High School Week 1 Recaps, Upsets, Polls & Photos
Plus, a look at college games, PLL/WLL Championship Series and more!
The opening week of the high school season did not disappoint! We had a preseason favorite getting upset, games postponed/cancelled because of snow, close games and more. If last week was a sign of things to come, we’re going to have a great high school season.
In this issue, we recap and preview the college leagues, go over Week 1 of the Coaches Polls, Spotlight Games of the Week, our first Stick Clicks gallery, PLL/WLL action and more!
Tribal West is a proud sponsor of the Utah Lax Report. Shop online at tribalwest.com and enter FREESHIPUTAH26 to receive Free Shipping.
College
Mens
In the NCAA ranks, Utah defeated Dartmouth, 17-10 on Saturday. Zach White led the team with 5 goals, 2 assists and 3 caused turnovers on the ride. Ryan Stines had 5 goals and 1 assist. On the other end, Nikko DiPonio had 4 caused turnovers to lead the poles. Goalie Colin Lenskold had 4 saves in the win. At the faceoff X, Tyler Kloeckl went 12-20. Bryce Madden was 6-9. There were two Utah natives who saw time for Dartmouth, Spencer Reagan (10 for 23 at faceoff) and Thomas Vandenberg (1 goal).
Westminster headed to Missouri for a two-game swing. On Thursday, the Griffins fell to Rockhurst, 14-12. Westminster scored the first 6 goals of the game but big runs from Rockhurst in the second eventually led to a 9-9 halftime score. The second half was all defense with Rockhurst scoring 2 then Westminster answered with 3 to take a 12-11 lead after the 3rd quarter. The Griffins were held scoreless in the 4th leading to a 14-12 final. On Saturday, the Griffins played No. 8 Maryville who scored three quick goals to start the game. It was back and forth the rest of the way leading to a 15-12 final in favor of Maryville. Standouts from the two games include Daxton Jensen scoring 5 goals against Maryville and Duke Devault notching 3 goals and 1 assist against Rockhurst. In goal, Christian Jones had 15 saves against Rockhurst and Cade Cahoney had 17 saves against Maryville.
In the MCLA, on Friday, BYU ousted Boise State, 33-8. Mason Quick had 10 goals and 2 assists to lead the Cougars. Gavin Taylor had 6 goals and 2 assists. Three goalies saw time for the Cougars: Easton Wilkey (6 saves), Isaac Hanson (1 save) and Lincoln Robinson (1 save). Also on Friday, Utah State fell to Dayton, 14-8. Utah Tech played USC at SMU in Dallas and lost, 13-4. Quad Vanderhoven had 2 goals while Eli Greenway and Carter McLaughlin each had a goal.
On Saturday, BYU beat Simon Fraser, 23-17. Quick had 5 goals and 2 assists. Hutton Murphy had 3 goals and 3 assists. SUU beat Claremont, 16-10. Utah State beat Bridgewater, 13-8 and Utah Tech beat Oklahoma, 10-3. Kale Van Lierop had 4 goals to lead the Trailblazers. Harley Kenney made 13 saves in the win.
On Sunday, Utah State fell to Rhode Island, 19-10. Utah Tech lost to SMU, 12-8.
Coming Up
It’s a slow week for games and the rare week there won’t be a men’s home game to go watch.
Utah heads to Marquette on Wednesday to face the Golden Eagles in a midday, midweek matchup. The game will begin at 11:00am MT on ESPN+.
UVU heads to Southern California for a two game swing against UCSB and Cal Poly.
Utah Tech will head to the Pacific Northwest to take on Oregon State, Washington State and Central Washington.
Wednesday
11:00am - Utah @ Marquette
5:00pm - UVU @ UCSB
Friday
8:00pm - UVU @ Cal Poly
8:00pm - Utah Tech @ Oregon State
Saturday
Noon - Utah Tech v. Washington State @ CWU
2:00pm - Utah Tech @ Central Washington
Elevate Lacrosse is Utah’s leading development AND elite girl’s lacrosse program since 2012. Learn more at utahelevate.com.
Womens
BYU and Utah faced off on Crimson Field, so it was already an uphill battle for the Cougars. Though both teams have been playing comparatively well, this was the time for the Utes to shine. They took the win 17-9. Kendall Danielson led the charge for Utah with an amazing 8 points, and goalie Liv Lowe kept the blue at bay, blocking 50% of their shots on goal.
Another Utah faceoff happened between Utah Valley and Utah State, with the Wolverines trouncing the Aggies 14-6. We have to commend USU goalie Hailey Campbell, who kept the score relatively low, blocking 11 of the 25 attempts by UVU. Most of those were made by Katherine Weekes, who had a great game with 5 points total.
Utah Tech and Southern Utah headed to the Colorado School of Mines for a handful of games. The Trailblazers went 0-2 in games reported. SUU was 0-3 on the weekend.
The NCAA D-II Westminster women’s team was in Florida, and we hope they enjoyed the weather because the outcome of the game was rough. They lost 18-7 to Flagler in St. Augustine. Led by a two-goal performance from Lilliana Montano and a late surge from Holly Shoughro, the Griffins closed the contest on a spirited 4-0 run. With ten combined saves from goalkeepers Kaelyn Hart, Kaitlyn Parish, and Sienna Garcia,
Coming Up
There are three opporunties to see live women’s lacrosse this week!
Friday
5:00pm - UC-Colorado Springs @ Westminster
Saturday
5:00pm - SUU @ BYU
Sunday
Noon - Regis @ Westminster
High School
Vessel Kitchen is the proud sponsor of the 2026 Boys and Girls Coaches Polls. Visit one of 10 locations across the Wasatch Front for a great postgame meal!
Boys’ Week #1 Coaches Poll
The season is officially underway, and the first week of 2026 has already delivered major shakeups. While some programs are coasting on reputation, others have made statement wins that forced an immediate reshuffling of the Top 10.
The early-season story is dominated by Juan Diego’s stunning overtime victory against 6A powerhouse and 5-time state champion Corner Canyon. This “giant-killing” performance propelled the 4A Soaring Eagle up six spots to No. 5, marking them as the most dangerous team in the young season. See the game-winning goal below!
While Park City has seized the No. 1 ranking and the majority of first-place votes (12), the poll shows a high level of parity. Five different teams received at least one first-place vote this week, suggesting that the top of the ladder is anything but settled.
The Miners dominated Lone Peak on Wednesday, winning 20-3. Henry Alnwick led Park City with 5 goals and 4 assists. Park City will host Bountiful on Friday.
Brighton began its season with a 10-5 win over West Field and a 17-2 win over Jordan. The Bengals will take on Judge on Friday in a must-see game. Is this game a 5A semifinal preview?
Judge was idle the first week of the season and will West Field and Brighton this week.
Corner Canyon fell to Juan Diego in overtime, 14-13, then bounced back against Northridge, 15-8. The Chargers will host Herriman on Friday before heading to Farmington on 3/17.
Juan Diego, the early season darlings, beat Corner Canyon, 14-13, in overtime on a 7 goal, 2 assist game by Parker Stolz. The Soaring Eagle will face East and Ridgeline this week.
Skyridge began the season with a 16-3 win over Timpanogos then headed to sunny Southern California to take on Del Norte and San Marcos. The Falcons won both games, 10-6 and 15-5, respectively. The team also practiced at the NLL Seals outdoor box field, which was pretty cool to see. The Falcons aren’t ready to come though and will take on St. Augustine today. An away contest on Friday at Riverton finishes out the week.
Farmington beat Box Elder, 21-3, to open the season strong. Games against Fremont and Woods Cross will help the Phoenix continue to rise and gain momentum before facing Corner Canyon on 3/17.
Mother nature moved the Titans first game from Friday to Saturday but it didn’t matter as Olympus beat West Field, 9-2, on Saturday. You can view pictures of that game here. Oly takes to the road to face Los Alamitos and San Clemente this week in California.
Alta beat Bingham, 9-6, last week and will take on Salem Hills and West Field this week. JJ Massi had 5 goals for the Hawks in the win over Bingham.
Davis beat Logan, 20-0, last week and will take on Woods Cross and Cedar Valley this week.
There are some other games this week we will be keeping an eye on. Monday, Payson heads to Bountiful which should be a good measuring stick for both teams. Snow Canyon will take on San Clemente. On Tuesday, Wasatch heads to Mountain Ridge for a 7:00pm showdown. That game will be live streamed on kslsports.com/watch. On Wednesday, Northridge heads to Bountiful which is a great 5A matchup.
Boys Spotlight Game of the Week by Hill and Hill Photography
Riverton vs. Roy: Silverwolves Make a Statement
The Riverton Silverwolves opened their 2026 campaign with a resounding 22-4 victory over the Roy Royals, proving that their 6A size and experience are a force to be reckoned with. While the first game of any season carries an air of mystery, Riverton wasted no time asserting dominance. Jayden Wilken ignited the scoring in the opening minute, leading a first-quarter surge where six different Silverwolves found the back of the net. Alongside Wilken, teammates Derick Shulsen, Treyden Applegarth, Logan Huntsman, Ethan Ware, and Gavin Shepherd all contributed to a 6-0 lead by the end of the first frame.
The scoring barrage intensified in the second quarter as Riverton exploded for 11 additional goals. Zebulan Blunk, Crew Peterson, Ryder Peterson, and Ryder Gatherum joined the scoresheet, pushing the halftime lead to a commanding 16-0. Despite the deficit, the young Roy squad showed significant resilience under new head coach Reed Keller. The Royals’ defense tightened up after the break, limiting Riverton to just five goals in the third and one in the fourth. Roy ultimately finished the game on a high note, outscoring Riverton 4-1 in the final period behind the play of Carden Schieb, Tyler Dixon, and TJ Reese. While the Silverwolves officially put the 6A classification on notice with 11 different scorers, the Royals proved they have the grit to grow as the 2026 season unfolds.
Based in Park City, Minerstown is a Gym and a Community. For more info, please visit: minerstownpc.com
Girls’ Week #1 Coaches Poll
The girls’ teams also saw some big changes this week. With Olympus’ loss to Riverton, there are questions about the season ahead and who could be in the finals. Things should become a lot clearer as more teams have their first games this week.
Park City continues to set the gold standard, maintaining its grip on the top spot with a commanding 19 first-place votes. However, the real movement is happening just below them.
Bear River also continues to gain significant traction among the state’s coaches, moving up as they prepare fo a high-stakes showdown against 6A Davis.
Riverton has emerged as the week’s biggest climber, surging three spots into the No. 4 position—a clear signal that the Silverwolves are ready to contend for a title this year. Riverton will head to No. 9 Salem Hills on Tuesday.
Olympus heads to California to take on Huntington Beach and Marlborough.
While some teams are rising, others are feeling the pressure of a competitive opening week. Lone Peak saw the largest dip, sliding three spots, though they remain a dangerous program capable of a quick comeback.
Girls Spotlight Game of the Week by Hill and Hill Photography
Timpview vs. Juan Diego: Thunderbirds Braving the Elements
It wouldn’t be opening day for Utah high school lacrosse without a cold, steady rain, and the elements set a dramatic stage for Timpview’s 13-6 victory over Juan Diego. The Thunderbirds’ Kensington Hyde established herself as the player of the game early, scoring the season’s first goal at the nine-minute mark and eventually finishing with an impressive six-goal performance. Supported by early strikes from Eliza Elmer and Emy Turner, Timpview jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Juan Diego’s Ali Horner broke through to end the first-quarter shutout.
The momentum shifted slightly in the second quarter as Soaring Eagle goalie Hannah Hanie anchored a gritty defensive stand. Hanie recorded eight saves in the first half alone, allowing teammate Grace Kerriggan to help pull Juan Diego within three goals at halftime. However, Timpview returned to the rain-soaked field “on fire” for the third period. Goals from Turner, Hyde, and a pair from sophomore Brianna Black extended the lead to six. Although Juan Diego’s Tilly Pool, Jen Lewis, Jocelyn Cruz-Diaz, and Lana Chan led a spirited three-goal run in the final frame, a late goal by Sloan Knudsen sealed the hard-fought win for Timpview. Both programs head into the season with clear positives, having proved they can maintain a high level of play even in the toughest Utah weather.
Stick Clicks
Thank you to all the photographers who submitted this week! We have a great variety of pictures and I’m very grateful for the response for this feature. We’ll do this every week! On a separate, but related note, we’ll be hosting an end of year photo contest! Stay tuned for details.
Click on the photos to see them in a gallery. Photos this week come from: Bennett Hurst, Christy Marshall, Dalton Mobley, Jared Hill, John Nickell, Max Chapman, Maycee Larson, Sabrina Czipka, Tyree McFarland.
Team Up Athletics is the source for lacrosse jerseys, fan gear, player packs and more. Visit teamupathletics.com to find your local rep and get gear today.
Notes
Adaptive Goalie Clinic
Park City native and University of Utah alumni, Connor Hollison, has started a goalie training company, Adaptive Goaltending Academy, and will be hosting two goalie clinics in Utah. The first one will be on March 21 from 5-8pm at Judge Memorial. The clinic will be run by Hollison, Conor O’Neill and feature past Utah players as shooters! Salt Lake Goalie Clinic Info
Also, Hollison is hosting the ‘Zion Goalie Summit’ in St. George on Friday, March 27th. More information for the St. George clinic can be found here.
Interview w/ Fish Bartlett
Last week I spoke with Fish Bartlett who is the owner of Tribal West Lacrosse. Fish has been a staple in the community for a long time and we talked about starting Tribal West, becoming one tribe, clinics, gear and more. Hope you enjoy the show!
Be sure to shop online at tribalwest.com and use the code FREESHIPUTAH26 for free shipping!
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on YouTube
PLL & WLL Recaps
The WLL Championship Series was won by the New York Charging who beat the California Palms, 18-11. Izzy Scane and Emily Hawryschuk had six points in the win. Madison Douchette had 16 saves.
The PLL Championship Series was won by the Carolina Chaos who had a commanding win over the California Redwoods, 24-16. Shane Knobloch had 4 goals, 2 2-pointers and an assist for a total of 9 points for the Chaos. Austin Kaut had 20 saves.
That’s all for now, see you next week!