What are the most effective offensive plays in women’s lacrosse. How can teams optimize their motion offense for maximum scoring potential. Which strategies can coaches implement to keep the defense off-balance and create scoring opportunities.
Mastering the Basics: Fundamental Offensive Plays in Women’s Lacrosse
Women’s lacrosse is a dynamic sport that requires a well-coordinated offense to outsmart and outmaneuver the defense. Understanding and executing fundamental offensive plays is crucial for any team looking to dominate the field. Let’s explore some essential plays that form the backbone of a strong offensive strategy.
The Pick and Roll: Creating Space and Opportunities
One of the most versatile plays in women’s lacrosse is the pick and roll. How does it work? Player 6 passes to Player 7 and sets a screen. As Player 7 drives, she has two options:
- If the lane is open, Player 7 goes for the goal
- If Player 6’s defender slides to double-team, Player 7 curls towards the goal (similar to a basketball pick and roll)
This play keeps the defense guessing and creates multiple scoring opportunities. To enhance its effectiveness, Player 5 can pinch on the crease for a potential back door pass, adding another layer of complexity for the defenders to handle.
The Crease Roll: Exploiting Defensive Gaps
The crease roll is a powerful play that takes advantage of defensive positioning. Here’s how it unfolds:
- Player 1 starts with the ball on the right side of the field
- Player 7 can set a pick for Player 6 and roll
- Alternatively, Player 7 can fake setting the pick and flash back
- Player 1 executes a crease roll while Player 7 cuts for a back door pass
- Players 6 and 7 can clear to opposite elbows, giving Player 1 multiple passing options
This play forces the defense to make quick decisions and can often result in a clear shot on goal or a favorable matchup for the offense.
Advanced Offensive Strategies: Elevating Your Team’s Performance
As teams become more proficient in basic plays, incorporating advanced strategies can give them a competitive edge. These plays require precise timing and communication but can be devastating when executed correctly.
The Double Stack: Creating Confusion and Opportunities
The double stack is a complex play that can overwhelm defenders with multiple cutting options. How is it set up?
- Form two stacks: one with three players and one with two
- The three-person stack cuts first, with all players cutting through
- The ball is then swung behind the two-person stack
- The first player in the two-person stack cuts and joins the others
- The second player pops high to the far off-center position
This play creates numerous passing lanes and forces the defense to constantly adjust, often leading to mismatches or open players near the goal.
The Pinch and Pop: Exploiting Defensive Pressure
The pinch and pop play takes advantage of defensive pressure to create scoring opportunities. Here’s the breakdown:
- Player 4 starts with the ball
- Player 4 passes to Player 5 and posts up on the opposite pipe
- Work the ball around: 5 to 6, 6 to 7, 7 to 1, 1 to 2
- Each player pinches on the hash mark after passing
- Player 2 has multiple options: shoot, feed to a cutter, or reset the play
This play keeps the ball moving quickly and creates confusion among defenders, often resulting in an open shot or a favorable one-on-one situation.
Implementing a Dynamic Motion Offense in Women’s Lacrosse
A well-executed motion offense can be the key to consistently outscoring opponents. But what exactly is a motion offense, and how can coaches implement it effectively?
The Principles of Motion Offense
A motion offense in women’s lacrosse is based on constant movement and reading the defense, rather than running set plays. The core principles include:
- Continuous player movement
- Creating and exploiting space
- Quick ball movement
- Reading and reacting to defensive positioning
By adhering to these principles, teams can create a fluid and unpredictable offense that keeps defenders on their toes.
Setting Up the Motion Offense
How can coaches effectively set up a motion offense? One approach is to use the 15-meter fan as a starting point:
- Position two players behind the goal, one on each side
- Spread the remaining five players evenly along the 15-meter fan
- Instruct players to constantly move, using cuts, picks, drives, and switches
- Emphasize the importance of skip passes to keep the defense off-balance
This setup provides a framework for players to work within while allowing for creativity and spontaneity in their movements and decisions.
Maximizing Scoring Opportunities: Advanced Techniques and Tactics
To truly excel in women’s lacrosse, teams need to go beyond basic plays and incorporate advanced techniques that create high-percentage scoring chances.
The Backdoor Cut: Surprising the Defense
The backdoor cut is a powerful tool in any offense’s arsenal. How can teams effectively incorporate this move?
- Player 1 has the ball
- Player 2 goes through the front side to the opposite pipe
- Player 3 moves to the elbow and prepares for a backdoor cut
- Player 4 pinches for Player 1’s crease roll
- Player 5 serves as an outlet if the drive is stopped
This play creates multiple options and forces the defense to cover a lot of ground, often resulting in an open cutter or a one-on-one opportunity.
The Give and Go: Quick Strikes for Easy Goals
The give and go is a classic play that can lead to quick, easy goals when executed properly. Here’s how it works:
- Player 7 receives the ball
- Players 1 and 6 run together to create a channel for Player 3
- Player 3 cuts down the middle as the primary option
- If Player 3 is covered, Player 1 curls and cuts as a secondary option
- Player 2 pinches on her defender to keep them occupied
This play’s success relies on quick passes and decisive cuts, catching the defense off-guard and creating high-percentage shooting opportunities.
Developing a Versatile Attacking Unit: Roles and Responsibilities
A truly effective offense in women’s lacrosse requires each player to understand their role and how it contributes to the team’s success. Let’s explore the key positions and their responsibilities within the offensive framework.
The Quarterback: Orchestrating the Offense
The quarterback, often positioned behind the goal, plays a crucial role in directing the offense. Their responsibilities include:
- Reading the defense and calling plays
- Initiating offensive movements
- Distributing the ball to cutters and open players
- Maintaining possession and resetting the offense when needed
A skilled quarterback can elevate the entire team’s performance by making smart decisions and creating opportunities for their teammates.
The Crease Attackers: Exploiting Inside Positioning
Crease attackers play a vital role in putting pressure on the defense close to the goal. Their key duties include:
- Working together on the crease, moving opposite each other
- Posting up on the front side of the crease
- Keeping defenders to the inside and even with the pipe
- Making quick cuts to receive passes for close-range shots
Effective crease play can force the defense to collapse, opening up opportunities for outside shooters or creating mismatches near the goal.
Adapting to Defensive Strategies: Countering Common Defensive Tactics
To maintain an effective offense, teams must be prepared to adapt to various defensive strategies. Understanding how to counter common defensive tactics is crucial for sustained success.
Breaking Down Zone Defenses
Zone defenses can be challenging to penetrate, but with the right approach, offenses can find success. How can teams effectively attack a zone?
- Use quick ball movement to shift the defense
- Employ skip passes to create gaps in the zone
- Utilize off-ball movement to occupy defenders
- Look for opportunities to overload one side of the zone
By implementing these strategies, teams can create openings in the zone and find high-percentage scoring opportunities.
Overcoming Aggressive Man-to-Man Defense
When faced with tight man-to-man defense, offenses need to adapt their approach. Here are some effective strategies:
- Increase off-ball movement to create separation
- Use picks and screens to free up cutters
- Employ quick give-and-go passes to catch defenders out of position
- Look for isolation opportunities for strong one-on-one players
- Utilize the crease to create confusion and force defensive switches
By staying active and exploiting individual matchups, offenses can overcome even the most aggressive man-to-man defenses.
Enhancing Team Chemistry: Building a Cohesive Offensive Unit
While individual skills and set plays are important, the true strength of an offense lies in its team chemistry. How can coaches foster this crucial element?
Communication: The Key to Offensive Synergy
Effective communication is the foundation of a well-functioning offense. To improve team communication, coaches should:
- Encourage constant verbal and non-verbal communication during practice and games
- Develop a shared offensive language for calls and adjustments
- Practice scenario-based drills that require players to communicate and make quick decisions
- Regularly review game footage to identify and address communication breakdowns
By prioritizing communication, teams can execute complex plays more effectively and adapt to changing defensive strategies on the fly.
Building Trust Through Repetition and Success
Trust among teammates is crucial for offensive success. Coaches can build this trust by:
- Implementing consistent practice routines that allow players to become familiar with each other’s tendencies
- Encouraging risk-taking in practice to build confidence in game situations
- Celebrating successful plays and learning from mistakes as a team
- Rotating player combinations to develop chemistry throughout the roster
- Fostering a positive team culture that values each player’s contributions
As players become more comfortable with each other and the offensive system, they’ll be better equipped to make split-second decisions and create scoring opportunities.
Women’s Plays | LaxLessons.com
Player 1 has the ball, working the right side of the field Player 7 can set a pick for player six and roll Player 7 can fake setting the pick and flash back Player 1 can crease roll and player 7 back door Player 6 and player 7 can clear to opposite elbow, player 1 […]
Player 7 has the ball, passes to player 6 and sets screen for ball Player 1 circles behind, clearing the lane and stacking with player 2 Players 6 and 7 drive and roll for each other Player 2 and player 1 can show on right side of crease or be an outlet for drive
Player 1 has ball Player 2 goes through front side to opposite pipe Player 3 goes through to elbow and can be used on backdoor cut Player 4 pinches for player 1’s crease roll Player 5 would be the outlet if drive stopped
Two stacks one with 3 and one with 2 3 person stack cuts first all the way through (best option is to feed last cutter) After 3 cut, ball swing behind 2 person stack: first in stack cuts and joins others 2nd person in stack pops high to far off center has mark Ball handler […]
Ball starts with 4 4 passes to 5 and posts up opposite pipe Work ball around – 5 passes to 6 and keeps defense on crease 6 passes to 7 and pinches on hash mark 7 passes to 1 and pinches on hash mark with 6 1 passes to 2 and pinches on hash mark […]
Ball starts with 3 3 passes to 4 2 and 3 are working together, 1 is pinching on her defense for quick back door 3 cuts through high to set a screen for 2 to use After 2 cuts (left hand up), 3 plants and cuts to goal (right hand up) 4 has 2 as […]
When 7 receives the ball, both 1 and 6 run together to set a channel for 3 to cut down the middle 7 has 3 as first option After 3 cuts, 1 curls and cuts as well 2 pinches on her defense to keep her occupied
Attackers 5 and 4 work the crease together working opposite each other 4 posts up on the front side of the crease 5 has the ball behind 4 keeps defense to the inside and stands even with the pipe 5 keeps her defense and the goal keeper on the near post and hits back post […]
6 passes to 7 and sets a screen on 7 As she drives, if 7 has the lane, then she goes If 6’s defense slides to double, then 7 curls to goal (like a pick and roll in basketball) 5 pinches on the crease for the back door
Attacker 4 has the ball, 2 joins 3, 7 joins 6 The back player (2) fakes high and ducks back under defense to make a goal side cut 4 has the option to put up a high leading pass for 2 3 then pops out for a pass from 4 2 pinches with 1 to […]
Attacker 3 passes to 4, then sets pick for 2 2 uses pick and if does not receive, sets pick for 1 1 uses pick and if does not receive, sets pick for 7 7 uses pick Also have a crease roll for 4 if none of the cuts work
Motion Offenses | Women’s Lax Strategies and Ideas
Hello, I have been getting ready for another great season as the head coach for a high school girl’s lacrosse team. I have been thinking a lot about our motion offense and how we can become even better. I have been searching the web for weeks now and I can’t seem to find anything for the upper level coach. Obviously I’m not the head coach of Maryland so I’m not all knowing, but I think I can offer a different view on motion offense for the coaches out there that are looking for a different take.
I set my girls up on our imaginary 15 meter fan. This would be roughly, three steps away from the 12 meter. I like to put two girls behind goal, one on either side and the remaining five girls spread evenly among the 15 meter. First and foremost, it’s important that our girls are constantly moving. Moving can be anything, switching, cutting, setting picks, driving, etc. Your team has to be moving. If the defense is calm, they have won. It’s important to keep the defense frantic. Side note: skip passes are another way to keep the defense moving and thinking. The skip passes make the defense slide differently and can open up brief holes to drive through.
We have a few basic “plays” that are the building blocks of our motion offense. These are pick and rolls, draw and dumps, pass and go away, give and goes, and criss cross. Now, we do different set plays that play off of these fundamental elements but if your girls don’t have these 5 plays mastered, they will have a hard time moving on to harder motion concepts. The next few paragraphs I will explain each of these concepts. If you are already know these concepts and want to skip to more advanced concepts, please skip ahead.
Pick and rolls: If you call it a pick… stop. Don’t let you players separate the two plays. It is not ‘set a pick’ it’s ‘set a pick and roll.’ Player A sets a pick on Player B’s defender, Player B runs towards the backside of Player A. Immediately after Player B starts running, Player A rolls off the pick, towards the goal and is open for a pass inside. It is absolutely crucial that the roll comes AFTER Player B uses the pick. It does no good if she runs to set the pick and immediately rolls before a pick is ever set. It also important that all players understand the proper way to use a pick.
Draw and dumps: Player A (who has ball) drives hard to goal. The drive forces a ball help slide which will leave the adjacent player, Player B, open behind the slide. Player B cuts to goal and receives pass from Player A. It is important that your girls understand that the point of the play is to score, no matter how it happens. If there is no slide, Player A should drive to goal and go score. Always take a one on one situation. The first option in a draw and dump is for the player with the ball to drive and score but IF the defense stops her with a good slide, THEN she has the dump as an option. It is also important for your girls to have the awareness to realize when they are open because they only have about one second to start cutting before the second slide gets there and she isn’t open. If you are playing a good defense who slides really well, the second slide attacker should run the draw and dump.
Pass and go away: This concept is very simple yet it seems that most of our goals come off of this play. The idea is for Player A to pass the ball to her immediate left to Player B. Player A then runs to replace the girl at least two girls to her right. As she does this, her defender will follow her, leaving a large hole for Player B to now drive through. The idea is to create too much space for the defense to effectively slide into.
Give and goes: Another incredibly simple concept that gets frequently overlooked. Player A passes the ball to Player B. Player A then cuts towards goal, looking for the pass. The reason this can be successful, is because the defense is all watching the ball getting ready to slide. Once the ball is changed hands, the defense will all move their heads to look at the ball. Immediately after releasing the pass, Player A should cut. You want Player A cutting so fast after throwing the pass that she doesn’t even see Player B catch the pass. This has to be instantaneous or the window will close and the play won’t work.
Criss Cross: This concept can be slightly harder for the girls to pick up on and understand. It resembles a moving pick. Player A has ball, Player B runs in-between Player A and her defender. Player B then cuts hard off Player A’s defender’s, hip. Right as Player B gets to Player A’s shoulder, Player A should run towards Player B’s back and cut hard off Player B’s defender’s butt who is trailing. Perfectly timed and executed, the defenders run into each other, leaving both players open and running towards goal. Timing is everything on this play so practice makes perfect.
All of these different plays are run out of a basic motion set which helps us move the ball continuously and constantly put our players in favorable situations. Our most useful set and set that our players like the most is our default set. We don’t name the set, our team understands that once we are settled, this is what we do unless otherwise specified.
To start the set, the ball carrier drives hard to goal. One of two things happens, either a slide comes to double or not. If the slide doesn’t come, ball carrier should attempt to beat the 1 v. 1. If the slide does come, ball carrier should back/run out of the 8 meter. When the slide comes, the adjacent attacker, whose defender just slid, should cut through and be an immediate draw and dump option. If the next defender slid to pick up the cutter the next attacker in line should pop out toward the ball to be an immediate outlet pass. Once the original cutter gets across the 8, she should flash back to see if she can get another quick feed from the outlet pass. If the outlet attacker gets the ball and has an open lane, she should drive to goal. If not, she should look at the cutter flashing back. If none of those options pan out the first time, the set resets with the new ball carrier and it repeats. If at any time, a player thinks she is open, she should cut into the 8 looking for a pass. She should not cut all the way through the 8 in this set.
Our second set incorporates all of the above motion building blocks into an offense that can be difficult to contain. We start with a criss cross to the strong side of the ball carrier. Ball carrier should look to drive hard off the criss cross. The player who ran the criss cross with the ball carrier runs to the opposite side of 12 meter and sets a pick and roll. This will give us to immediate cutting options opposite of the ball carrier. The cutters have about 4 steps into the 8 meter. If they don’t receive a pass, they exit immediately. The driver understands she has three options right away, the drive, and the two opposite cuts. If on the drive, the adjacent attacker slides, a draw dump option opens up with the adjacent attacker. If none of these options open up, ball carrier moves the ball and the set plays again.
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Kudda: Girls Lacrosse
Kudda: Girls Lacrosse
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High Point Plays PC in Big South Regular Season Finale in Clinton
Story Links
The High Point University’s women’s lacrosse team (7-7) (5-0) heads into its last regular-season game of the season as HPU looks to go undefeated in Big South play. HPU will face Presbyterian College on Saturday at 1:00 PM in the Big South regular-season conference finale.
Saturday, April 24th- vs Presbyterian (Clinton, S.C.) 1:00 PM
LIVE STATS
Across the Bench
- PC’s lone conference win this season came against Longwood, it was the first Big South win for the Blue Hose in two years.
- Presbyterian is 4-9 in the Big South.
- Abby Edmisten leads PC in scoring with 41 goals scored and eight assists.
Panther Notes
Abby Hormes For Tewaaraton
Hormes was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch list again this season last month. The Tewaaraton is awarded to the top male and female in college lacrosse each season. Hormes has scored the third-most goals in the nation with 63 on the year. She averages 4.54 goals per game which is the sixth-best average in the nation.
Abby Hormes Earns Big South Honors
Led HPU to two Big South wins in one week. Hormes scored six goals in the win against Longwood. Hormes had five goals and two assists against Radford in the win. She rounded out her week of games with seven goals against Liberty on Sunday. 18 goals in one week throughout three games. 17 Draw controls in three games. This is the fourth time she has been selected as Big South Offensive Player of the Week this season.
Offensive Explosion
The output of 23 goals against Campbell for The Panthers is the fourth most goals in a single game by a High Point team.
Sister, Sister
At the start of Big South Play against Campbell, Katie Hormes scored the first goals of her Panther career. In six Big South games so far the Hormes sisters combined for 45 goals.
ESPN’S #LaxTop5 High Point Heavy
Both Foster and Zeto have been showcased in ESPN’s #LaxTop5 which highlights the top five plays in women’s lacrosse that week and is shown during the women’s lacrosse game of the week on the ESPN networks. Foster’s shovel goal against Vanderbilt was number one three weeks ago, while Zeto’s diving save against Coastal where she made a stop then dove backward and stopped the ball from rolling in was five two weeks ago.
Panthers Nationally Impactful
High Point is fifth in the nation in ground balls this season as the Purple & White average 21.79 per game. The HPU defense is 14th in the nation in caused turnovers with 10.29 per game.
Ms. 200
Abby Hormes picked up her 200th career point against Davidson. She has 72 points on the season.
#GoHPU
Windsor’s LaPrise leads UConn women’s lacrosse’s offense in program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament
Lia LaPrise was recruited by UConn women’s lacrosse to be a midfielder.
The Windsor native, who attended Loomis Chaffee School, played defense growing up and became a midfielder in high school. She loved the ability to be everywhere at once.
But it’s in the attacker position — a role she took on following her freshman year — where the junior has made her biggest impact for UConn, which faces Virginia on Friday in its second-ever NCAA Tournament.
LaPrise’s experience in all three positions makes her one of the strongest attackers in Big East conference.
“She has eyes everywhere at all times,” UConn senior Sydney Watson said. “She can be in the middle of taking a drive but see someone who is streaming open in the middle as a cut and she can hit you and make it look so easy. And it’s the same with her drives, she can go back and forth, back and forth around the crease and still be able to beat one player, two players, anything like that. The athleticism Lia has is absolutely amazing. … I am very grateful that she’s on my team and I don’t have to play against her.”
At the end of LaPrise’s freshman year, the Huskies had finished the season 3-14 and were losing offensive players to graduation. Coach Katie Woods pulled LaPrise aside and asked her what she thought about becoming an attacker. She had shown her offensive skill that season already, leading all freshmen with 37 points, the team with 17 assists and placing fourth with 20 goals.
The idea of becoming a sole attacker felt almost overwhelming to LaPrise at first. She had just started playing collegiate lacrosse and was already taken aback at the increase in speed and intensity of the game compared to high school.
“College lacrosse was kinda like a big shock to me in a sense of the game was just so different and I was trying to catch my feet under myself,” LaPrise said. “By the end of my freshman year, I really understood, like I can be a great player in the Division I program. … That’s when I self-reflected and I was like, ‘Wow, I can be a leader and a great player on the attacking side,’ and I think I just had to come to terms with it over time, but it definitely was kinda a process for me and still is to be honest.”
The change in position has paid off for LaPrise and for the Huskies.
During last year’s abbreviated season, UConn finished 5-2 and LaPrise started all seven games. She lead the team in points (40) and assists (21) and was second with 21 goals. At the abrupt conclusion of the season, she was tied for fifth in the country in assists per game (3.00).
But it wasn’t until this year that she finally found comfort in the new role. And it’s shown.
LaPrise leads the Big East in points (76), recording a conference-high 4.22 per game. She also leads the Huskies in assists (40), is second with 76 shots and third with 35 goals. Nationally, her assist total ranks 11th and she is tied for 16th with 76 points.
Before the season started, LaPrise and Watson were named to the Preseason All-Big East Team. Now, heading into the NCAA Tournament, the star attacker has earned All-Big East First Team honors.
“I would definitely say it’s my favorite position now. I can confidently say that now, no doubt about it,” LaPrise said. “I just love being able to see the field really well and helping out my teammates obviously on the assisting side. Scoring goals is super exhilarating because you get to throw your stick down and scream, you get to clap your hands, do whatever you want.”
And it’s not just LaPrise’s skills on the field that have improved. Her ability to lead off the field and be an example to her teammates has also grown.
“Just being a leader, I think that’s been really special for me and stepping into that role and being asked to be a leader so early on in my career,” she said. “That’s been something that’s been super challenging for me, but also something that’s been rewarding as well.”
For LaPrise, this leadership can be in the form of silliness, keeping everyone lose and relaxed — like egging Woods on to dance during practices and dancing with teammate Kyra Place after scoring goals — or showing her dedicated competitiveness on the field,which she says she gets from growing up with two brothers, including her twin, Sam, who plays lacrosse at Curry College in Milton.
In UConn’s 15-13 Big East Tournament semifinal win over Georgetown last Thursday, LaPrise scored five goals, including her fourth at 19:59 to give the Huskies a commanding five-goal lead. Her assist to Grace Coon at the 10-minute mark ended a Georgetown rally.
“She is a neat kid. She is so competitive. Sometimes to a fault. She’s so quick. She’s so agile. When she is in that mindset, she is tough to beat,” Woods said. “She has been such a terrific asset in the program since she has been here. I think she is just getting started in terms of what her overall impact can be.”
Connecticut (12-6) faces UVA (8-8) in South Bend, Indiana, Friday at 5 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner would play the winner of No. 5 Notre Dame vs Robert Morris in the second round on Sunday, May 16. The last time the Huskies were in the NCAA Tournament was in 2013 when they fell in the first round to No. 8 Massachusetts, 14-10.
James Madison slowed Maryland women’s lacrosse’s offense, but couldn’t stop it
A minute and a half into Maryland women’s lacrosse’s matchup with James Madison on Sunday, attacker Kali Hartshorn gained possession at the top of the arc.
With 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Hartshorn flicked a pass inside to midfielder Erica Evans, who dodged two defenders and neatly finished Maryland’s first goal.
All afternoon, the Dukes prevented Maryland from using its usual fastbreak offense. And all afternoon, the Terps responded by patiently chewing up shot clock and scoring anyway.
Maryland still matched a season-high 18 goals in the win, moving the ball quickly and waiting for clear looks at net before shooting. The deliberate approach carried the Terps to an 18-5 victory over the reigning national champions.
“People were just cutting at the right time,” Hartshorn said, “and we were all capitalizing on those chances.”
[Read more: No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse cruises to 18-5 win over No. 6 James Madison]
James Madison employed a zone defense for the first 30 minutes, limiting space for Evans and fellow midfield playmaker Jen Giles at the top of the arc. But Maryland managed to adjust, slowing its pace to break through the defense — and doling out a season-high 10 assists in the process.
Following Evans’ opening goal, the Terps needed another three minutes to score their second, deviating from their quick offense. Midfielder Meghan Siverson drew a foul to earn a free-position try, settling the attack after two turnovers in a two-minute stretch.
From there, Maryland’s offense settled down. The team added a third when Hartshorn found Giles from another free position, taking advantage of set pieces to offset a zone defense.
“They played a zone for the first half,” coach Cathy Reese said, “and I thought our team did a great job of working around it.”
[Read more: Griffins lead No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse to 17-6 blowout win over Penn State]
The Terps kept the ball moving for the rest of the half. Only four of their nine first-half goals came unassisted. Hartshorn, usually more of a finisher, notched a career-high three assists after 17 minutes.
Since Hartshorn’s game-winner against Syracuse on March 9, Maryland has used more screen plays on free positions to open up clear chances. On Sunday, such plays worked three times in the first half alone.
“It depends on … what the positioning of your teammates is,” Reese said. “We did a nice job finding options off eight meters.”
The second half proved more difficult for the Terps. After sticking to a zone defense in the first period, James Madison often played man-to-man down the stretch.
Although Maryland has wreaked havoc against man defenses many times this season, the team suffered a 12-minute scoring drought to open the half. During the cold spell, the Terps shot only three times and turned the ball over twice.
When Maryland got back on the board, it was once again thanks to smart ball movement. Attacker Brindi Griffin found Siverson inside, and she finished from close range to secure a six-goal lead.
“Credit to our players for really being smart and working it around and being patient until we got the right look,” Reese said.
Siverson’s goal opened the floodgates. The Terps scored eight more in the last 18 minutes, four of which were off assists. After Giles scored her fourth of the day with 12:47 remaining, Reese started to rotate bench players, who turned a comfortable victory into an onslaught.
“It’s awesome to see that the consistency is staying true throughout the team,” defender Julia Braig said.
Maryland finished the day well above its season average of 6.2 assists. It also shot just under 53 percent, its third-best effort this year.
So despite facing a zone defense in the first half and slowing their offense down to find break points, the Terps proved they can score in a multitude of ways.
“We just put up 18 goals against the defending national champion on their home field,” Reese said. “That’s pretty good offensive production.”
15 Newport County high school girls lacrosse players to watch in 2021
As the 2021 high school girls lacrosse season gets underway, the midfield apparently will be clogged with numerous talented players, so say the coaches from Middletown, Rogers, Portsmouth and Tiverton.
Those coaches also listed two defenders, two on the attack and a goalie among the area’s 15 players to watch this spring.
Grace Boneau, Portsmouth
Attack/midfielder, junior
Boneau is a junior captain looking to raise the level of her game in what should be her third season with the team, but instead is her second.
“As a freshman she was a standout,” Portsmouth coach Amelia McHugh said. “Now she’s gotten bigger, stronger and matured, which has really helped. She’s stepped up to the challenge.”
More: 12 Newport County high school boys lacrosse players to watch in 2021
Boneau is the team’s draw specialist and a catalyst for the offense as she looks to get the Patriots some goals, no matter where they come from.
“She’s running the offense and others complement her nicely,” McHugh said. “She works well together with everyone. She’s a smart player and her lacrosse IQ is huge.
“She’s a selfless player always looking for the next pass. And she has a killer shot. She’s got all the skills in the world and she plays hard. The girls look up to her.”
Mariah Ramos, Tiverton
Midfield/attack, senior
Some professional athletes are known by their first names. LeBron in basketball, Neymar in soccer and Peyton in football. Tiverton has its own one-name athlete in Mariah.
“She’s the type of person who’s very quiet but has such a presence,” Tiverton coach Rachel Motta said of Ramos. “Everyone looks up to her. It’s like, ‘Oh, it’s Mariah.’”
Ramos has left her mark on the soccer field (100 career goals) and on the basketball court (1,200 career points), and now will close out her high school athletic career on the lacrosse field.
“She’s just a natural athlete. It’s her third year playing and she’d never played before when she came in as a freshman,” Motta said. “Then she went out and scored six goals in her first game.
“Then she scored 41 goals her sophomore year. She just picked it right up. She was a stud her sophomore year.”
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Apparently Ramos is ready to add to the lacrosse goal total this season while trying to help the Tigers be successful in Division III.
“She came in after not playing for two years and you could tell she was better,” Motta said. “Then she gets better every day. She’s the type of kid that just keeps gets better. You’d expect everyone to be off after not playing (for a year), but not her.”
Lauren Martland, Rogers
Midfielder, senior
One of four senior captains, Martland jumped out to a quick start in 2021 as she scored nine goals in the Vikings’ season-opening victory.
“They were playing a zone and she was able to find the soft spot and take advantage of it. She’s a smart player,” Rogers assistant coach Matt Nunes said.
Martland is a seasoned veteran, one of 11 seniors on the roster who literally is able to control the game because of the position she plays.
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“She’s the lead midfielder taking draws,” Nunes said. “She’s directing and controlling the ball in the center circle, resulting in us gaining possession. That’s the game.”
Martland took advantage of her physical stature to assure the Vikings had possession of the ball for most of the opening game.
“She uses her height to grab it out of the air,” Nunes said. “She’s got a one-hand reach like for a jump ball in basketball. I hope that continues.”
Gigi Shaver, Middletown
Midfielder, junior
Middletown, which was elevated to Division I, shouldn’t feel rudderless despite not having a single senior on the roster. Shaver, Kate Stahl, Keara McEnroe and Ava Coristine are Middletown’s four captains this season.
“Gigi’s always nurturing the younger girls,” Middletown coach Lisa Cecchi said. “It’s like the captains are their big sisters. It’s all about team.”
When she’s not helping her younger teammates, Shaver will utilize her skills and try to win draws and score goals in order to help the Islanders stay competitive in the state’s top division.
“She has a great lacrosse IQ and her game has really stepped up,” Cecchi said. “She has the confidence and self-esteem. She’s lightning fast. She judges the shot, sights the goal and comes up with the score.”
Lois Manning, Portsmouth
Midfielder, senior
The captain will be heavily leaned upon this season, especially considering she is the lone senior on the squad.
“She’s leading a super young team. She’s really stepped up as a leader,” Portsmouth coach Amelia McHugh said. “She helps everyone and she holds herself, and everyone else, accountable. In my eyes, she’s doing a good job. She should hold the team together.”
Manning will help the squad in other ways, too, as she continues to improve.
“She’s super fast, very strong and could run for days,” McHugh said. “She’s got an extremely fast shot. So fast that it’s crazy. She’s still learning the game, too, which is cool. She’s fixing her game and staying engaged all the time.”
Liza Nunes, Rogers
Midfielder, senior
As the adage states, ‘”There is no I in team,” and senior captain Nunes has no problem adhering to that motto.
“She’s the most unselfish player out there on the field,” Rogers assistant coach Matt Nunes said. “She’s looking off ball in the offensive zone to make that pass that makes a sweet assist on the goal. She sees the field really well.”
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Nunes, the daughter of Rogers head coach Marie and assistant coach Matt, is another all-around athlete who has improved her skills despite missing her junior season.
“She really has a quick first step from the free position,” Matt Nunes said. “She’s picked up velocity on her shot, and she’s also been tenacious with ground ball control.”
Nunes does whatever she can to help the Vikings improve.
“She’s always encouraging the defense,” Matt Nunes said. “She’s talking to them about where they should be and she’s communicating well with all of them.”
Kate Stahl, Middletown
Midfielder, junior
Stahl plays hockey on the Rogers/Middletown/Rocky Hill boys co-operative team, and her hockey skill set should play out well against Division I opponents.
“She’s lightning quick, aggressive and will do anything it takes to get the ball,” Middletown coach Lisa Cecchi said. “She’s fearless, relentless and not afraid of anything. She loves going into a scrum getting the ball and getting out just as quick.”
Stahl is capable of using strength, body position and whatever else she needs to achieve her goal. She’s also a good captain for the Islanders.
“She’s just a great all-around player,” Cecchi said. “And she’s also very positive, full of energy and wants to help her teammates and the coaches.”
Ellie Skeels, Portsmouth
Midfielder, sophomore
Skeels will make her high school debut as a sophomore, but Portsmouth coach Amelia McHugh thinks she will make believers out of those who haven’t seen her play before.
“She may have missed her freshman year, but she’s making up for it now,” McHugh said. “She’s a workhorse. It’s all about team to her.”
Skeels plays club lacrosse and is a sprinter on the school’s track team, so she knows what she’s trying to accomplish and she can do it quickly.
“She’s fast, strong and her stick skills are unbelievable,” McHugh said. “She’s assertive in a positive way. She sees the whole field. She’s always looking for the next pass or the lane. She’s running the midfield now.”
Lindsey Reimels, Tiverton
Midfield, senior
Reimels reached her senior season without having much varsity experience. Tiverton coach Rachel Motta said Reimels played mostly junior varsity as a freshman and sophomore, but she’ll be the team’s draw specialist this season, no matter what it takes.
“She might not be my best player, but she might be my hardest worker,” Motta said. “She’s always texting me and asking how she can improve certain things with her game. She wants to get better and she’ll push everybody.”
Reimels and Mariah Ramos are the only seniors on this year’s team. Ramos is a natural athlete and Reimels has had to work harder for her rewards.
“You want (Lindsey) to be the best player,” Motta said. “She’s the kind of kid at the end of the year you find an award for. I’m excited to get to see her play after all the work she’s put in. She’s a special kid.”
Emma Leach, Rogers
Midfielder, senior
Leach may switch sports during the fall, winter and spring seasons, but she brings the same attitude and plays the same way in all of them.
“She’s a very determined, tenacious athlete. She’s gritty and she wants to compete,” Rogers assistant coach Matt Nunes said. “On defense, she wants to take the ball away and bring it back up field. Takeaways, caused turnovers, a clean check, those are the things I’m looking for on the field.”
The senior captain has a nose for the goal as she notched a hat trick in the season opener to pick up from where she left off two seasons ago. She also seems to be well paired with teammate Lauren Martland, who scored nine goals in the first game.
“Her and Lauren seemed to have a foundation for good chemistry,” Nunes said. “She’s able to find her and make that pass for a goal, or she can take the ball individually and go.”
Ava Coristine, Middletown
Midfielder, junior
Coristine was a force on the soccer pitch for Middletown and did not go unnoticed by opposing players and coaches. Middletown lacrosse coach Lisa Cecchi painted a picture of Coristine, unlike the persona she had as a soccer player.
“She just sneaks in and quietly gets the ball,” Cecchi said.
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It will be tough to be sneaky against Division I foes, but Coristine should be able to stand toe to toe with them because she has the skills to do so.
“She’s very fast with really good offensive and defensive skills, and defensive skills are tough to come by,” Cecchi said. “She’s got great agility and footwork and she’s aggressive. Players don’t expect that from her.”
Zoe Peckham, Tiverton
Attack/midfield, freshman
As high-scoring teammate Mariah Ramos plays her last season, the rookie Peckham has the upside to be able to step into her spot. She scored five goals in the season-opener.
“She is going to be very special,” Tiverton coach Rachel Motta said. “I saw her scoop up a ball with her non-dominant hand, throw it, catch it and cradle it down the field with the same hand.
“She goes right, left, can play defense, can dodge. She’s not afraid to shoot the ball. She has the ability to cut, and she knows when to do it.”
The key for Peckham is she has played youth lacrosse, continues to play and it’s the only sport she plays.
“We’re used to getting freshmen players that don’t have any experience every year and you have to start from scratch with them,” Motta said. “It’s cool to see a freshman come in with as much knowledge and skills as she has.
“She doesn’t know how good she is. She’s the whole package. I’m excited to see what she can do this year and in the years to come.”
Keara McEnroe, Middletown
Defense, junior
McEnroe knows a thing or two about using different shots in tennis to help her gain an offensive edge on the court. But she needs to play defensive in order to gain a helpful offensive position. This season, she will do the same on the lacrosse field.
More: Middletown’s Regan McEnroe had championship aspirations
“We chose to put her on defense and she’s the leader,” Middletown coach Lisa Cecchi said. “Some girls think it’s a punishment to play defense, but I don’t look at it that way. She’s happy to be doing it.
“She plays good tough defense and we need her to do that. I know I can rely on her 110%.”
Cecchi said McEnroe knows what she’s doing on the field and could play other positions just as well. McEnroe is a well-rounded player who also can come through for the Islanders if they need to relax.
“She’s funny, has a great sense of humor. She keeps us in stitches,” Cecchi said.
Grace Peckham, Tiverton
Defense, junior
Peckham has caused her coach to sit up and take notice. Sometimes that’s what an extra year away can do.
“When she was a freshman, she was very timid,” Tiverton coach Rachel Motta said. “She’s gotten aggressive. I saw her the first day of practice and thought, ‘Wow, that’s Grace.’”
Peckham will be the key player among the Tigers who prowl in front of their goalie’s cage. She should do a good job based on the improvements she’s made.
“She’ll hold down my defense,” Motta said. “Her whole game has gotten better. I’m very impressed with her and you can see she’s really worked in the offseason.”
Tess Nunes, Rogers
Goalie, senior
Lacrosse is like another subject to learn for Nunes, the daughter of Rogers head coach Marie and assistant coach Matt. The senior captain doesn’t study in a classroom setting, instead sits in front of the television.
“She watches games and her favorite team is North Carolina,” Matt Nunes said. “When she watches, she watches hand position and how they make saves. It drives her internally.”
The home-schooling formula has worked for Nunes as she helped lead Rogers to the Division III championship as a freshman goalie, then was the backbone of the defense the following year when the Vikings moved up to Division II.
There was no chance to improve last season, but she’s back and hungry for more as a senior.
“She has good form and has the fundamentals down,” Matt Nunes said. “She’s never had a dedicated goalie coach or instruction. All of it has been homemade. Never mind Division II, I think arguably she could be one of the best goalies in the state.”
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a contact sports game between two teams using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a stick. Lacrosse is often considered a tough contact sport, but injuries are much less common than in American football and other contact sports. The top of the club is braided with a loose mesh designed to catch and hold the ball.The object of the game is to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal using the club to catch, control and pass the ball. The task of the defense is to prevent a goal from being scored and to get the ball with a stick, contact fight or correct position on the field. There are four positions in the game: midfielder, attacker, defender, goalkeeper. In lyacrosse on the field, attackers only attack, defenders only defend, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense, directly defending the goal, midfielders can be in any part of the field and play both in defense and attack.Although at a high level of play, there is always a specialization between the defensive and attacking midfielder.
1. History of appearance
The game was invented by the American Indians, who used it to train warriors and peacefully resolve conflicts between tribes.According to archaeological research, the prototype of the lyacross was known in the territory of modern Canada as early as the beginning of the fifteenth century. Teams at that time often consisted of several hundred people, and the length of the field for the game ranged from several hundred meters to several kilometers.
European settlers got acquainted with this game in the 17th century, and by the beginning of the 19th century it began to gain popularity among the French population of Canada. The first official lyacrosse match took place in Canada in 1867.
Lacrosse was twice included in the program of the Summer Olympics – in 1904 and 1908, and was also an exhibition sport at the 1928, 1932 and 1948 Olympics.
2. Description of the game
The game involves two teams that try to hit the opponent’s goal with a rubber ball 62.8 – 64.77 mm., 140 – 147 g using a special stick called a stick. A net is attached to the top of the club, called the head, so that the player can catch and hold the ball in it.The main goal of the game for the attackers is to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal. To do this, players pass passes and use a dribble. The main goal of the defenders is to prevent a goal from the opposing team. To do this, they can kick the ball with a club or push the player into the body. The team consists of four types of players: striker, midfielder, defender, goalkeeper. As a rule, in lyacrosse, forwards play only in the zone near the opponent’s goal, defenders only in the zone near their goal, and midfielders can be located in any zone and play as forwards or as defenders.In high-level teams, midfielders are often the attackers play mainly during the attack of their team and the defenders play mainly during the attack of the opposing team.
3. Variants of the game
Currently, there are several varieties of lyacross, differing in the size of the field, the number of players and the rules. There are four main varieties: lacrosse in the field on the grass or simply lacrosse, “lacrosse in a box”, intercross, polocross.Since 1967, the men’s world lyacross championships on the grass have been held, in which teams from various countries have taken part, as well as the Iroquois Indian tribe since 1990.
4. Present state
There are more than three dozen national lyacross federations in the world. Most of them are located in Europe and were created in the last decade of the 20th century, however, the leading countries remain the United States and Canada, where lyacrosse is very popular.
4.1. Present State Lacrosse in Canada
In Canada, the game is a national summer sport. The Canadian Lyacross Association was founded in 1867 and is the oldest in the world. Every year, there are adult and youth indoor lyacross championships, in two divisions each, as well as a three-division outdoor lyacross championship.
Mann Cup Senior “A” – held since 1901, the trophy is made of pure gold and costs about 25 thousand dollars.
Lacrosse in box
Founders Cup Junior “B”
Presidents Cup Senior “B”
Minto Cup Junior “A”
Baggataway Cup University
Ross Cup Senior Division I since 1984
Open Lacrosse
Victory Trophy Senior Division II since 1985
4.2. The current state of Lacrosse in the USA
In the United States, the sport is represented by the professional league of lyacrosse – Major League Lacrosse.Lacrosse is also one of the official sports of the National University Sports Association. The championship of the first division includes 88 varsity teams, the second division – 46 teams and the third division – 208 teams.
Internationally, the USA is represented by the men’s and women’s lyacross teams, as well as the youth teams under 19. In addition, the Indian team “Iroquois Nationals”, representing the confederation of the Iroquois tribes of the USA and Canada, takes part in international competitions.
4.3. Current state Lacrosse in Russia
In Russia, as of February 2020, there are three teams in the following cities:
Moscow Moscow Lacrosse Club
St. Petersburg “White Knights”
Yaroslavl “Golden Ring Warriors”
Publication date:
05-16-2020
Last update date:
05-16-2020
90,000 What is lacrosse
What is lacrosse? Hearing for the first time the name “lacrosse” in the first part of the film “American Pie”, many domestic sports fans could not control their thoughts and understand what it was about.
Indeed, we are still more accustomed to such “purely American” games as basketball or baseball.
And it turns out that lacrosse is in no way inferior to these famous sports in terms of age and drama. It was invented by Indian tribes who, with the help of this power sport, prepared warriors before bloody battles.
The game was played on huge pastures and fields , which sometimes reached several kilometers in length. It was no wonder there were also a large number of wounded and even killed on the part of both teams.
After all, in the game it was not forbidden to push, hit the body, and also act in the most tough manner with the use of brute force.
Modern lacrosse, of course, can be called much more civilized, but there is still a fear for the puny and slender guys entering the field. Unless they have the agility and sharpness worthy of the best sprinters – then their place is in the offensive, where such people are needed.
Since we have touched upon the questions of tactics, it means that the time has come to proceed directly to the analysis of the conditions and areas for the game.Lacrosse can be divided into two types – “ field ” and “ boxed “.
The first involves playing outdoors with natural grass. The teams in this case consist of ten people, and the field is 100 meters long. Its width is standard and is 55 meters.
By the way, women’s lacrosse puts forward more gentle parameters to the playing field – 92 meters long and 55 meters wide. But there are no female professional lacrosse teams, at least in Russia, so we will focus on the male ones.
Sometimes lacrosse turns into a special barrier, which is colloquially called a “box”. Its dimensions are smaller than that of a large field, so you have to play in 6×6 format.
The goal of lacrosse, like the vast majority of modern sports, is nothing more than hitting the goal of the opponent . This can be done both with feet , and with the help of a special stick, which is called “ stick “.
By the way, this club and its appearance are a separate conversation.She is a kind of hybrid of a tennis racket and a hockey stick.
Using a special trap with a net installed at the tip of the stick, you need to catch a rubber ball that is thrown around during a match between lacrosse players.
Having caught this ball, you can pass it to your teammate or directly throw it into the opponent’s goal, overcoming the obstacle in the form of powerful defenders.
When developing their tactics, teams in lacrosse are guided by certain patterns.So, according to the rules – for added interest, the sticks of the defenders are larger than the sticks of the attackers from the opposing team.
In length, they are usually about 180 centimeters, while for attacking players the main game equipment is no more than 110 centimeters long. At the same time, the most powerful and stocky guys are usually put in defense.
The optimal height / weight ratio is 200/100, which by itself inspires respect!
Lacrosse rules do not prohibit striking your opponent’s stick with your stick, which definitely gives an advantage to defenders with longer sticks.
Now it is not difficult to understand why the most nimble and fast act in the attack. Avoiding a “direct hit” from ferocious defenders in this case will be much easier than being a big guy.
It is in order to avoid injury that lacrosse players’ ammunition can contain an incredible amount of shields and other protective devices .
In the history of lacrosse, there have been times when it was included in the list of Olympic sports. However, having tried a similar practice at the 1904 and 1908 Olympics , the International Olympic Committee henceforth abandoned it.
Apparently, the reason for the refusal was just the high risk of injury. True, in the last quarter of the twentieth century, world championships began to be held regularly. The founders – the Americans – became champions nine times out of eleven.
There are currently about thirty lacrosse federations in the world. The majority unites several independent states in their ranks, but there are still “proud loners” in the person of, for example, China and India, which act as one national team at all international competitions.
Lacrosse is a very tough and traumatic sport. However, for real men who lack just stiffness and adrenaline in life, it has become a great way to let off steam!
How Female Field Lacrosse Differs From Male Field Lacrosse – Dummies 2021
Piece of Lacrosse For Dummies Cheat Sheet
The popularity of women’s lacrosse is popular – there are now three times more lacrosse in women’s collegiate programs than in 1990.field play differs from male field play in critical ways:
Physical Contact: The main difference between male and female lacrosse comes down to contact. In the men’s game, body checking is legal – and encouraged (especially by coaches) – while in the women’s game it is not. As a result, there is much less protective gear in the women’s game: men wear helmets, oral goggles, gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads and often rib pads, while women wear goggles and goggles, but (except for goalkeepers) no helmets or pads.
Number of players: In the men’s game on the field – ten players – three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and a goalkeeper. In the women’s game, there are 12 players on the pitch – offensive players (first home, second home, third home and two attack wings) and defenders (center, two defensive wings, dot, title, third man and goalkeeper).
Sticks: Unlike men’s lacrosse, mesh is not permitted for women’s stick pockets; pockets should be strung in the traditional way.Also, the top of the ball should be above the sidewall when in the pocket. As a result, stick play and shooting are more difficult in the female game.
In addition, the standard lacrosse stick length for males is 40 to 42 inches from the end of the head to the end of the hilt; defensive sticks (like a single midfielder) can measure 52 to 72 inches long, and a goalkeeper’s finger can be 40 to 72 inches long.
