USF: My First Experience at a USF Lacrosse Game

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Many have watched sports on television and thought about what it would be like to watch live. Mine is college lacrosse. I got an email about the Olympic committee announcing that lacrosse was going to an event in the summer games starting in 2024. The USF Bulls women’s lacrosse team had some exhibition matches and I thought what the heck let’s go watch a sport that I have never seen live. Television does not do lacrosse justice. The sport moves fast and the ball also moves quickly. Along with my good friend Bobby Carter, we both were blown away by women’s lacrosse. The USF Bulls played against the St. Leo Lions. Both teams came out hard doing drills during warmups to prepare for the game.

The game took place at Corbett Stadium which is a soccer stadium where both men’s and women’s soccer at USF is played. The match took place under a beautiful blue sky with no clouds. It was breezy and in the mid 80’s. St. Leo was wearing green jerseys and shorts with yellow undershirts. The USF Bulls were wearing white jerseys and black shorts with the Bulls logo on them. The match started with one player from each team with the ball between their two nets at midfield. Once the ref blows their whistle they throw the ball and the team that gets control has possession. For most of the day, the USF Bulls won those exchanges. The first goal came early and USF got it. The celebrations are cool in lacrosse when a player scores a goal they throw their net on the ground. The referee picks it up and hands it back to the player.

The match was very much one-sided. The Bulls jumped out to a 5-2 lead after the first quarter. The quarters last 12 minutes with a three-minute break between. The match also has a halftime. Just like in many sports, you have penalties, and both sides committed them. At the half, the Bulls led 12-5. At no point in the game did USF trail. Many who say women can not play sports should come out and watch them before making that opinion. Both teams have to run up and down the field except for the goaltender. The ladies use the whole field even the space behind the net. Just like in hockey and basketball, they set up plays. They work it around the net and just like in hockey fire shots from all over the place.

The USF Bulls won the match 21-10. They shook hands with the ladies from St. Leo. After that first match, Florida Southern would take on St. Leo and in an afternoon match USF would play Florida Southern. From my first time watching a college lacrosse game I have to say I was happy I did it. It was great to see the sport of lacrosse up close. Many do not know that lacrosse is the national sport of Canada. I am going to try and catch a game or two when the USF women’s lacrosse team starts their season. Along with being there as a media member I also got the chance to take some photos.

What are your thoughts on lacrosse? Leave a comment below.

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