Do You Have a Team or a Program? Girls U-17 National Team Tryouts Announced
Issue 87 - Kate Richards named the Girls Player of the Week, Masters League for 35+ Men Announced.
Good morning lacrosse fans! Thank you for taking time out of your day for the Utah Lax Report.
As a reminder, the fine folks at Tribal West are offering 10% off your online order using the code TRIBAL2022 on tribalwest.com. You can order online and pick it up in-store!
As always, please visit our title sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Condition (website).
Masters League is Coming!
New this year… a Masters Mens league (35+) is coming! Rather than the normal one game, a real league will be formed, but that means YOU need to sign up today!
Individual Player Registration: April 8th - June 22nd
Early Bird Registration - $60 (April 12th - May 12th)
Regular Registration - $75 (May 13th - June 2nd)
Late Registration - $90 (June 3rd - June 22nd)
*Fees include 8 games, annual master's t-shirt, & league BBQ
When: Wednesday Nights @ Falcon Park in Sandy
Armchair Lacrosse Coach: Do you have a team or a program?
I have been thinking about the distinction between the two lately and I think it points directly to the WHY we play, or even more aptly, the WHY we coach our game. When people ask coaches why they coach competitive sports, the simplest answer they can give is that it's the most effective way for them to have a positive impact on the lives of young people. I am very much still hopeful that this is the end game for most coaches or at least something similar. However, I was taught early on, probably through sports, that talk is cheap and that it’s not about what people say, it’s about what people do that really matters. So this means, to me at least, that it’s what the coaches and leaders of a group of athletes DO that likely makes up the difference between a team and a program. Note that it’s not lost on me that these are just made up words that mean different things to different people. So in order to clarify my own thinking I chose a framework inspired by a question posed by Simon Sinek: What game are we playing?
Simon Sinek, the author, speaker and the “just can’t seem to pin down his accent guy on YouTube”, talks a lot about the finite game vs the infinite game. The hallmarks of the finite game are known players, fixed rules and an agreed upon endpoint. Essentially, finite games end and the winners and losers are easily identified. Sounds like Lacrosse. Infinite games on the other hand are exactly what you think, there is no end, they go on continuously forever and there are no winners or losers, just those that are ahead or behind. So, for a coach with an infinite game mindset, the game goes on regardless of the win-loss record and success is measured in a very different way.
This brings me back to the question at hand: Do you have a team or a program?
If I think about teams in the context of finite vs infinite, the basic everyday team seems shallow and short sighted. If a team's sole purpose is to win the game then that team is OK but its purpose seems finite. Show up for practice because it’s required in order to play in the game (but exceptions will likely be made for your best players… wink wink). Win at all costs because that is our purpose. “Sweep the leg” if you will. That last quote will make sense to those in my generation who hold The Karate Kid in the highest cinematic esteem. When the season is over, the team is over. You either won the championship or you didn’t. Success will be measured by the amount of wins your team acquired.
Programs however play to a much higher order. It’s about culture, shared values and standards. It’s about the overarching principles that guide everything you do as a unit. It's those same principles that define how the group(s) of players in the program not only play the game but also how they treat the officials, their opponents and each other. The program is about real leadership that leads those around them to doing the right thing even when it's hard. The leaders in a program model the behavior and everyone in the program is accountable to each other and the game. It’s about the process and the standard that needs to be met above all else. In many ways it is character defining. A real life mentality and ethos around how we do anything is how we do everything. A program is about learning how to win and how to lose. In the program, all this is passed down and new members of the program are indoctrinated into the program's way of being. The program's stated goal is the long term development of young people and the program knows that when its priorities (family, school, athletics, social life, etc) are in the proper order the score of the finite games will take care of itself. But regardless of the record the program's pursuit of excellence will continue.
If you want to know if you have a team or a program, start by figuring out what game you're playing first. - BL
High School RPI Charts
I found this nifty little tool last year that helps visualize data so I applied it to the RPI rankings and have published them at the links below.
Boys 6A
Boys 5A
Boys 4A
Girls 6A
Girls 5A
Girls 4A
Boys High School
As always, our polls are brought to you by Salty Lacrosse.
No. 1 Corner Canyon - The Chargers once again faced top-level teams from around the West as they faced Mater Dei and Corona Del Mar. In the first game, the Chargers edged Mater Dei, 10-9. It was neck and neck the whole game as both teams’ top talent shined. Jon King had 5 goals for the Chargers. The very next night, Corner Canyon took Corona Del Mar to double-overtime but fell, 12-11. Blaze DeGracie had 4 goals while Blake Franckowiak had 4 goals and an assist. Mason Quick led the team in points with 3 goals and 2 assists. The loss is the first for the Chargers since 2019 when they fell to Brighton in the Class A semifinals. The Chargers will take on No. 7 Lone Peak on Tuesday and Skyridge on Friday.
No. 2 Olympus - The Titans were off last week and will ease back into things with a home game against Juan Diego on Thursday.
No. 3 American Fork - The Cavemen were off last week and will face Skyridge on Tuesday and Westlake on Thursday.
No. 4 Park City - It was a great week for Miner fans who watched their team beat Wasatch, 17-4, on Wednesday then trounced No. 6 Mountain Ridge, 16-6, on Friday. Did I mention they are doing this without their stud attackman Chase Beyer who is out with a broken arm? Ten players had at least one point for the Miners on Friday including one from each grade. That’s not something every team can say. Junior Riley Mulholland led the Miners with 4 goals and an assist. Park City will next see action on April 22 against No. 5 Alta.
No. 5 Alta - The Hawks were off last week and will take on Timpanogos on Thursday.
No. 6 Mountain Ridge - The Sentinels beat Herriman on Tuesday, 9-2, and lost to No. 4 Park City on Friday, 16-6. Mountain Ridge will look to rebound this week against Riverton on Tuesday and West Jordan on Thursday.
No. 7 Lone Peak - The Knights had last week off and will take on No. 1 Corner Canyon on Tuesday and Pleasant Grove on Thursday.
No. 8 Davis - The Darts were off last week and will take on Roy on Tuesday and Weber on Thursday.
No. 9 Fremont - The Silverwolves were off last week and will take on Farmington on Tuesday and Clearfield on Thursday.
No. 10 Bountiful - The Redhawks were off last week and will open Region 5 play this week as it hosts Northridge on Wednesday and Box Elder on Friday.
Other games of note: Last week was a slower week with a bunch of teams on Spring Break. Copper Hills took down Riverton in region play, 7-6. Brighton wasn’t the only team in California as it took on Cathedral Catholic and La Jolla. The weather was kind but the scores were not as the Bengals lost both games. On Thursday, the Game Night Live crew streamed the Riverton @ Bingham game. The Miners won, 14-11. You can rewatch the game here. We are still nailing down details for the stream this week so be sure to stay tuned to our social media accounts for more info. On Friday, East captured revenge on Wasatch, 12-10. The Wasps knocked the Leopards out of the playoffs last season.
This week, keep an eye on the Payson v. Salem Hills game. The last time these two teams played, the game went to overtime. It’s a true testament to growth to have teams like these competing! Timpeivew @ Skyline on Wednesday should be an interesting matchup as well. Also on Wednesday, Green Canyon faces Sky View in a great region matchup.
Girls High School
There was more movement in the coaches polls this week. Bear River moved up one spot, Davis down one spot and Riverton entered the Top 10. Many teams have been out on Spring Break.
No.1 Park City had a great week with two wins - Highland on Tuesday and Mountain Ridge on Friday. A stand out player in these games was Junior Lilly Hunt with a total of 16 points for the week. Up next for the Miners is Maple Mountain on April 20.
No. 2 Skyridge is coming back from Spring Break to challenge American Fork on Tuesday in a key region matchup.
No. 3 Brighton was off on Spring Break. Their first competition will be against Jordan on Thursday.
No. 4 Olympus will be coming back to the field Wednesday to faceoff with Juan Diego. This game will be Olympus' third game of the season.
No. 5 Mountain Ridge played well this past week against two great teams. The Sentinels beat Herriman on Tuesday but fell to Park City on Thursday. Next up for the team is No. 10 Riverton on Tuesday with the winner taking control of Region 3.
No. 6 Lone Peak had the week off for Spring Break. Next up for the Knights is No. 7 Corner Canyon on Tuesday. This is another key battle in Region 4.
No. 7 Corner Canyon coming back from Spring Break this week, they will be up against No. 6 Lone Peak on Tuesday.
No. 8 Bear River moved their way up this week with a shutout game against East. An outstanding player this week is Bentley Lorimer, with 6 points this week. Next up for the Bears is Ridgeline on Wednesday.
No. 9 Davis had no games this past week due to Spring Break. The Darts step back on the field this Tuesday to faceoff against Roy.
No. 10 Riverton has made their way up and is a force to be reckoned with. Riverton had two great wins this week over Copper Hills on Tuesday and Bingham on Thursday. The outstanding player for Riverton this week is Livia Sargent with 9 points and Isabel Milner with 7 points. The Silverwolves will take on Herriman today.
Captain Checkin
Park City 5A No. 1 - Captain Ava Kimche: “I am honored to be captain. The team itself is what I love about it. But, any of the girls on this team could be a captain based on how we all lead and motivate one another. Our team’s work ethic is extraordinary. We push each other to our greatest potential at every single practice so when it comes to games we know what we need to do to win. So far our season has gone well, but there is always room for improvement. We now have a couple games under our belt so we can start dialing in on what we need to work on in practice to keep improving. We still have a lot of growth and development left in ourselves. I think we are all dedicated to improving at each game, and if we continue to do that we should have a successful season.”
Brighton 5A No.2 - Captain Kira Lopez: “I love watching people put so much faith in me, I feel that it has created a trust between my teammates and me that is indescribable. I love getting super close as well with my other captains, it has been such a fun experience. I think overall, the thing I love the most is the people that come to me. I love knowing I can be the voice for the people that are too scared to speak up, and I feel like that also has created an amazing bond with every single person.” Captain Grace Garrett: “Our team is welcoming, supportive, and selfless while at the same time hardworking and tenacious. We have started out strong and each game we continue to improve as a team. Our stick skills and ball movement have been impressive and our defense is absolutely crushing it.” Captain Zoe Heffernan: “As of right now, every person on our team is a threat making Brighton ranked one of the top teams in Utah. These next couple weeks are filled with some tough games. I think our team is going to come out strong and put our hearts out on the field. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings.” Captain Hunter Doyle: “We are also so lucky to have 7 dedicated coaches who want the best for us and are dedicated to helping us be our best both on and off the field. So far this season has been great and we have come out strong! Being 4-1 right now feels pretty good and I’m excited to see how the rest of the season plays out. I feel really good about the rest of the season. We are a strong and dedicated group of girls and our team chemistry is the best it has ever been. I’m excited to see what these girls bring to the field in the future!”
Bear River 4A No.1 - Captain Brooke Paulson: “Being able to be there for the girls on and off the field! We are seriously like a big family. Everyone looks out for each other and it’s awesome!” Captain Marley Kierstead: “Based on the goals we have made for this season we are currently on track and hope to improve. This is one of the best seasons I've been a part of for any team.” Captain Sydney Wilkinson: “Our season has been super fun! Every game has brought a different challenge & our team has been able to conquer them all! I think the rest of the season is going to be awesome! Every game our team gets better & better & we are just going to keep getting better, we don’t back track. Every practice we start fresh and get ready for the games ahead. This season is definitely going to have a big impact on our legacy.”
Mountain Crest 4A No.3 - Captain Kamrie Wilkinson: “I love lacrosse and being able to lead and show others what I know is so fun and I enjoy it a lot. That we don’t care if we win or lose and all the laughs that we get to enjoy with each other and our coaches. It has been really successful and we have come such a long way I believe we can win. I think that if we keep working hard we can win state”
Game Recaps
Riverton beat Copper Hills, 17-2. Riverton excelled in their game against Copper Hills by having some amazing rides and strong draw control. The team found the importances of placing their shots to hence their percentage of goals. Riverton nominated Bella Butterfield for the player of the game. Bella had 3 goals, 3 assists and 6 ground balls.
Mountain Ridge defeated Herriman 20-4. Mountain Ridge players worked together across the full field. Creating great transitions, strong defense, contested every ground ball while winning many, and strong efforts with draw. The team had 8 scoring players and 12 assists this game. The team learned to take a breath and that moving the ball quickly is great unless you sacrifice the quality of passes you give. Taking that extra second to have full control and see the field is crucial. “I’m very happy with how our girls came out and worked together. Every game they have learned and grown from and it’s exciting to see the team they are becoming,” said Coach Angie Brescia. The team nominated Bekah Bargeron as their player of the game. Bekah solidified Mountain Ridge defense with helping the team communicate, perfect clears, and having a 60% save rate which multiple of those were off free positions.
Park City found themselves fighting more for the ball while playing Mountain Ridge. Park City beat Mountain Ridge, 13-4. Park City came out strong in the second half, they reworked their play across the defense, draws, midfield and attack. The team learned they can not be a second half team. They are set to work on teamwork, to be driven by fire off the first whistle. Mountain Ridge entered the first half really strong, where Park City lacked in matching their intensity. “Mountain Ridge came ready to play. They are a great team and very well coached! Park City did not match their intensity in the first half and it showed. At halftime, we were able to regroup and rework what we needed to accomplish. Park City finally matched Mountain Ridge's intensity and it started with the first draw of the second half. Every little win (ground balls to draw controls) helped swing the momentum. Standout players for Park City were Coco Gonzales for her tenacity on the defensive end, Kathleen Whitely for being a threat everywhere on the field, and Lilly Hunt for sparking the attack (5 goals, 3 assist) and her determination and grit. I want to commend Mountain Ridge for a hard fought game. Their players are very talented and their ferocity was impressive,” said Coach Mikki Clayton.
Player of the Week
Kate Richards, Senior at Olympus High
#14 Kate has played over 8 years of girls lacrosse, she plays every position on the field except goalie. “Kate is an all around stellar person. Kate sets the tone for every game, always raking up stats all over the field, but you almost wouldn’t know it since she prefers to fly under the radar. She is all the new girls go to and as coaches we can rely on her everywhere! She is committed to Southern Virginia University,” said Coach Zana Spratling.
U17 National Girls Team
2022 Utah Girls U17 National Team Tryouts
When: April 16 8am-11am
Where: Brighton High School
Who: Any Current 9th-11th Graders
How: http://www.imlaxutah.org/app/Page/?n=131371&org=imlaxutah.org
Registration cost $40. Registration closes on April 15th.
Questions: Email alice@imlaxutah.org
Instagram: @Utahgirlsnationalteam
Tournament Details: 2022 National Tournament will be held May 28th & 29th in Baltimore, Maryland! Cedar Lane Regional Park Bel Air, MD 21015
Mens College
It was a busy week for the college game this week. The action started on Thursday when Utah State beat Wyoming, 21-2. On Friday, No. 21 UVU beat Boise State, 13-9.
Last week as I was looking up schedules, I noticed that the time for the No. 1 BYU v. No. 3 Liberty game was at 11:59 pm on Friday night. I thought it was a mistake, but no, it was the actual game time. Each year, Liberty hosts an event called ‘Midnight Madness’ where they start a game at midnight and wear black uniforms. This was fortuitous for us since the game started at 10:00 pm MT. Liberty also has an ESPN+ agreement so the game was on that service. I shared a story on Instagram that reminded me of the early 2000s when BYUTV would re-run BYU lacrosse games late at night. There was nothing better than coming home from a night out with friends, clicking on the TV, going to the guide and seeing ‘BYU Lacrosse’ on BYUTV. Between that and the NCAA championships on ESPN, that was the only lacrosse to be found on TV at the time. We are very lucky now to have dozens of games each weekend at our fingertips. Oh yeah, BYU won this game, 12-11, in an absolute classic. BYU goalie Mason Moon was playing extremely well. The Cougars were up 9-4 at halftime and fought off a second-half surge to win.
The Utah club team dismantled Wyoming on Friday night, 24-4. The Cowboys were only playing with one sub but they were having a great time nonetheless as evidenced by the chatter on the field.
Saturday kicked off with an early faceoff from Cleveland as Utah took on Cleveland State. The Utes fell behind early, trailing 6-1 late in the first quarter. But the Utes contained to battle and used a 7-2 third quarter to win, 15-11. Hometown Hero Josh Stout had 6 goals and 1 assist to lead the Utes.
SUU faced Wyoming and Utah club on Saturday. The Wyoming score was unreported but the T-birds fell to Utah, 24-2.
BYU beat NC State, 11-8, while Utah State beat the Air Force club team, 11-5.
On Sunday, Westminster beat Adams State, 23-2. Utah State beat the Colorado School of Mines, 24-2.
Remaining College Schedule
4/11 - BYU @ Virginia Tech - 2 pm
4/14 - Texas @ UVU - 5:30 pm
4/15 - Utah Club @ Colorado School of Mines - 7 pm
4/15 - SUU @ Fort Lewis - 7 pm
4/16 - Utah Club @ Air Force Club - 11 am
4/16 - SUU @ Western Colorado - Noon
4/16 - Texas @ BYU - 1 pm
4/16 - Robert Morris @ Utah - 1 pm
4/22 - Westminster @ Adams State - Noon
4/22 - RMLC Tournament @ Provo (BYU, UVU, Utah State, Utah Club)
4/23 - Utah @ Bellarmine - 10 am
4/23 - RMLC Championship @ Provo (Teams TBD)
4/24 - Westminster @ CSU-Pueblo - Noon
4/30 - Colorado Mesa @ Westminster - 11 am
4/30 - Robert Morris @ Utah - 1 pm
5/6 - RMAC Tournament @ TBA (Teams TBD)
5/9 - MCLA Tournament First Round @ Round Rock, TX (Teams TBD)
Womens College
Westminster Women's Lacrosse doubled the score of Colorado State University Pueblo with the striking win of 23-12. Westminster hosted Colorado State University Pueblo Saturday April 9th, on their Dumke Field. Westminster's final goal was scored by Senior Lauren Shoughro Midfielder from Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, Las Vegas.
That’s it for this week, stay safe out there and see you on the sidelines!
— Tim Haslam (Intro/Mens/Boys), Kenzie Christiansen (Womens/Girls) & Brad Lavoie (Armchair Lacrosse Coach)