PROVO, Utah – Local businesses and non-profit groups all along the Wasatch Front are working together to bring NCAA Division I lacrosse to Utah for the first time ever. Brigham Young will face off against Denver and UMBC on Saturday October 18 at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah.

Lacrosse is currently the fastest growing high school sport in the nation, and as the sport moves west, Utah is no exception, with teams and leagues sprouting up all over the state. Even with such rapid growth, Utah lacrosse certainly has room to grow.

"There are no schools in the state of Utah that sponsor NCAA-sanctioned lacrosse teams, so this event will certainly be historic," BYU Head Coach Jason Lamb said. "To see the support from local businesses as sponsors really shows that there is a desire from the community to help lacrosse develop in the state."

"We are proud to help sponsor such a high level of lacrosse here in Utah," Dustin Smith of Velocity Sports Performance said. "We are excited to see the best team in Utah go up against two of the premier NCAA teams in the nation."

While the Cougars have faced off against NCAA teams at similar exhibition tournaments in the past, they have never played such high-caliber teams in Utah.

"We are honored that Coach Zimmerman (UMBC) and Coach Munro (DU) are willing to bring their teams here to the Salt Lake area and to play us. It's a tremendous opportunity for our program and for lacrosse in the state of Utah. It's a unique chance to see the best in the game playing close to home, and I know the lacrosse community will come out in full force to support this great event," Lamb said.

Both visiting teams bring with them impressive resumes from the last year. The Retrievers of UMBC are the reigning American East Conference champions and qualified for the 2008 NCAA tournament. The Pioneers of Denver also qualified for the NCAA tournament and spent most of last season ranked in the top 25 nationally.

BYU is coming off another successful campaign in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, the national governing body of club teams. The Cougars finished the season with a 16-5 record, advancing to the MCLA National semifinals while also defending their Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference title with a perfect 5-0 record.

BYU has had success in fall-ball tournaments against NCAA foes, including wins against NYIT, Molloy, and VMI and a one point loss against Villanova.

The tournament will be held on October 18 at the Alta High School Stadium at 3:00 pm. General admission is $10.00, and tickets are available on-line at byu-mens-lacrosse.ticketleap.com and at the gate on game day. Each team will play the other two for three total scrimmages over the course of the evening. For more information, please visit www.lacrosseshowcase.com.

2008-10-14