Midwest Notebook: Lacrosse Stadiums Everywhere!

Team of the Week: St. Xavier (Ohio)

Arch rivals Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) and St. Xavier (Ohio) faced off at Nippert Stadium at University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium on Friday, April 5. This game marked the first lacrosse game played at Nippert and with two bitter rivals, and the venue only ramped up that excitement.

Nippert is at the heart of the campus, notably accessible and a very cool place. Both teams' fans were well represented. High school football games are events, so should lacrosse. Friday night games under the lights, make it exciting.

The game started neck-and-neck with the teams exchanging goals, for the most part. St. Xavier led 5-3 after the first quarter.

A quick second-quarter goal for Moeller made it a one-goal game, but then St. Xavier rattled off four goals to finish the half and led 9-4.

In the second half, Moeller scored the first goal to try to make a run, but the Bombers answered every time to keep the lead and to take the 16-8 victory. Noah Reidy's four-goal performance earned him LaxRecords Player of the Game.

St. Xavier improved to 5-1 on the season with the win. Moeller dropped to 4-3.

Eye-Opening Performance

In a huge rivalry game, in a historic venue, some players may be a bit overwhelmed, but not St. Xavier freshman Luke Vrsansky.

The way Vrsansky played a week earlier against New Trier (Ill.) stuck out, but against Archbishop Moeller he elevated his status.

His poise, confidence, speed, and body control are what initially stands out, but factor in his great shot, and that he's not afraid to take it and you have a special player.

He scored three goals against Moeller.

Venue of the Week

The University of Michigan and their new lacrosse stadium hosted a meeting between Michigan defending Division I champion Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.) and Illinois state runner-up New Trier.

The U-M Lacrosse Stadium is a gem, and this should be the model for any University looking to build a lacrosse-only facility. The stadium seats 2,000 fans is one of only eight 1,000-plus-seat venues in the country explicitly made for Division I lacrosse.

It is fitting that this was the location for a big-time Midwest Top 10 matchup.

Catholic Central came out strong roaring to a quick 4-0 first-quarter lead, then continuing the pace and taking a 6-1 halftime lead. Joey Kamish led the Shamrocks with three goals in the first half. Goalie Johnny Shea made seven saves through the first two quarters.

That first half seemed to wake up New Trier as they came out firing, and moved the ball well, but between some wide shots, hit pipes and five second-half saves by Shea, they could not get back into the game.

Catholic Central won 9-4, and Shea earned LaxRecords Player of the Game.

Inter-State Rivalry

Sam Bedich from Cathedral (Ind.). Photo by Mike Loveday

Archbishop Moeller took on on Cathedral (Ind.) on April 2 in what has become a yearly match-up between these two schools. Cathedral has been on the winning end the last three years and this year made four. Cathedral won 9-8 on Sam Bedich’s goal with seconds remaining in the game to earn LaxRecords Player of the game award.

Warriors Dominate

Brother Rice (Mich.) is the beast of the midwest not named Culver Academy (Ind.).

They were dethroned last year by Detroit Catholic Central after winning 14-straight state championships and appear to be on a mission this year.

The Warriors are big, fast and skilled and can do it all. But they faced New Trier who is no slouch and also has a storied history. They are a big, tough and skilled team who play with an edge.

Brother Rice came out on the field to "Hells Bells" by AC/DC and showed confidence. New Trier came out showing a bit of swagger and picked up a bit, which gave the game the feeling of a heavyweight title bout.

New Trier scored first and looked good, but Brother Rice put the throttle down and showed why they are the best team in the Midwest right now.

They took a 9-3 lead into halftime. New Trier did not lay down and came out firing, but between not getting enough possessions, and some missed opportunities Brother Rice took home an impressive 13-7 win.

Jordan Hyde led Brother Rice with four goals to earn LaxRecords Player of the Game.

Standout Players of the Week