star game. These camps are also a great opportunity to network, lax, and hang out with players from around the country.

3: Make a List
Choosing a college that seems suitable for you is extremely important. You need to do a little research before just taking any offer that comes along. Making a list is the first step in deciding what kind of atmosphere, education, and even location you want to commit four years of your life to. It is a great idea to go online, and research some schools you have thought about, heard about, and believe you have a shot at getting into and playing lacrosse. It is important that you take a look at your skill level and make an honest assessment of what you’re capable of. With that being said, do not sell yourself short. It is important to be confident and dream big. If you want to play for Hopkins Lacrosse or Duke Lacrosse, and you think you have the grades and the game, by all means include Hopkins & Duke on your list. Leave the decision up to the coaching staffs on whether or not they would like you to be a part of their program.

This list should be at least ten schools in length. After you have done your research and know these schools offer the programs you would like to major in, rank them. One through ten, one being your dream college choice and ten being a school you would be happy attending. There are hundreds of schools competing in college lacrosse these days. It is not unreasonable to have ten schools you would like to visit and/or attend.

4: Contact the Coach
After you have finalized your list, go online and find out how to get a hold of the coaches at each school. Many college lax coaches have their emails or phone numbers listed on the team website. Some coaches are a little harder to get a hold of. Do not settle for being unable to find the coaches contact information. Call the school, drive over there if it is nearby, do whatever it takes to get your name in front of him. Many schools have an information sheet available for potential recruits to fill out on their website. This will not hurt to fill out but based on experience, this is not where coaches find many recruits. So that makes your initial introduction that much more important. When you email the coach there are few things that are imperative to tell him. Let him know your name, your age, your school, what club team you play for, tournaments you will be playing in, and camps you will be attending. Let the coach know that you are interested in the school and being a part of the lacrosse tradition there. Lastly, leave him with a question. Something short and to the point works best. For example, tell him, “I would really like the opportunity to speak to you either on the telephone or in person. If you could shoot me a quick message back with your office phone number and a good time for you, I would love to formally introduce myself and chat for just a couple of minutes”.

This may or may not spark a response from the coach. If it does, make sure you call during the time slot he encouraged you to do so. If not, be persistent. Don’t be annoying, but be sure to follow up a few days later to try and make sure he saw your message and understands how interested you are in attending the college and playing lacrosse for his team.

5: Visit, Visit, Visit
Take as many visits as possible, official or unofficial. This is the best opportunity to get on campus, and get in front of the coach. This is also a great opportunity to see what the school is all about. Sometimes, a schools website can be misleading as to what campus life and the surrounding area is really like. In the end, your happiness is the number one goal, so make sure you know what you’re getting into and have experience with multiple colleges to weigh out some pros and cons.

Also, while it is nice to be invited for a visit, that is not the only way to arrange a visit. If you do get in contact with the coach in your letters, let him know that you would like to come out and check out the program and the school. Most coaches will be open to a visit of some sort. This is a great chance to make a first impression and further market yourself to the coaches and guys on the team.

We hope you found this educational and helpful in your college pursuit. Don’t expect the phone to start ringing unless you have actively made an effort to market yourself and your skills to multiple college coaches. It is a small percentage of players who just get recognized and offered scholarships without doing any extra work on their end. So be proactive, confident, and enthusiastic. Always keeping your end goal in mind, work hard at the fundamentals of the game and the rest will come.

Hopkins Lacrosse has claimed the number one seed in all the polls after an upset win against UVA in Charlottesville this weekend. Loyola and UMass remain the only other lacrosse teams currently undefeated in addition to Hopkins. Both of which lacrosse teams are ranked in the top-5 in all of the recent polls. The reigning champions Virginia, are still ranked either 2^nd or 3^rd depending on which polls you look at after their lone loss this weekend.

The biggest news of the weekend though has to be the brawl in the lacrosse game between North Carolina Lacrosse and Maryland Lacrosse.  The fight resulted in two players being ejected, one from each team and a brief clearing of the benches. If you haven’t had a chance to see the fight yet, I think it is fair to say Maryland won the battle. Unfortunately that momentum did not transpire into a victory, as UNC won the war, and got the win in their first meeting this year.

It is not surprising to see two teams playing with a little more edge in a conference game than they typically do. Playing in the conference brings out the best in players. For one, lacrosse teams are more familiar with a conference opponent than they are with other teams. That familiarity is where rivalries and vendettas are born. Players take everything personally. If a player gets out played or gets cheap-shotted in one game, you can bet the farm that the next time those teams meet it has not been forgotten.  By rule both players who were ejected in Friday’s math-up will be suspended this week. Sometimes, defending the honor of your team, University, and yourself can go a long way for the season. Perhaps, this will spark a little aggression and excitement for the games to come. Lacrosse is not hockey, fights like this are few and far between. So, while we do not condone fighting, both teams seemed to play a little harder and a little faster after the fight. Maybe the excitement and team camaraderie that came out of this fight is just what the doctor ordered to sling-shot these teams in the second half of the lacrosse season.

The rest of the division-1 lacrosse top-20 rankings follow. Be sure to check out your favorite school, their lacrosse equipment, and some lacrosse apparel at LaxWorld.com.

So it's no surprise that lacrosse-centered charities are popping up all over the world, aiming to use lacrosse to change other people's lives, too. From raising cancer awareness to donating lacrosse gear to kids in need, there are different activities and programs where you can participate in proclaiming the benefits of lacrosse. They may even serve as an opportunity to share your lacrosse story and inspire others. Here are three lacrosse-related charities you can get involved in:

Lacrosse the Nations

Lacrosse the Nations is a non-profit organization dedicated to using lacrosse programs to encourage education in communities facing extreme poverty. It currently runs a lacrosse program in La Chureca, a trash dump community in Nicaragua. The charity uses both in-school and after-school lacrosse programs as a way to encourage children to attend school and eventually graduate from the School of Hope. Lacrosse the Nations also provides funding for nutritional in-school snacks and monthly field trips outside the community.

The Headstrong Foundation

When Division I athlete and talented Hofstra lacrosse player Nick Colleluori was diagnosed with blood cancer, he took no time to wallow in self-pity. Instead, he laid the groundwork for the Headstrong Foundation, a charitable organization that has raised over $2 million dollars to help find a cure for the disease. The organization seeks to raise awareness within the lacrosse community and provide scholarships for young athletes aiming to start a career in medicine. The foundation also sponsors popular lacrosse fundraising efforts, such as Laces for Lymphoma and Score for a Cure.

The Starz Foundation

The Starz Foundation seeks to support and develop lacrosse programs all over the western United States. The Foundation also provides financial assistance to student athletes in order to help them reach their lacrosse or collegiate goals. Starz runs a multi-faceted lacrosse equipment donation program in addition to providing scholarships and grants, free lacrosse demonstrations, and the City Starz Leadership Program.

What You Can Do to Support and Foster Lacrosse in Your Community

Lacrosse has given so much to your life; now it's time to give back. You don't need the help of a specific charity to support lacrosse in your community. Instead, find ways to help support and develop lacrosse on your own terms. Dedicate time to an after-school program. Donate lacrosse sticks or lacrosse clothing to an athlete in need. Send LaxWorld gift cards to a fledgling lacrosse program or one of the aforementioned charities. Sponsor an underfunded team through LaxWorld's team Lacrosse apparel offerings.

No matter how you choose to help, you can let LaxWorld help you spread your love of lacrosse throughout the world.

A month into the season and the Lax Community has seen old favorites shine - like defending award-winner Steele Stanwick of Virginia Lacrosse; while some have suffered setbacks, like Rob Pannell from Cornell Lacrosse who broke his foot last week.

As the season goes on we will update the watch list, but until then, we want to make sure you're able to find your favorite lacrosse apparel and lacrosse gear from your favorite teams, here on LaxWorld.com.

Army Lacrosse

Garrett Thul, Attack
Tim Henderson, Defense

Carolina Lacrosse

Nick Galasso, Attack
Jack McBride, Attack/Midfield

Cornell Lacrosse

Roy Lang, Midfield
Robert Pannell, Attack

Duke Lacrosse

Justin Turri, Midfield
CJ Costabile, Long Stick Midfield

Hofstra Lacrosse

Steve Serling, Midfield
Ian Braddish, Midfield

Hopkins Lacrosse

John Ranagan, Midfield
Pierce Bassett, Goalie

Maryland Lacrosse

Curtis Holmes, Midfield

Navy Lacrosse

Nikk Davis, Midfield
Sam Jones, Attack

Syracuse Lacrosse

JoJo Marasco, Midfield/Attack
Brian Megill, Defense
Tim Desko, Attack

Virginia Lacrosse

Steele Stanwick, Attack (Defending Tewaaraton Winner)
Colin Briggs, Midfield
Chris LaPierre, Midfield

Unfortunately, becoming a member of the lacrosse community isn't as easy as, say, joining a soccer team. Lacrosse is a high contact sport: if you don't want to wind up with a broken limb or a concussion, you'll need some safety equipment before you start. Before you start panicking, relax. Lacrosse gear is only as expensive as you want it to be. If you're just looking to buy lacrosse equipment for your child or for casual use, you go right ahead. If you're looking to invest in some top-of-the-line lax gear, you can do that too.

No matter your budget, here's a quick guide to everything you'll need before you hit the field:

 Lacrosse Sticks

Your stick is one of the most important lacrosse equipment choices you'll make as a beginner lacrosse player. As you become more advanced in the sport, you can upgrade to more targeted, advanced sticks designed for your chosen position.

As a beginner, however, you'll want to go for lacrosse sticks that make it as easy to catch the ball as possible. You'll probably want to choose a stick with a wider throat area in the head, which will give you a better chance of catching the ball. More advanced players can choose a narrower head for increased precision. You'll also want to choose a soft mesh instead of a stiffer meshing. Softer meshing makes it easier to catch and cradle the ball.

If you're buying for a child, you'll want to look at plastic handles, since they're lightweight, durable, and inexpensive.

Lastly, check with your league or school to find out length requirements. Not all manufacturers comply with standard measuring, so make sure your stick length is fully compliant before you buy.

Protective Lacrosse Gear

No team or league will let you start playing without proper protective gear. As a beginner player, consider getting stronger padding that will lessen pain and injuries as much as possible. You want learning lacrosse to be as pleasant of an experience as possible. Getting quality padding will help you play with more confidence, since you won't be as concerned with getting hurt.

You'll need to invest in arm pads and shoulder pads before you start playing. Some leagues also require rib pads; goalies will need chest pads. All players need specific lacrosse gloves that protect against hand and wrist injuries.

You'll also need a helmet with an attached mouthguard to protect your head, face, and teeth. Head injuries are no light matter: a helmet isn't the piece of equipment to skimp on.

Start Your Lacrosse Gear Shopping at LaxWorld

LaxWorld, the world's largest authority and retailer of lacrosse equipment, carries a wide variety of budget-friendly and quality lacrosse gear for any player. From shoes to gear to apparel, you'll find everything you need in their impressive inventory.

This causes one to ask why there was really only one Lacrosse Goalie Head available until about ten years ago. The STX Goalmaster held a monopoly on the goalie position since plastic lacrosse heads first stepped onto the scene. Luckily, this is no longer the case. Lacrosse equipment manufacturers have come out with various competitors for the STX Goalmaster that pushed the potential for any Lacrosse Goalie another step forward.

LaxWorld.com has all of the Lacrosse Gear for Goalies on the market available for purchase online to take your game to the next level.

STX GOALMASTER GOALIE HEAD

As mentioned, the Goalmaster is what goalies in the lacrosse community refer to as a classic. Don’t confuse classic with outdated. The Goalmaster is perfectly capable of making the game-winning save in the championship game. Made of mainly solid plastic, and molded to the original Lacrosse goalie head dimensions, the Goalmaster doesn’t take up as much space as some newer heads. Without fail though, this lacrosse goalie head will string up great and hold up under duress. Whether that be a 95 m.p.h. wind-up by some sorry attack-man on the other team, or just extreme climate change, you can count on the STX Goalmaster to see you through it all.

STX ECLIPSE GOALIE HEAD

The Eclispse goalie head was the first of its kind. As lacrosse heads began to take a turn to the offset design years back, STX made it happen with lacrosse goalie heads as well. The Eclipse is an offset lacrosse goalie head with a larger face then its father, the Goalmaster. The eclipse was the first lacrosse goalie head to incorporate stylized sides to cut some of the weight and allow every save to look even cooler. As the old saying goes, “you have to look good to play good”, and if you are standing in cage holding the STX Eclipse, you will certainly be looking good! Besides aesthetics though, the Eclipse is equipped with a very adaptable side-wall to make any pocket desired work nicely. This lacrosse goalie head is not only a great option, it has been one of the most popular choices for goalies around the world since its release.

WARRIOR NEMESIS LYTE GOALIE HEAD

The Nemesis Lyte could just as easily been named “The Answer”. It was in fact, Warriors answer to STX’s Eclipse. However, now that I think about it, the name Nemesis works great too. The Nemesis Lyte is the Eclipses arch-nemesis. The Nemesis Lyte Goalie Head is also off-set and lighter then it’s predecessor, the original Nemesis. The head is built to accommodate nearly every pocket style to guarantee the control and accuracy you desire. The Nemesis Lyte lacrosse goalie head is among the top of the class in popularity and performance.

WARRIOR VOID LYTE GOALIE HEAD

The lightest warrior lacrosse goalie head ever, the Void Lyte offers an unparalleled control factor. Weighing in at only 9.3 ounces, this warrior lacrosse goalie head gives the player maximum sensitivity to feel for the ball in their stick. There is no longer a need to double-take your heavy lacrosse goalie stick to make sure you still have the ball. The Void Lyte allows your undivided attention to be up field to minimize errors, and increase fast breaks off the save.

BRINE ERASER GOALIE HEAD

The Brine Eraser Lacrosse Goalie Head was designed by Tillman Johnson. He is the man who single handedly preserved a national title for the University of Virginia years ago with three doorstep saves in a row.  His design includes an offset mold to allow for maximum control and performance. The Eraser Goalie Head weighs only 10.8 ounces putting it right up there with the Void Lyte as one of the lightest lacrosse goalie heads on the market.

BRINE MONEY GOALIE HEAD

The Brine Money Lacrosse Goalie Head is takes off-set to another lever. In addition to extreme control and performance capabilities, this lacrosse goalie head has a curved scoop design to make raking and scooping easier. The head has an open side-wall design to make the lacrosse goalie head lighter. Most notably, the Brine Money Goalie Head has a dollar sign ($) at the throat of the head adding style and flare to your game you can’t achieve by just playing well.

While LaxWorld.com is your one-stop-shop for all of your goalie needs, the Lacrosse goalie head you buy will definitely not be a one-stop anything. Save after save, you can expect quality and performance from everything LaxWorld.com has to offer. From the first save of the game to the last, it is important as the goalie to demand greatness from your team. LaxWorld.com demands the same thing from all of its products.

In addition to all of your lacrosse goalie needs, be sure to check out the huge variety of lacrosse apparel at LaxWorld.com.