KSL Recap, Coaches Poll and Athletes Mental Health
KSL Recap, Coaches Poll and Athletes Mental Health
Good Morning Utah Lacrosse, today we recap on the KSL Game Night Rewind of Park City vs West Jordan, Boys and Girls Coaches Poll of the Top 10 teams in Utah, and Athletes mental health.
COACHES: please be sure to check your email and groupme as the nomination form has been sent out for the Senior All Star Games.
Utah Lacrosse Report sponsors make this all possible. Visit our title sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Condition(website).
Mental Health
As the spring season comes to an end, athletes gear up for the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead. It's a time of anticipation, where dreams of victory dance on the horizon. But amidst the excitement, there's a crucial task at hand: maintaining focus. Here are some strategies to help athletes stay on track as they prepare for the end of spring season:
1. Set Clear Goals: The journey to success begins with a roadmap. Athletes should establish SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These goals provide direction and motivation, guiding athletes towards their desired outcomes.
2. Visualization: The power of the mind is a formidable ally. Athletes are encouraged to visualize success, imagining themselves performing at their peak during competitions. By vividly picturing each step of their routines or strategies, athletes can enhance their confidence and mental preparation.
3. Positive Reinforcement: A pat on the back goes a long way. Coaches and teammates should offer praise and positive feedback to athletes for their efforts and achievements. This reinforcement boosts confidence, fuels motivation, and reinforces the belief in their abilities.
4. Stay Present: The past is history, the future a mystery – the present is a gift. Athletes must focus on the here and now, avoiding dwelling on past performances or worrying about future outcomes. Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help athletes stay grounded and fully engaged in the moment.
5. Manage Pressure: Pressure is inevitable, but how athletes handle it makes all the difference. Coaches can help athletes develop strategies for coping with pressure, such as reframing negative thoughts, utilizing relaxation techniques, or focusing on process-oriented goals rather than outcome-oriented ones.
6. Maintain Routine: Consistency breeds confidence. Athletes should stick to their training and competition routines leading up to the summer season. This consistency not only optimizes physical performance but also instills a sense of preparedness and confidence.
7. Encourage Rest and Recovery: A well-rested body and mind are essential for peak performance. Coaches should ensure that athletes prioritize rest and recovery to prevent burnout and reduce the risk of injuries. Adequate sleep, nutrition, and hydration are crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-being.
8. Provide Support: No athlete is an island. Coaches and teammates should be there to listen to athletes' concerns and offer support when needed. A strong support system helps athletes navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and stay focused on their goals.
By implementing these strategies, coaches can help athletes keep their heads in the game and perform at their best as they approach the summer season. With determination, discipline, and a dash of inspiration, these athletes are primed to conquer the challenges that await them on the field of play.
KSL Game Night Rewind: Recap
In a commanding performance, the Park City Miners, dominated their home conference game against West Jordan, clinching a resounding 22-4 victory. The Park City squad showcased remarkable offensive prowess, led by standout players like So. (#18) Coco Crawford, Jr. (#5) Megan Magee, and Jr. (#40) Maddie McHenry, who collectively contributed to their team's impressive 22-goal tally. Supported by a solid defensive effort and strong goaltending, Park City maintained control throughout the match, securing a decisive win and demonstrating their strength as a formidable contender in the league.
Watch Park City vs West Jordan hosted by Dane Stewart and McKenzie Christiansen on KSL Game Night Rewind.
Next is Wednesday May 1st at Brighton High School.
No. 1 Olympus - Olympus steps it up to first place this week, with the most votes. Olympus is Overall 10-2, No. 3 in region 6 with 4-1. Olympus plays Park City May 1st and Highland May 3rd.
No. 2 Brighton - Brighton sees their first shift in weeks as the fall to second place. Brighton is 14-0 overall. No.1 in region 6 with 5-0. Brighton plays Highland May 1st and West Jordan May 3rd.
No. 3 Park City - Park City is overall 10-2. No.2 in region 6 with 5-0. Park City plays Olympus May 1st and West May 3rd.
No. 4 Davis - Davis faced Farmington last week, ultimately losing 7-6. Kash Gates emerged as the MVP, showcasing his prowess by effectively neutralizing his assigned opponent, preventing any points. Despite grappling with significant injuries, other players seized the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, although it wasn't sufficient to clinch victory this time. Farmington truly earned their win, and I'm optimistic our team will rise to the challenge in our upcoming game. In contrast, Davis secured a decisive victory against Syracuse with a score of 18-3. Our offense excelled in distributing the ball and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Notably, we prioritized teamwork over individual plays, involving multiple players in the action—a commendable display of selflessness. With an overall record of 9-2 and holding the top spot in region 1 with a 6-1 standing, Davis is poised for continued success. Looking ahead, our next matches are against Fremont on April 30th and Layton on May 2nd.
No. 5 Fremont - Fremont is overall 11-4 and No. 3 in region 1. Fremont will play Davis April 30th and Weber May 2nd.
No. 6 Farmington - Farmington played Fremont where they lost 13-6. Final thought on this game from Coach Taylor “tough to give everything these boys have physically and emotionally into the Davis game and then take only 1 day to try and regroup for a really good Fremont team. But we love having these great teams in our region that push and test us!” Farmington is overall 8-3 and No. 2 in region 1. Farmington plays Weber April 30th and Syracuse May 2nd.
No. 7 Corner Canyon - Corner Canyon is 10-1 overall and No. 1 in region 2. Corner Canyon plays Bingham April 30th and Copper Hills May 2nd.
No. 8 East - East is overall 7-4 and No. 4 in region 6. East lost to No. 2 Brighton, 5-3, in this game East nominated Jack Nixon for his remarkable goalie skills and defense during this game. Nixon had 36 saves! Secondly East faced off with No. 1 Olympus where they lost 10-3. East marks Jack Tuft as the games MVP. The defense had an overall great game. East plays Cedar Valley April 29th and No. 10 Alta May 1st.
No. 9 Judge - Judge is overall 9-3 and No. 1 in region 10. Judge plays Juan Diego May 1st and Herriman on May 4th.
No. 10 Alta - Alta is 7-6 overall and No. 5 in region 6. Alta plays No. 8 East May 1st and Skyline May 3rd.
No. 1 Olympus -The Olympus' girls lacrosse team is tearing up the field like a pack of determined Olympians! With a record of 11-1, they've jumped to the number one spot since last week. In their recent games last week against Skyridge and Skyline, they were scoring goals faster than you can say "stick check!". Monday, they beat the Skyridge Falcons 21-5 in an away game with players like Masami Goodick (#8) leading the team with her 7 goals, Hannah Nelson (#3) with 6 of the teams’ 17 assists, and the ground ball guru Lily Nelson (#11) being named Player of the Game. Wednesday, they found their second win against the Skyline Eagles (22-6) where senior Hazel Baker (#5) led their scoring efforts with 7 goals and 2 assists, junior Sarah Anné (#12) with 5 goals, a 55% team shooting percentage, and 7 caused turnovers as a team. Next up, an away game against Park City on Wednesday (5/1) at 7pm, where they'll undoubtedly bring the heat.
No. 2 Park City- Park City's girls lacrosse team is navigating the field with the finesse of a skier on fresh powder! With a stellar record of 10-1, they might have slipped down one spot in this week’s poll, but they're still hitting the ground running. They were able to secure two victories last week, the first on Wednesday against the Highland Rams (22-3) with 16 of their goals finding the net in the first half and 12 of them were from assists. It’s no surprise Park City was able to get an 82% team shot percentage with junior Megan Magee (#5) and sophomore Sophie Neff (#19) scoring 4 goals individually and a 71% team draw control. Sophomore defender Lily Yatkeman (#44) was Player of the Game thanks to her determination in getting the ball back to her offensive side. On Friday, Park City closed out their week winning against the West Jordan Jaguars (22-4) and naming sophomore midfielder Coco Crawford (#9) Player of the Game after scoring 5 goals, making 1 assist, and having 6 draw wins. With their upcoming home game against number one position, Olympus, on Wednesday at 7pm, they're ready to defend their turf and show why they're still a force to be reckoned with.
No. 3 Woods Cross- The Woods Cross girls are on a winning streak with an undefeated record of 12-0 overall, they're sitting pretty at the top of the 5A and another week at the third position in the coaches’ weekly poll. Their home game on Wednesday vs Clearfield ended in the Wildcats favor (12-3) where they showed their midfield improvements of 15 caused turnovers. Their offense was led by junior Rylee Linton (#16) with 5 goals and an assist, senior Ella Mathews (#2) with 3 goals and 2 assists and freshman Lila Dunn (#45) obtaining possession with impressive draw control. Junior Grace "Mac & Cheese" MacArthur (#46) whose first season on the field has named her JV captain, found her playing time in varsity games, and earned her player of the game against Clearfield. Coach Christiansen explains how “the wildcats have grown their IQ and skills a ton over the season…this game shows our ladies how much they have improved, and they can keep going up from here. Wildcats have always had a ‘good team’ but this year…they are a ‘great team.’” The Wildcats ended last week with an away win against Bountiful (14-8) where the team showcased an impressive midfield game; Megan Madsen (#10), Rachel Sims (#26) and Grace MacArthur (#46) leading in caused turnovers, while senior Ella Mathews (#2) had 12 draw controls and Lila Dunn took 8. Sophomore Sophie Burden (#11) was named player of the game due to her stepping “it up on defense as we played with 4 of our 6 defenders gone. Sophie excelled at fast breaks and really kept the defense together”. With their upcoming game against Viewmont on Wednesday, they're ready to defend their record!
No. 4 Mountain Ridge- The lady Sentinels continue to hold strong in the third position of the weekly coaches’ poll with a 10-4 season record, which at this point has been their title since week 3! First of the week, a nail-biter against Bingham on Tuesday under away lights left them just shy of a victory (12-13). Their team had an impressive midfield performance with 19 ground balls and 5 caused turnovers. With 2 goals, 1 caused turnover and 1 draw control of her own, junior defender and midfielder Kimber Hanks (#4) was named Player of the Game by head coach, Angie Maughan. They bounced back like champs against Corner Canyon on Thursday, showing off their scoring prowess and defensive muscle at home, securing a 19-10 win, with 12 of those goals in the first half alone. The team showcased a 63% draw control, had lead scorer Emmery Clark (#32) found the back of the goal 6 times, and caused 7 turnovers. Freshman Taylie Anderson (#14) had 3 goals, 1 assist, 3 ground balls and 7 draw controls ultimately naming her Player of the Game. Next up: a showdown against Copper Hills on the road, where they'll be looking to snatch victory once again at 7:30pm!
No. 5 Riverton- Riverton, led by Coach Joey Dorton, is riding the victory wave with a record of 10-1 and held their position in the Coaches’ Poll from last week! They kicked off the week with a winning performance against Copper Hills (20-1) on Tuesday, where they managed to win draws across their entire midfield lineup, make 13 of their 20 goals off assists and hold a 74% team shot percentage where Junior Emma Pennington (#38) led her team with 5 goals of her own. Riverton managed to scoop up 30 team ground balls, where both Davenports (senior Kaitlyn #13 and sophomore Britney #24) each taking 6 of their own. Due to her 3 goals and team mentality, sophomore Paisley Young (#11) was named Player of the Game. Then, they faced Bingham on Thursday that had spectators on the edge of their seats, winning 18-12, where 12 of their goals were assisted. Riverton had 15 team caused turnovers, while Grace Jenson (#14) had 4 of her own. Senior Bella Butterfield (#1) led the charge with 4 assists, 3 goals, 2 caused turnovers, and 4 draw controls naming her Player of the Game. Head coach Dorton shares her thoughts about the game explaining how “despite some challenges on the draw, our defense put up some awesome defensive stops to give our attack more possessions and overall we played really well as a team to come away with the win”. With their eyes set on Herriman for their next game at home on Tuesday at 5:30pm, it's safe to say that Riverton is ready for the challenge!
No. 6 Bingham- The Bingham Miners are keeping the field hot with their dynamic gameplay, holding a season 8-5 record and continuing into this next week in 6th. They started last week with a nail-biting victory against Mountain Ridge on Tuesday (13-12), where junior Sophie Grizzle (#27) practically vacuumed up the ground balls like a pro getting 10 of the team’s 26 pickups. Also notable is the team’s 72% show percentage and impressive caused turnovers. Senior Brenna Miller (#21) was named Player of the Game and racked up stats with 2 goals and 3 ground balls. However, they faced a tough loss against Riverton on Thursday (12-18), despite some impressive stats from players like Sophie Curtis (#12) with 12 draw controls, Sophie Grizzle (#27) with 16 ground balls and a team shot percentage of 75%. With their sights set on their region game against Corner Canyon at home tomorrow at 5:30pm, Bingham is gearing up to show off their skills once again, ready to bounce back like champions!
No. 7 Brighton- The Brighton Bengals, led by Coach Melissa Nash, continue their season with a 9-3 record and moved up a position this week, with no signs of slowing down. During a home game at the jungle, Brighton had a shutout win against Northridge (15-0) on Monday where junior Caroline Lee (#15) made 3 goals and was named Player of the Game. Coach Nash expresses her gratitude to Northridge “…for coming to the Jungle...Northridge and Coach Larsen are aggressive and on the rise! [We are] excited to watch them for the seasons to come”. On Wednesday, Brighton found another win under home jungle lights (16-2) against East where junior Bella Fisher (#17) was chosen as Player of the Game due to her 2 goals, 1 assist and 3 ground ball pickups. Reflecting on their opponents, Nash expresses how “Emily Lange and East have grown so much in the past year! We always love playing them.” Not only did the varsity players find playing time last week, but both games were also a Brighton Girls Youth Night, where varsity were escorted by K-2, 3-4, 5-6 or 7-8 grade players showcasing how “Brighton is in good hands for years to come!” Rounding out their week on Friday against Syracuse on Friday with a home win of 11-8, Brighton has their eyes set on their next opponent this Wednesday at 7:30pm, Highland, where the Bengals are ready to bring the heat and keep the good times rolling in the jungle!
No. 8 Bear River- New to the top 10 this week of the Coaches’ Poll, but not this season, Bear River continues their flawless 12-0 record. This week, they found their way to victory against the Logan Grizzlies away on Wednesday (17-2), showing that teamwork truly makes the dream work, with 7 team caused turnovers, 8 of their goals were from assists and an 87% team draw control. Junior Shelby Wilkinson (#9) was named Player of the Game by Coach Webb, with 6 goals and 4 assists herself. And let's not forget their Friday home game against Mountain Crest, where they secured a 20-5 victory. Senior Jasey Larkin (#12) had a six-goal extravaganza and an impeccable draw game. Bear River gears up to take on the Green Canyon Wolves in their next conference game on Wednesday at 5:30pm.
No. 9 Herriman- On a roll as we enter week 9 of the 2024 season, the Herriman ladies move up a position in the Coaches’ Poll from last week holding a 7-5 season record. Led by head coach Audree Erekson, they unleashed their skill against Corner Canyon on Tuesday, securing a 20-8 home victory. Continuing their winning streak, they beat Copper Hills 17-2 at home, proving they’re an entire team of many skilled athletes! Herriman is ready to bring their A-game tomorrow against Riverton at 5:30pm under away lights.
No. 10 Farmington- Farmington's girls' lacrosse team is riding the waves of success with their witty gameplay and determined attitude holding a 9-3 season record but moving down a position this week. They conquered their cross-town rivals, Davis, in a charged game on Tuesday that showcased their composure and focus, winning 15-7. Junior Hailey Larsen (#24) emerged as the Player of the Game, dominating the field with her impressive stats (5 goals, 2 assists, 10 draw controls, 1 caused turnover, 2 ground balls) and unwavering determination. As they gear up for their next challenge against Weber tomorrow at 5:15pm on the road, Farmington is poised to keep their winning streak alive and kicking!
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