A Closer Look at the "Two Weeks Prior" rule

Plus, a recap of college lacrosse action and a preview of women's 5A teams.

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The “Two Weeks Prior” Rule

The Utah high school lacrosse season is only weeks away, but teams aren’t practicing right now. Or, at least, not with their coaches. Due to a Utah High School Activities Association rule known as “Two Weeks Prior” (TWP), players are not allowed to practice with their coaches.

The reasoning behind TWP is solid. It’s meant to give athletes who play multiple sports a break between seasons to rest and recharge. It’s also meant to even the playing field by ensuring that all teams hold tryouts and begin practices simultaneously. However, there is a push in the lacrosse community to have the sport exempted from the practice.

“I understand the reasoning behind the rule, but it’s tough on the growth of lacrosse in the state,” said UHSAA Coaches Representative for Boys Lacrosse and Head Coach at Judge Memorial Jeff Brzoska. “For a sport that is trying to grow and is literally bursting at the seams, we have our hands cuffed with this one.”

The call for exemption is based largely on the fact that lacrosse is still a relatively new sport in the state of Utah. While athletes playing soccer or baseball may have been playing on comp teams since they were children, many lacrosse players don’t hold their first stick until they learn about the sport in high school.

“We need time to get these kids acclimated to the game before they step on the field and into competition,” said Brzoska. “This is a really physical game, and there is a risk of injury for players who are new to it and haven’t had enough coaching.”

The timing of TWP is another reason for the call for exemption. Teams can officially begin practicing on February 25, 2025, and some teams play their first game a week later. From the first games, the season progresses at breakneck speed as the spring is the shortest of all UHSAA sports seasons at only 10 weeks of competition, and teams can play as many as 18 regular season games. They then have five playoff games in two weeks to win the championship. In addition,n 90% of the schools give their teams a week off for spring break.

Last year, the boys and girls coach’s reps (Brzoska and Mellissa Nash) took the request for exemption to the UHSAA’s Athletic Director’s Executive Committee (ADEC) after their coaches voted 82-6 to remove the restriction. They were turned down when the motion went from ending TWP for lacrosse to ending it for all sports. However, those coaches say they will try again and hope to get lacrosse added to the list of exempted sports that include baseball, competitive cheer, cross-country, drill team, football, softball, swimming, and track and field.

“We are trying to grow this sport in the state,” said Brzoska. “So, we are asking for the time to be able to do it.”

College Lacrosse Recap

By Kennedy Norton

As the 2025 lacrosse season kicks off, Utah’s teams are gearing up for competitive matchups and exciting challenges. From early victories to tough losses, the programs at Westminster University, BYU, UVU, and the University of Utah have all seen action, with teams in both men’s and women’s divisions making their marks. In this update, we take a look at how these programs have fared so far.

Westminster University

Women's Lacrosse
After ending their 2024 season with a disappointing loss to the No. 4 seed, Regis University, in the conference semifinals, the team hit the road and secured a 16-11 victory in their season opener against Saint Michael’s College on February 14th. However, the next day, they fell 9-12 to the Dominican University of California after a slow start and an impressive yet unsuccessful fourth-quarter rally. The Griffins will take the field this Saturday for a scrimmage against the University of Utah in their second home appearance of the season. This will be followed by a game on February 27th at Missouri Western State University and a scrimmage on February 28th at William Jewell College in Missouri.

Men's Lacrosse
After two competitive scrimmages to start their season (@BYU on February 1st and at home vs. UVU on February 12th), Westminster Men's Lacrosse will travel to Winter Park, Florida, to face Rollins College this Friday for their season opener. After that, the team will remain in Florida for a game on February 23rd against Flagler College.

Brigham Young University

Women's Lacrosse
From February 7th-8th, the BYU Women's Lacrosse team participated in the Santa Barbara Shootout tournament to open their season, playing a series of competitive games both in and outside of normal conference play. In their first game, the Cougars defeated the University of Texas in a hard-fought 11-8 win, followed by an 8-12 loss to last year's No. 14-ranked Division I women's program at the University of Virginia. On the second day, the team secured a defining 19-1 victory against Marquette University and ended the tournament with a 9-13 loss to Cal Poly University. This week, BYU Women's Lacrosse will travel to Arizona for the Cactus Classic Tournament (Feb. 21-22), where they will face the University of Georgia, San Diego State University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara before playing at home against Boise State on March 1st.

Men's Lacrosse
The defending MCLA Division I National Champions began their season with a bang, securing a 21-6 victory in Seattle against the University of Washington Huskies. Two days later, they upset the University of Oregon 12-11 away and followed that with a 13-7 win over Simon Fraser University the next day. The Cougars have continued their winning streak with victories over both Arizona State University (18-10) and Grand Canyon University (12-5), solidifying themselves as the team to beat as the season progresses. They currently hold the top spot in the RMLC Division I standings.

Utah Valley University

Men's Lacrosse
In their season opener, the UVU Men's Lacrosse team secured an impressive 28-2 victory at home against Southern Utah University on February 1st. After a two-week break, the team bounced back with a dominant 29-0 win over Washington State University on February 15th. This week, the team will travel to Florida to play Florida State University on February 20th and the University of Florida on February 22nd.

Women's Lacrosse
The UVU Women's Lacrosse team started their season later than expected, with their first game taking place on Valentine’s Day (February 14th) against San Diego State University during their three-day participation in the Golden State Invitational tournament at UCLA's campus in California. During this tournament, the Wolverines played a doubleheader against UCLA and Florida State University on February 15th, followed by a game against the University of California, Santa Barbara on February 16th. While they didn’t win any of their games they are ready for their next match. This week, from February 21st-22nd, the team will face the University of Georgia, Clemson University, and Ohio State University at Arizona’s Cactus Classic before returning home for their six in-state games.

University of Utah

Women's Lacrosse
The Utes began their season with a 16-4 victory over San Diego State University on February 14th. They then competed against Florida State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, on Saturday at the Golden State Invitational, where they finished the tournament with an exciting game against UCLA on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, they lost 18-5. Utah will continue their season with a March 1st game against the University of Colorado to kick off conference play.

Men's Lacrosse
Utah Men’s Lacrosse started their 2025 season with a massive 19-13 upset against the No. 19-ranked Division I program at Ohio State University, setting the stage for an exciting season. This win earned them the No. 18 spot in the USILA Poll leading up to their February 8th game against the University of Delaware, where they fell short in a 12-13 loss in overtime. In another highly anticipated game on February 15th, the Utes faced the University of Denver. Despite taking a 3-0 lead in the first 2 minutes of the game, they were unable to maintain their early advantage, ultimately losing 8-10 to one of the nation’s top programs. This week, the Utes will travel to play the University of Vermont on February 22nd.

Girls 5A Preview

By George Eagleston

Excitement is building across the league for the 2025 season! We caught up with some of last year’s top teams to see how they’re preparing for the new year and what expectations they have. Here’s a look at what to expect from some of the most anticipated 5A teams this season.

Park City

Park City returns with a strong group of seniors and upperclassmen for the 2025 season. With this seasoned roster, they’re eager to build on last year’s team system and continue growing. Seniors Maddie McHenry and Megan Magee will lead the midfield, while Rogan Crawford will quarterback the attack,k ,and Marcella Woolley will be back in goal to strengthen the defense. Juniors Coco Crawford and Lily Yatkeman are also expected to make a significant impact this season. The team has reloaded with talented freshmen and is excited to see what they bring to the field, while sophomores are also stepping into starting roles. Head Coach Mikki Clayton emphasized the team’s goal of continuous improvement, saying, “We always strive for the girls to get 1% better every day. We push each other on and off the field, and at the end of the season, we want to be proud of what we accomplished.”
Team Mantra: Together

Woods Cross

After losing standout players to graduation, Woods Cross faces a challenging transition this year. However, Head Coach McKenzie Christiansen believes in the returning talent and their hard work. "The seniors from last year will be deeply missed, but the returning players have been working hard to step up and fill their shoes," she said. Senior leaders Rylee Linton, Emmy Richards, and Opal Ouzts will be crucial for the Wildcats, alongside juniors Megan Madsen, Sophie Burden, Kate Schanz, and Hanley Thomas. A standout addition this season is Opal Ouzts, a talented goalie who transferred to Woods Cross. Coach Christiansen shared that their athletes set individual goals for the season, which are supported by the coaching staff, while also focusing on pushing the players to reach their full potential.
Coach Christiansen is particularly proud of her players’ resilience. "Despite the challenges of high school life and the pressures of social media, these young women continue to excel in the classroom, in other sports, and in life," she said.
Team Mantra: Own It

West Jordan

West Jordan enters the 2025 season with a largely unchanged roster, returning most of their varsity players. The team is excited about key positions, including Sana Fisilau anchoring the defense, Kayli Ballif leading the attack, and Lily Henderson, Jordan Hughes, and Camrie Jacobson contributing as key midfielders. Head Coach Cliff Tomlinson is focused on consistent improvement, emphasizing the importance of getting better every day. “I’m proud of the culture on this team—how they care for one another and are so invested in the team. I’m excited to see how they continue to grow this season,” he said.
Team Mantra: Be Relentless

Brighton

This team has seen shift this year with the graduation of a large group of players. However, they’re bringing back a talented senior class that is motivated to make their mark. Seniors Annabelle "Abe" Keefer, Caroline Lee, and Charly Eichner, who have been starters since their freshman year, are all set to play pivotal roles. The team is also excited to integrate last year’s one-loss JV team into the varsity lineup, who have gained valuable experience and are ready for the challenge. Head Coach Melissa Nash’s goals for the season remain clear: “Our goal is always to play at Zions Bank Stadium at the end of May. We want to win games by focusing on doing the simple things right and playing clean, pretty lacrosse. And most importantly, we want to have fun!” She is especially proud of the senior class, noting their leadership and lacrosse IQ.
Team Mantra: No Limits