NEW! Idaho Lacrosse Newsletter: Recap on 2023, Women's Stats Learning and Vandal Men's Lacrosse Closes their door for 2024.
Issue: 1
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The 2023 lacrosse season in Idaho was a rollercoaster of exhilarating highs and challenging transitions, shaping the state's sporting landscape in profound ways. As teams showcased their prowess and determination on the field, behind-the-scenes decisions reshaped the future trajectory of the sport. Timberline emerged as the undisputed powerhouse in the Southwest Idaho Lacrosse Association (SWILA) Division AA, led by standout players Benjamin Schulte and Isaac Nelson under Coach Leenders' guidance. Meanwhile, Centennial's flawless record in Division A highlighted their dominance, setting the stage for continued excellence despite the departure of influential seniors. Beyond the competitive arena, the decision of the Vandal Lacrosse team to suspend its participation in the 2024 MCLA season prompted introspection, while the emergence of a Box Lacrosse program offered new avenues for player development. As the spring season approaches, the anticipation mounts for another chapter of competition, camaraderie, and growth in Idaho lacrosse.
BOYS: 2023 SWILA Division AA Lacrosse Standings
Timberline secures the top spot in the AA Conference, emerging as the dominant force in the division. With an impressive 6-1 record in the AA Conference and an overall record of 10-2, the Wolves claim the coveted first place in the State of Idaho for the 2023 season. Leading the pack, Timberline boasts remarkable statistics with 147 goals scored, 65 assists, 393 ground balls, 136 faceoffs won, and 104 saves.
Key contributors to Timberline's success include Benjamin Schulte (class of 2023), Isaac Nelson (class of 2024), Shelby Idol (class of 2025), and Louis Myers (class of 2023). Despite the departure of two influential seniors from the 2023 roster, Coach Leenders has cultivated a deep bench of returning players for the 2024 season.
Timberline's quest for victory begins with their first faceoff against Mountain View on March 5th at 8:00 pm.
BOYS: 2023 SWILA Division A Lacrosse Standings
Centennial clinched the first-place title in the A Conference, marking an outstanding season with a flawless 7-0 record in conference play and an overall record of 11 wins and 3 losses. Their impressive performance secured them the fifth position in the State of Idaho for boys' lacrosse. The team's overall statistics reflect their dominance on the field, with 177 goals, 64 assists, 645 ground balls, 108 takeaways, 159 faceoffs won out of 266, and 97 saves.
In 2023, standout athletes for the Patriots included Connor Chapman (class of 2025), Andrew Deedon (class of 2023), Andrew Pipal (class of 2024), Justin Webb-Isabela (class of 2023), and Isrrael Narten (class of 2023). Despite the departure of these talented seniors, Centennial's coaching staff has ensured that the team remains well-equipped with strong returning players for the 2024 season.
The upcoming season kicks off with a home game against Kuna on March 12th at 7:00 pm.
Girls: Boise High School won state, in 2023!!
Boise dominated the 2023 lacrosse season with a remarkable record of 11 wins and [number] losses. The team showcased their offensive prowess by netting an impressive 181 goals while demonstrating solid defense, conceding only 30 goals against. A defining moment of the season occurred on April 26th when Boise faced off against Eagle High School in a nail-biting encounter. The game extended into overtime, where Boise ultimately secured victory with a thrilling 10-9 triumph, highlighting their resilience and determination on the field.
Boise High School's Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team celebrates an unprecedented third consecutive victory as Idaho State Champions! Congratulations to this undefeated squad, which has maintained a flawless record since March of 2022, solidifying their dominance on the lacrosse scene. Throughout the season, the team showcased an exceptional offensive prowess, amassing an astounding 213 goals, with standout players like Adriana Curtis, Delilah White, and Nora Reak leading the charge. Defensively, Boise proved equally formidable, conceding a mere 30 goals all season, thanks to the steadfast efforts of players like Finola McLain, Leah Dingman, Paige Chrisman, and Prairie Kirk. Freshman goalie Ania Ciplinski exhibited remarkable skill and agility, frustrating opponents with her lightning reflexes. The team's midfielders, spearheaded by Emma Palmer, Alex Warfel, Caroline Weyhrich, and Delilah White, played a pivotal role in controlling the game's flow. As the season draws to a close, Boise bids farewell to graduating seniors Prairie, Charlotte, and Emma, whose contributions have been instrumental to the team's success. With six players selected for the Idaho All Star Game and a promising JV team, Boise High School's lacrosse program looks poised for continued excellence in the seasons to come.
2024 Women’s Lacrosse Statisticians’ Manual: HERE
Do you need guidance on how to collect statistics for women's and girls' lacrosse in 2024?
Approved Rulings and Interpretations have been developed by Chip Rogers to ensure consistent application of statistical components in women's lacrosse. These rulings clarify rules and definitions for statisticians. Statisticians must understand both NCAA playing rules and statistical guidelines outlined in this manual. The manual provides guidelines to accurately record game events. If uncertain, statisticians should refer to the manual; otherwise, they should rely on their observations.
Key points from the manual include:
Important points from the article regarding games played and goals in women's lacrosse:
Games Played (Section 1):
- A player is charged with a game played if she is on the field while the clock is running.
- Exceptions include situations where a player enters during a dead-ball period and is substituted out before play resumes.
- If a player receives a card during a dead-ball period, such as a goalie, she is still charged with a game played but no minutes played.
- Games are not charged if they are never played or declared forfeit before reaching a "reasonable point of conclusion."
- The starting lineup consists of the 12 players who begin the game on the field.
Goals (Section 2):
- Goals are credited to the player who shoots the ball, with exceptions for own goals and certain situations.
- Assists are credited if a player's shot deflects off a teammate or defensive player into the goal, or if a pass leads directly to a goal.
- Goals nullified for any reason are not credited to any player.
- If a team is awarded a forfeit win, they are credited with an own goal.
- Goals scored when a team's own goalie is out of the crease playing defense are not considered empty-net goals.
Additional Points:
- Goalies are not allowed to attempt shots or be credited with goals scored.
Assists (Section 3):
- An assist is credited to a player who consciously contributes to a goal, typically by making a pass that directly leads to the goal.
- There's no specific time frame or distance factor for an assist, but the pass should contribute directly to the scoring play.
- Assists are not credited if the goal scorer dodges a defensive player after receiving the pass, unless the pass itself directly led to the shot.
- Consistency in judgment is essential when determining whether an assist should be credited.
Saves (Section 4):
- A save is recorded when a goalie prevents a shot from entering the goal.
- Shots that would have entered the goal if not stopped by the goalie are credited as saves.
- Shots blocked by defenders are not considered saves unless they're in the goal circle and the goalie isn't.
- If a shot hits the pipe, rebounds off the goalie, and would have entered the goal, it's credited as a save.
- Ground balls are credited if a shot hits the pipe, rebounds off the goalie, and would not have entered the goal.
- Team saves can be credited in specific situations, and consistency is crucial in maintaining meaningful statistics.
Ground Balls (Section 5):
- A ground ball is recorded when possession changes during live-ball play.
- Possession is assumed if a player is fouled while attempting to possess the ball.
- Defensive interceptions result in both a ground ball and a caused turnover.
- A ground ball is credited to a player who gains possession, even if uncontested.
- Ground balls are not credited if possession is simply maintained or if the ball goes out of bounds without being possessed.
Draw Controls (Section 6):
- Awarded to the player who gains possession after a draw.
- Draw controls and ground balls are exclusive; the player winning the draw does not get credit for a ground ball.
- If a foul is called before control is established, the player awarded the ball is credited with a draw control.
- Failed draw attempts do not require notation.
Shots (Section 7):
- A shot is a ball propelled toward the goal by an offensive player with her stick.
- Shots that enter the goal are counted as both shots and goals.
- Shots deflected off offensive players are credited to the player who scores the goal.
- No shot is recorded for a team goal (own goal).
- Eight-meter (free-position) shots count toward a player's total shots, even if not attempted.
- A shot on goal only includes shots that score or are saved by the goalie, not shots hitting the pipe.
Here are the main points from Section 8 to Section 10 of the article:
Clearing (Section 8):
- Clearing occurs when a team moves the ball from their defensive end to the offensive attack area.
- Successful clearing involves establishing possession in the offensive box before the opponent gains possession.
- A team playing with a player down should be credited with a successful clear if they meet the conditions but not with an unsuccessful clear if they don't.
- Failed clears result in turnovers, and all failed clears must have a turnover charged.
- Various scenarios are provided regarding clearing attempts and their outcomes.
Turnovers and Caused Turnovers (Section 9):
- Turnovers occur when a team loses possession of the ball in live-ball situations.
- If a single player is primarily responsible for the turnover, that player is charged with it; otherwise, the team is charged.
- Caused turnovers are credited to players whose positive actions lead to a turnover by the opponent.
- Different scenarios are given to illustrate turnover situations and their attribution.
Cards (Section 10):
- Cards (green, yellow, and red) are issued for infractions in women's lacrosse.
- Yellow and green cards result in a player serving a releasable penalty, while a red card leads to a non-releasable penalty.
- Goals scored during penalty time are noted as man-up or man-down, depending on the player imbalance.
- Scenarios are provided to illustrate card situations and their consequences, including goals scored during penalty time.
Overtime (Section 11):
- In case of a tie at the end of regulation, sudden victory overtime consisting of two three-minute segments is played.
- If no winner is determined after the first overtime period, additional three-minute segments with breaks in between are played until a winning goal is scored.
- The clock is stopped after three minutes for teams to change ends, and play is restarted by a center draw.
- Each overtime period is six minutes long, and after the first segment, the clock is reset for the second segment.
Miscellaneous Notes, Fouls, and Definitions (Section 12):
- Statistics resulting from violations or nullified plays do not count.
- Guidelines are provided for crediting turnovers and caused turnovers in various scenarios.
- At the end of each game, one goalie is awarded a win, and one is charged with a loss, based on their contribution to the outcome.
- Fouls should be credited to the individual player called for the foul, and if unclear, a team foul can be credited.
- Procedures for changing official statistics after a contest has concluded are outlined, including communication between sports information directors and the handling of forfeit scores.
- Criteria for countable opponents and home/neutral designations are specified, along with guidelines for declaring a contest a "no contest."
Vandal Lacrosse: Closes its Doors for 2024
The Vandal Lacrosse team has unfortunately made the tough choice to suspend its participation in the 2024 Spring MCLA season.
With the pause, both the team’s longtime coaches, Colton Raichl and Blake Uphus, made the decision to step away from coaching to pursue other interests and opportunities, though after being affiliated with the club as players and as coaches for more than 28 years combined, they will remain strong Vandal Lacrosse supporters.
Now the focus of team leaders is building the roster and hiring a new coach to get the team back on the field to continue the club’s third decade of competitive lacrosse.
In the meantime, to provide players the opportunity to keep playing, a Box Lacrosse program is being organized. Anyone interested in trying this fun and quick-action lacrosse and sharpening their stick skills is invited to join.
For more info and progress updates, keep tabs on this website and follow the team’s social media on:
Facebook at University of Idaho Lacrosse
Instagram at idahovandallacrosse
X (Twitter) at Idaho Men’s Lacrosse @VandalaxÂ
Box Lacrosse was offered on campus, with an informational meeting held on February 5th, 2024. The meeting aimed to provide details about participating in lacrosse during the spring season. Held at the Rec Classroom, situated to the right of the entrance, the gathering welcomed attendees to bring their questions and invite others who shared an interest in the sport.
All Information has been sourced from IHSLL.COM, MAXPREPS, TEAM SITES, and GOOGLE SHEET.Â