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Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 6/22/2023, Last updated: 7/20/2023
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Big Ten Well Represented at Men's Lacrosse World Championships

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ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference was well represented on Wednesday, as the U.S. National Lacrosse Team defeated Canada 7-5 in the opening game of the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.

More than 20 Big Ten players and coaches are listed on rosters for the tournament’s 30 participating nations, including 10 who competed in the tournament’s opening contest.

Team USA features eight members with Big Ten ties, including six players and head coach John Danowski, a 1976 Rutgers alum. The squad includes five former Maryland Terrapins,  Jesse Bernhardt, Matt Dunn, Michael Ehrhardt, Connor Kelly and Matt Rambo, along with Ohio State’s Ryan Terefenko. Jay Dyer from Johns Hopkins also serves as the team’s strength & conditioning coach.


The Championship takes place in San Diego, CA from June 21 until July 1 as 30 teams from around the world take part in over 100 games in the ten-day span. ESPN will televise all 107 games on ESPN+, highlighted by six games across ESPN2 and ESPNU. 

Winner of 10 of the previous 13 world championships, the U.S. entered the tournament as the top seed and is looking to be the first repeat champion since its run of six consecutive titles ended in 2006.

Former Big Ten Players Competing in the 2023 World Lacrosse Men's Championship

PlayerSchoolCountry
Mitch BakerRutgersAustralia
Jesse BernhardtMarylandUSA
John Danowski (Coach)RutgersUSA
Peter Dolan (Coach)RutgersIreland
Jonathan DugenioRutgersPhilippines
Matthew DunnMarylandUSA
Michael EhrhardtMarylandUSA
Justin InacioOhio StateCanada
Connor KellyMarylandUSA
Andrew KimRutgersKorea
Donovan LaceyMarylandPuerto Rico
Dan MorrisMarylandPhilippines
Drew MorrisMarylandIsreal
Thomas O'ConnellMarylandPuerto Rico
Matt RamboMarylandUSA
Bobby RussoRutgersItaly
Christian ScarpelloRutgersEngland
Ryan TerefenkoOhio StateUSA
Christian TrasoliniRutgersItaly
Mario VentiquattroOhio StatePhilippines
Jack WithersOhio StateCanada