The 2008 Alumni Lacrosse Tournament will be held this Saturday, Sept. 13! It's just up the road from Baltimore at Genesee Valley in Parkton, so if you're a player or a spectator, its a quick trip and a great way to spend a perfect fall Saturday in a magnificent setting with fun people. Family and friends are, of course, invited too, but please leave the dogs at home. Its a steadfast rule on the property for insurance purposes. There is no charge for parking, but respect the normal local traffic and park in the parking lot, not on the side of the road. There will be food and beverages and for $20 all you can drink Bud and Bud Light.

The tournament is a lot of fun and provides alumni players and fans an opportunity to play and socialize, but the money raised goes to two very good causes. On this beautiful parcel, the LaMonicas have established the Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that serves the community at large throughout Maryland and other surrounding states. So part of the money raised helps to support the center, while the rest goes toward a more personal cause for founder Mike LaMonica and many of the Maryland alums. The Dick Edell Gift Trust is a fund set up to help "Big Man," the legendary and beloved Terps coach afford some of the costs associated with the illness myositis, the swelling and loss of muscle, due to largely unknown causes.

The LaMonica family have long allowed their lovely Genesse Valley property to be used for lacrosse events. Some of the best college teams have played fall tournaments under the big sky and among the rolling hills. The area is some of Maryland's finest terrain and it's just outside Baltimore. It was Mike LaMonica who thought of bringing alumni teams to the perfect setting and turning it into a tournament. Last year was the first and it was a blast. Towson Alumni was the strongest team with the Spencer Ford-Bugsy Combs-Hunter Lochte combination in effect and they come in as the team to beat this fall. Last year, everybody had a great time playing and stayed around for a while enjoying refreshments and talking to old friends and opponents.

The men's teams participating this year are Maryland, Virginia, Towson, UMBC and the NCAA All-Stars. The women's teams are Maryland, Penn State, Temple, Towson and the NCAA All-Stars. Both the men's and women's NCAA All-Star squads are open to those who want to play but couldn't get their respective alumni squads together. So you can still play no matter where you went to school.

And you can still get in, if you act fast. If you are interested in playing, please email your name/position/college/year graduated to Mike LaMonica at info@alumnilacrosse.com. You must have attended the school for at least one year to play. The play is excellent so fans should feel welcome too. Bring a blanket and sit on the hill. I'll be right there with you.

If you miss the tournament but just want to help coach Edell, I encourage donations to:

Dick Edell Gift Trust (Make checks payable to: Dick Edell Gift Trust)

Send checks to:

Dave Slafkosky
214 Rosewood Ave
Catonsville, MD 21228
or email: daveslaf@umd.edu