Memorial’s Annual Boys vs Girls Lacrosse Game

With the upcoming fall season approaching, the boys and girls lacrosse teams of Memorial High School celebrated by partaking in the annual Boys vs. Girls Halloween lacrosse game. On Sunday, October 29, players from both teams gathered at the Pech Road fields dressed in a variety of unique, festive costumes. Boys and girls swapped sticks with one another and took on the challenge of exploring unfamiliar terrain. In place of goalies, the coaches decided to use trash cans as a target for players to aim at. In order to score a goal, a player would have to successfully launch the ball into the goal and hit the trash can. I thought this decision was a fantastic way to enhance the difficulty of the game and help motivate players to value the ball more. After explaining the rules and discussing strategy, a player from each team stepped into the draw circle, and the game was ignited with high intensity and excitement.

Midfielder Luisa Llaneza Avogadro said her favorite part about the game was “switching sticks with the guys and watching them try to pass and shoot with a girl’s stick.” Luisa went on to say that “I liked playing against the boys because it was more fun and less serious than a normal game.” While boys and girls can both play the sport of lacrosse, the rules are significantly different. Girls use a stick with a shallow pocket, making it difficult for players to catch the ball. Boys, however, play using a stick with a deeper pocket, as they are allowed more freedom when it comes to physical contact. This deeper pocket allows men’s lacrosse players to have more security when trying to maintain possession. All participants definitely struggled with managing their new equipment, but the abnormality of the game provided the sideline attendees with many laughs.

After a series of back-and-forth possessions, the girls came out on top with a 12-10 win. Attacker Keira Donovan said, “I was excited that we won. I think the game is a great tradition and is always fun to participate in. Both the boys and the girls seemed to have a good time, and got very competitive when trying to achieve the winning title.” Keira dressed up as Santa Claus, wearing an oversized Christmas suit and a Santa hat.

I attended the game as a player on the Memorial Girls lacrosse team, and I enjoyed getting to play with some of my new teammates for the first time. Moreover, I thought the game was the perfect opportunity for both teams to get to know each other outside of practice. Players Olivia Blissard and Eden White won the highly anticipated costume contest dressed as a sumo wrestler and a Gatorade bottle. Afterwards, pizza and treats were handed out to all of the participants. Overall, the game was a wonderful way for each team to bond, and a superb kick-off to a new year of lacrosse.