This afternoon, the final games of the 2024 Athletes Unlimited lacrosse season take place at Bill Tierney Field at U.S. Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md.
And, as has been the case the last two years, the margin between first and second place in the unique Rotisserie-like scoring system for the individual championship is incredibly close and could wind up being subject to a recount.
This year, one of the greatest scorers in NCAA women’s lacrosse history has entered the conversation. At the start of play today, Charlotte North is lying in second place behind her former Boston College teammate, Sam Apuzzo. The two of them are 214 points clear of third-place Ally Kennedy, meaning that it is most likely that only North or Apuzzo will win the title of Athletes Unlimited champion for the 2024 season.
Apuzzo had finished in the second position the last two seasons to goalie Taylor Moreno, but the points formula was adjusted for the 2024 season. Still, Marino comes into the final games in fourth place, and another goalie, Kady Glynn, is in fifth.
North, one of the greatest talents that this nation has ever produced, will lead her team against Apuzzo’s team in the final game late this afternoon. The margin between these two is 85 points, and that margin can be closed by winning quarters, games, and winning MVP points as voted on by the players.
North could therefore close the 85-point gap quickly, especially if her orange team beats Apuzzo’s white and gold team and winning all four quarters in the process.
It should be an amazing finish; the last two were of the same nature, with Moreno winning by 16 points in 2022 and by 12 in 2023. Get your popcorn out; this should be an absolute firecracker of a finish.
