NCAA makes rule changes

June 27, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee reviewed its rules and made several proposed alterations to encourage safe and fair play at its June 17-20 meeting. The committee’s actions must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation.

The committee reviewed numerous proposals from the coaching community, including a change to when timeouts may be called. In the committee’s proposal, teams will be allowed to request a timeout anytime they are in clear possession of the ball as well as after the scoring of a goal. Teams remain limited to two timeouts per game.

“This issue had strong support on our survey and the committee received numerous proposals for this change,” said Karen Borbee, chair of the committee and senior woman administrator/women’s lacrosse coach at Swarthmore College.

The committee also approved an altered definition of marking within a stick’s length. The new definition will not allow a combined arm and stick’s length as the distance considered to be marking an opponent. In the new definition, the length of the stick is the determining factor.

“The committee believes this will address several concerns with three seconds and shooting space fouls,” Borbee said. Additionally, to encourage increased enforcement and understanding of crosse to body contact, the committee added another example of illegal use of the stick. This additional description

identifies lowering the head of the stick below the shoulder and initiating crosse to body contact as a major foul.

“These changes are intended to address the growing concern regarding rough play in our game,” Borbee said.

Finally, the committee approved its points of emphasis for the 2008 season, including instructing umpires to examine defensive offsides and three seconds calls with regard to advantage.

A complete listing of rules changes will be distributed to member institutions and posted on the NCAA Website for comment before the oversight panel considers the proposals.

The current members of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee are: Danie Caro, Quinnipiac University; Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern University, vice chair; Jenny Levy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Barbara Questa, St. Bonaventure University; Cecil Pilson, Mercyhurst College; Karen Borbee, Swarthmore College, chair; Christine Paradis, Amherst College; Kathy Railey, Villa Julie College; and Pat Dillon, secretary-rules editor.

Kim Basner, national coordinator of officials, and Laura Hebert, US Lacrosse, attended the meeting as non-voting umpiring liaisons.

-Courtesy NCAA

Day 1: June 27, 2007
By Garrett Fitzgerald –colaxgk3@aol.com – (970) 988.7366

Dr. Tom Watts Memorial Boy’s U-19 Division

The boy’s U-19 tournament saw some great plays and even better teamwork during the first day of games.

In the most competitive game of the day the Baltimore Crabs found themselves well matched with Team Arizona. Baltimore led most of the way, but Arizona fought hard and kept it close the whole time. Both teams benefited from solid goaltending, but Arizona had trouble limiting Baltimore’s solid offense. The Crabs pulled out the 9-7 victory on the strength of their talented attack duo of Reed and Hessler. They combined for nine points in the game and sixteen points on the day. With the Crabs’ morning victory over Midwest Elite 14-1, Baltimore again find themselves in the Division I bracket. The Crabs draw the 3:00pm game against Team Idaho, who will be making their first Division I appearance.

Delaware won both their games today and displayed a powerful offense along the way. In their first game Delaware defeated Team Indiana 14-6 on the back of an eight point performance by Kyle Wharton (7g, 1a). In their second game against Idaho, Delaware trailed early but came back to dominate the game with a 15-4 victory. Delaware will be playing Arizona at 1:00 pm in what should prove to be one of the most competitive quarterfinal games.

The perennially solid team from Ohio was in fine form today as they limited their opponents to three total goals in their two games. Team Ohio beat both Sacramento Elite and Triad Lacrosse Club by scores of 16-2 and 9-1 respectively. Ohio will face the Winnipeg Wolverines at 9:00 am in the first game of the day for Division I.

Team Colorado was also dominant during pool play winning both their first round games by comfortable margins. Colorado showed plenty of offensive firepower finishing with 33 goals, more than any other team during the first day. Controlling both games Colorado downed Winnipeg in their first game 16-6 and in their second game beat FLC 17-1. The home team will play Triad Lacrosse Club at 11:00 am on Thursday.

Results from Wednesday, June 27, 2007
CONFERENCE A, Avon 1
10:00 am Baltimore 14, Midwest Elite 1
11:30 am Arizona 16, Midwest Elite 1
1:00 pm Baltimore 9, Arizona 7

CONFERENCE B, Avon 2
10:00 am Colorado 16, Winnipeg 6
11:30 am Florida 8, Winnipeg 12
1:00 pm Colorado 17, Florida 1

CONFERENCE C, Edwards Turf
10:00 am Ohio 16, Sacramento Elite 2
11:30 am Triad 15, Sacramento Elite 6
1:00 pm Ohio 9, Triad 1

CONFERENCE D, Athletic Field
10:00 Delaware 14, Indiana 6
11:30 am Idaho 9, Indiana 8
1:00 pm Delaware 15, Idaho 4

Standings Following Pool Play:
Conference A Standings
Baltimore 2-0
Arizona 1-1
Midwest Elite 0-2

Conference B Standings
Colorado 2-0
Winnipeg 1-1
Florida 0-2

Conference C Standings
Ohio 2-0
Triad 1-1
Sacramento Elite 0-2

Conference D Standings
Delaware 2-0
Idaho 1-1
Indiana 0-2

Thursday’s Games:
Division I Games at Avon 1
A1 Baltimore vs. D2 Idaho at 3:00pm
C1 Ohio vs. B2 Winnipeg at 9:00am
D1 Delaware vs. A2 Arizona at 1:00pm
B1 Colorado vs. C2 Triad at 11:00am

Division II Games at Avon 2
A3 Midwest Elite vs. B3 Florida at 9:00am
C3 Sacramento Elite vs. D3 Indiana at 11:00am

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High School Girl’s Pool Play Day 1

Girls U-19 kicked off as well on Wednesday. The teams will have two days of pool play before getting into their tournament stages.

Pool A: Heros, Team Dixie, DC Capitols, Minnesota
Pool B: M&D, Houston Heat, Colorado Futures, Oregon
Pool C: PA Express, Utah, Detroit, Illinois
Pool D: Secora/Blue Sky, CTLF, Nor-Cal Elite, Indy Girls
Pool E: FLC, Idaho, Midwest Elite, Ohio
Pool F: Colorado, Lakeshore, Cardinal Elite, Puget Sound, Arizona

Wednesday, June 27 Results:
Field 1 - Edwards
8:30 am Heros 14, Minnesota 6
9:40 am PA Express 16, Team Illinois 2
10:50 am Heros 11, Capital Lacrosse 4
12:00 am PA Express 17, Detroit Lacrosse 3
1:10 am M&D 22, Colorado Futures 1
2:20 am Blue Sky 18, Indy Girls 1
3:30 am Huston Heat 13, Oregon Elite 5

Field 2 - Edwards
8:30 am Capitol Lacrosse 12, Team Dixie 6
9:40 am Detroit Lacrosse 9, Team Utah 8 (OT)
10:50 am Team Dixie 14, Minnesota 12
12:00 am Team Utah 12, Team Illinois 2
1:10 am Puget Sound 11, Lakeshore 6
2:20 am Puget Sound 13, Cardinal Elite 6
3:30 am Team Colorado 14, Cardinal Elite 6

Field 3 – Edwards
8:30 am Midwestern Force 15, Team FLC 7
9:40 am Midwest Elite 16, Idaho 6
10:50 am Blue Sky 18, Nor-Cal Elite 0
12:00 am CTLF Futures 13, Indy Girls 2
1:10 am Team Colorado 17, Desert Divas 4
2:20 am CTLF Futures 14, Nor-Cal Elite 0
3:30 am Lakeshore 12, Desert Divas 3

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Men’s Supermasters (age 40+)

It was a great day for the Supermasters division that offered the most competitive first round games of the 35th annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout. In all four of the nine Supermasters games were decided by one goal, making for some of the hardest fought games in the entire tournament.

With 17 teams in this year’s Supermasters division, Essian\Tap Room and Lacrosse.com teams played a “play-in” game to get into the championship bracket. It was a gritty game with Essian\Tap Room coming out on top 6-5. Essian\Tap Room’s next game was arguably the most exciting game of the day. Facing Tsunami\CVLC, the Essian\Tap Room team started out on fire scoring the first 5 goals. Tsunami\CVLC was determined not to go down quietly and scored three goals in the last 1:47 to send the game to overtime. It was only 1:14 into overtime when Tsunami/CVLC’s Leo Pates scored his third goal of the day to give the win to his team and send them into a winner’s bracket. The Magic Wands played a nail biter against Boathouse\Rock-it Pocket coming from behind to win in the 4th quarter. The Wands, needing four goals and an assist from Dave King, won 9-8. In a lopsided affair Tombstone defeated Lacrosse Wear 15-9. Fresh off last year’s semi-final appearance the Tri-City Canadians won 11-7 against the Air Force Graybirds. The Navy Old Goats got by a solid NYAC 11-6. The Frogs gave the Colorado Lacrosse Club all they could handle. The CLC had to withstand a flurry of shots at the end to preserve their one goal victory. In the final two games, the Elder Statesmen advanced over Cactus Lacrosse, and Middlebury topped the Princeton Obsoletes.

First Round Results
Colorado Lacrosse Club 8, Frogs 7
Navy Old Goats 11, NYAC 6
Magic Wands 9, Boathouse/Rock-it Pocket 8
Essian/Tap Room 6, Lacrosse.com 5
Tsunami/CVLC 10, Tap Room 9 (OT)
Tri-City 11, Air Force Greybirds 7
Tombstone 15, Lacrosse Wear 9
Middlebury Def, Princeton Obsoletes
Elder Statesmen Def, Cactus Lacrosse

Day 2 - Match Ups
Quarter Finals

CVLC/Tap Room vs. Colorado Lax Club on Ford Field 2 at 10:00 am
Magic Wands vs. Navy Old Goats on Ford Field 2 at 12:00 pm
Tri-City Canadians vs. Tombstone on Ford Field 1 at 2:00 pm
Elder Statesmen vs. Middlebury on Ford Field 2 at 2:00 pm

Consolation Bracket

NYAC vs. Boathouse/Rock-it Pocket on Donovan at 1:30 pm
Frogs vs. Essian/Tap Room on Ford Field 1 at 12:00 pm
Lacrosse Wear vs. TBA (Lax.com or AF Greybirds) on Donovan at 11:30 am
Princeton Obsoletes vs. Cactus Lacrosse on Ford Field 1 at 10:00 am
AF Greybirds vs. Lax.com on Donovan an 10:00 am

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Grandmasters Division Preview

Four teams made it up to Vail to participate in the second year of the Grandmasters Division (ages 50+). The Rockies, USA Stars, Navy Grand Goats and Los Viejos are all set to take to field on Thursday.

Sunday Schedule:
Rockies vs. Navy Grand Goats on Ford Field 2 at 8:30 am
USA Stars vs. Los Viejos on Ford Field 1 at 8:30 am