Honoring the Memory of Callum Robinson, Recap on Brighton vs Highland and Coaches Poll

May 6th Girls High School

Hello second winter! Hope all our boarders and Skiers are loving the snow. While it’s defiantly is putting a damper on our practices and games today.

In today's article, we'll be honoring the memory of a beloved friend, mentor, and teammate, Callum Robinson. We’ll also be diving into the matchup between Brighton vs Highland (Girls) a long with our top 10 teams.

Utah Lacrosse Report sponsors make this all possible. Visit our title sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Condition(website).

Callum Robinson: 1991-2024

The lacrosse community is heartbroken by the tragic news that we received over the weekend. We mourn the loss of a soul who touched lives from the United States to Australia, taken from us in what appears to be a senseless act of robbery in Baja California, Mexico. Callum, along with his brother Jake and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, were avid surfers, chasing waves in Baja California over the weekend. For more details, you can find the story on CNN.

Callum was not only known for his exceptional lacrosse skills, showcased on teams like PLL Atlas, the Australian National team, Stevenson, Wimmer, and San Diego Lacrosse, but also for his boundless love for the sport. Affectionately known as the Koala, he resided in sunny California, where he found joy in surfing, coaching lacrosse, and playing the game he cherished.

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KSL Rewind Game of the Week: Brighton host Highland

The Brighton Bengals dominated their home conference game against the Highland Rams on Wednesday, clinching a 15-6 victory on Brighton’s senior night. Brighton showcased remarkable offensive prowess, led by standout players like Sr. (#4) Isabelle Gurley with 3 goals while Jr. (#15) Caroline Lee, So. (#20) Sophie Nielsen and Sr. (#23) Alexandra Heugly who all scored 4 goals individually. Supported by a solid defensive effort and strong goaltending by Annabelle Keefer (#13), Brighton maintained control throughout the senior night, securing a win and demonstrating their strength as a formidable contender in the league.

Watch Brighton vs Highland hosted by Dane Stewart and Megan Chambers on KSL Game Night Rewind.

Teams Getting Votes: Lone Peak, West Jordan, Bingham, Fremont, Davis, Syracuse, and Juan Diego.

No. 1 Olympus - Under the expert guidance of Coach Zana Spratling, these titans have held onto their coveted 1^st position in the weekly coaches' poll. With an impressive 12-1 overall record, they're sitting pretty at 2nd in Class 5A, 2nd in Utah and 1^st in Region 6 with a perfect 6-0 region record. Last week was a testament to their skill as they clashed with Park City in a thrilling away game on Wednesday, clinching a hard-fought 13-8 victory. The team showed off their defensive prowess with 6 caused turnovers, while 5 of their goals came from assists, Hazel Baker (#5) led the charge with 3 assists herself. Coach Spratling couldn't contain her excitement, especially with standout performances from junior midfielder Sarah Anné (#12) dominating the draw control at 83% and self-drawing 16 of them, giving them the edge they needed. In addition to Anné, senior goalie Sydney Rossi (#0) for her 11 saves and senior midfielder Hannah Nelson (#3) for her 4 goals in the 1^st quarter (going 5 goals for 6 shots overall) were named players of the game. With their regular-season games ending this week, Olympus is gearing up for their game against West Jordan at home on Wednesday (May 8^th) at 7 PM. Mark your calendars and get ready to witness lacrosse magic in action!

No. 2 Woods Cross - Get ready to unleash your inner wildcat because Woods Cross Girls Lacrosse is on an absolute tear! Under the guidance of Coach McKenzie Christiansen, they are clawing their way up the ranks, securing the 2nd spot in this week's coaches' poll with an undefeated 14-0 record. They secured their Region 5 champs title after their wins this past week. First up, they hit the road to play Viewmont on Wednesday, winning with a commanding 23-7 victory. Goals were flying in from all angles, with 9 different players finding the back of the net on the Wildcat offense, 10 team CTs and 32 draw controls. Player of the Game honors went to sophomore Brook Bradley (#31), who showcased her skills with a critical goal and a caused turnover, in addition to her hard work, commitment to attending every practice and listening well. Coach Christiansen explains how the “Wildcats showed up and showed off. The team has grown a great amount this season and this is just another game that showed off their growth.” Friday night brought a historic moment for the Wildcats as they clinched their region title with a resounding 19-1 win over Northridge on senior night. It was a fitting tribute to their senior athletes, with captains Ella Mathews (#2), Ella Holland (#4), and Eliza Sargent (#7) among the seniors being recognized alongside teammates Bree Coleman (#13) and Dani Brey (#18). Player of the Game honors went to Holland, whose unwavering determination and positivity shone through as she secured her goal. Reflecting on senior night, Coach Christiansen says how “the scoreboard shows a great win but in the wildcats’ heart, we know we play a cleaner game. We will reflect on this game to see how we can better our passes, use our drills and tighten our rides. Although we won, there is always room to grow as a team”. With just two regular-season games left, including an away game against Box Elder on Wednesday (May 8^th) at 5:30 PM, the Wildcats are hungry for more victories!

No. 3 Park City - Despite a slight dip in the weekly coaches' poll moving down one position, the lady Miners are still standing tall with an impressive 11-2 overall record, proudly sitting at the top of the Utah lacrosse scene. In the region, they're holding their ground with a 5-1 record, ranking 3rd in Region 6. Last week, Park City kicked things off with a tough home game against Olympus on Wednesday, ending in an 8-13 loss. Most notable was that 5 of the team’s 8 goals were made from assists, with junior Megan Magee (#5) leading the assist game while sophomore Grace Puleo (#23) snagged Player of the Game honors with her stellar defensive efforts securing 2 ground balls and 1 CT. But fear not, because Friday brought redemption as they hit the road against West on Friday, securing a strong 27-0 victory. With an incredible 93% team draw control and a whopping 12 goals assisted out of their 27, these girls were firing on all cylinders. Leading assister was senior Sophie Neff (#19) with 4 assists. Player of the Game went to defender senior Peyton McClelland (#41), who showed that defense wins championships with her rock-solid play of 1 goal, 2 ground balls and 1 CT. With just two regular-season games left, the Miners are gearing up for a home region game against Brighton on Wednesday (May 8^th) at 7pm which also happens to be their senior night. Will they send their seniors off with a bang?

No. 4 Riverton - Climbing up a spot in the weekly coaches' poll this week, the Riverton Girls’ have an impressive 12-1 overall record and hold the top spot in Region 2. Last week was a whirlwind of victories for the lady Silverwolves. First, they battled it out against Herriman at home on Tuesday, snagging a hard-fought 14-12 win. Game MVPs went to junior Maddie Hart (#9) due to her leading the charge with her 3 ground balls and 2 critical turnovers, and junior Izzy Blunck (#10) due to her getting a hat trick and 2 assists, showcasing her all-around skills with 5 ground balls and a caused turnover. Then, they hit the road to take on Mountain Ridge on Thursday, clinching another victory with a 12-9 final score. Senior Bella Butterfield (#1) stole one of the game MVP titles, with 4 draw controls, 9 ground balls, and 2 caused turnovers, all while chipping in a goal and 2 assists. Let's not forget about another game MVP, Rachel Strong (#50), the sophomore goalie who powered through illness to keep Mountain Ridge at bay, tallying an impressive 10 saves on 19 shots and help the Sentinels scoreless during 3^rd quarter. Their next challenge? Their game against Pleasant Grove tomorrow, May 7th, away at 7:30 PM. Will the Silverwolves continue their winning streak?

No. 5 Mountain Ridge - As we enter week 11 of the 2024 lacrosse season, Mountain Ridge drops a spot in the weekly coaches' poll but are holding strong with an 11-5 overall record and a 7-3 region record, putting them 4^th in the state and 2^nd in Region 2. Last week saw them dominate Copper Hills on Tuesday with an 18-3 win, led by Olivia Cannon's (#25) 5 goals and Kalli Guymon (#11) with 3 goals. But it wasn't just about the goals; Emmery Clark (#32) dished out 5 assists, showing she's all about setting up her teammates for success, being more assists than goals for her during one game. Also notable were the team’s 33 ground balls, 13 CTs (Brielle Fabert with 4 herself), 75% team draw control (Taya Chalk and Taylie Anderson leading their team in draw controls) and having 3 different goalies take guard between the posts: senior Bailey Sanders (#27), freshman Gretta Tree (#70) and junior Aunna Wolf (#80) who was chosen as player of the game with her 4 saves of 5 shots on goal. Then, in a tight home game against Riverton on Thursday, Mountain Ridge fell short 9-12, with standout performances from Taya Chalk (#57) with 9 ground balls of the team’s 43 and Brielle Fabert (#24) with 4 caused turnovers of the team’s 15. Player of the game honors went to senior Bailey Sanders (#27), who held her own in the goal for the whole game, racking up 6 saves and snatching 2 ground balls. With playoffs looming and no more regular-season games in sight, the Sentinels are gearing up to bring the heat when it counts!

No. 6 Bingham - Hold onto your sticks, because we're diving into the wild world of Bingham Girls Lacrosse! Under the guidance of Coach Courtney McCabe, the Miners are holding their spot in the Coaches’ Poll with an overall record of 9-6, ranking 4^th in Region 2 (region record 6-5), and 2^nd in Class 6A. According to head coach Courtney McCabe, they've been grinding hard, and they're itching to wrap up the region and shift their focus to playoffs. This past week met, the Miners defeated Corner Canyon in a home game, netting themselves a 22-9 victory on Tuesday. Coach McCabe chose junior Sophie Grizzle (#27) as game MVP, scoring 6 goals, dishing out an assist, and snagging 12 ground balls. Ending the week with an away game against Herriman on Thursday, Bingham took home a 13-18 loss before their last game of the regular season, tomorrow (May 7^th), against Lone Peak at 5:30pm on home turf.

No. 7 Brighton - Hold onto your sticks, because the Brighton Girls Lacrosse team, led by Coach Melissa Nash, is showing no mercy on the field holding their position in this week’s coaches’ poll. With an impressive 11-3 overall record and a solid 6-1 in the region, they're sitting at 2^nd in both Region 6 and Class 5A. This week was no exception to their prowess, as they trounced Highland 15-6 in a home game on Wednesday, led by MVP Emma Henderson's impenetrable defense: 1v1 defense, crashing, sliding, ground balls and communicating! Goalie Annabelle "Abe" Keefer (#13) put up a brick wall, , while Izzy Gurley (#4) and teammates Caroline Lee (#15), Alex Heugly (#23), and Sophie Nielsen (#20) unleashed an offensive barrage, each scoring four goals, making it a dazzling display of Bengal lacrosse! Being that Highland was also Brighton’s senior night, Coach Nash couldn't stop gushing over their six seniors: Isabelle Gurley (#4), Alexandra Heugly (#23), Zoey Keefer (#29), Emily Grace (#2), Ayla Cole (#22), and Ansley Phillips (#25). These senior Bengals have been playing together since their elementary days and “it was amazing to honor their hard work, dedication and their legacy they are leaving behind.” And just when you thought they'd take a breather, they stormed West Jordan's turf for an 18-7 victory on Friday. With their final regular-season game against Park City looming on Wednesday (May 8^th) at 7pm, it's safe to say these Bengals are on a winning streak that's got everyone cheering. 

No. 8 Bear River - The Bear River Bears are maintaining their winning streak, holding 8^th position in this week’s coaches’ poll with an undefeated overall record of 14-0 (region record 8-0), positioning them as 1^st in Region 11 and 1^st in Class 4A. Head coach Jeremy Webb has been leading the bears, he expressed how “in every game this year for the Lady Bears of Bear River, it has always been the way our team plays: as a whole, which has determined our success”. Last week, the lady Bears brought home two wins, starting with their home game against Green Canyon on Wednesday, showing off a 20-1 victory thanks to their 17 team draw controls (74% team draw percentage) and 11 caused turnovers (Jocephine Tanner, Bethany Richards, and Eve Allsup each having 2 CTs individually). Junior midfielder, Shelby Wilkinson (#9), dominated the field with 4 goals, 5 assists, 5 ground balls, 1 CT and 9 draw controls giving her the game MVP title. Their second win of the week was on Friday, 16-3, against Ridgeline under away lights. Bear River only has two more games during their 2024 regular season, with their next game being away on Wednesday (May 8^th) at 5:30pm against Skyline.

No. 9 Herriman - Continuing to hold the 9^th position in this week’s coaches’ poll, head coach Audree Erekson leads the Herriman Mustangs through the season with an 8-6 overall record and a 6-4 region record, putting them 3^rd in Region 2. Despite a tough loss to Riverton (12-14) under away lights on Tuesday, they bounced back with a roaring victory against Bingham (18-13) at home on Thursday, proving they're resilience and determination. The Mustangs play their last game of the regular season tomorrow (May 7^th) against Lehi at 5:30pm on home turf, aiming to end the regular season on a high note and charge into the playoffs with enthusiasm. 

No. 10 Farmington - The Farmington Phoenix girls' lacrosse team held their position firmly in this week’s rankings. With an overall record of 10-4, they're sitting pretty at 5^th in the state, 3^rd in Class 6A and 1^st in Region 1 (7-1 region record). In their recent game against Weber on Tuesday, the lady Phoenix took home a 14-5 win where they dominated the draw like a pro, claiming 18 wins and a team draw percentage of 78%. Head Coach, Chris MacAulay, shares his thoughts from this game that they learned processing the ball needs improvement. Junior goalie Elle Erickson (#21) was chosen as game MVP due to her making one incredible save after another for a total of 15 saves. The Phoenix faced a challenging defeat against Syracuse away on Thursday (10-12), despite having secured a victory against them a couple of weeks prior with a score of 14-8. Key points from the game include junior Kate Carter (#9) contributing 3 goals and 1 assist, while senior Edi Bayles (#12) made 4 CTs, with the team totaling 18 CTs. The MVP, Alexandra MacAulay (#27), scored 5 goals and provided an assist. Coach MacAulay expressed concern over the team's ball management, attributing it to pressure from the opponent and some decision-making errors. As they gear up to take on Layton at home in their next game tomorrow (May 7^th) at 7pm, the Phoenix are ready to rise from the ashes and claim victory once again!

As they continue to plan, they’d greatly appreciate your help in assessing interest within the community. Please share the following link with your network of players and their parents: Girls Box Interest Form.