News
ENLARGE
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — As imposing as team Marin was with its five members of the Duke University Blue Devils, it learned this past weekend that a star-studded roster does not guarantee victory at the increasingly competitive Lake Tahoe Lacrosse Tournament.
Marin, which has won the championship 10 times in the 20-year history of the Incline Village tournament, including last year, was upset by team Tropics out of San Diego, 11-10, in overtime in the quarterfinal round on Saturday. Tropics earned every bit of the victory, storming back to force overtime after trailing 7-2 at the half.
The Southern California squad went on to defeat West Sunset, 12-5, in the final. It was the second straight year that West Sunset finished runner-up.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Curt Wegener, event director of the fundraising tournament. “There was an amazing amount of talent up here.”
Among the tournament-record 28 teams — bumped up from last year's 24 teams and the previous year's 16 — Wegener said several clubs boasted Division I college players from top-notch universities.
For example, Colin Briggs from the University of Virginia, who was named MVP of the 2011 Division I National Championship game, highlighted the Olympic Club's roster, Wegener said, while Tropics pulled off the title in large part because of their goalie, who starts for John Hopkins University.
“He played out of his mind in the final,” Wegener said of the goalie. “He was making great saves.”
The local team, Tahoe Dawgs, finished 1-3 in the tournament. They started off with a 9-5 loss to the Woozles on Friday before rebounding for a 9-7 win against Bay Flow later that day. On Saturday, the Dawgs lost a nail-biter in overtime, 9-8, to Palo Alto. They ended the tourney with a 7-4 loss to Sacramento on Sunday.
“We were very competitive in all our games,” Wegener said.
The tournament, which serves as a major fundraiser for the nonprofit Truckee Tahoe Lacrosse Association, spans two weekends, concluding with the U-19 tourney on July 30-31.
The U-19 tournament also has expanded to include 14 teams, up from last year's eight, Wegener said.
Marin, which has won the championship 10 times in the 20-year history of the Incline Village tournament, including last year, was upset by team Tropics out of San Diego, 11-10, in overtime in the quarterfinal round on Saturday. Tropics earned every bit of the victory, storming back to force overtime after trailing 7-2 at the half.
The Southern California squad went on to defeat West Sunset, 12-5, in the final. It was the second straight year that West Sunset finished runner-up.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Curt Wegener, event director of the fundraising tournament. “There was an amazing amount of talent up here.”
Among the tournament-record 28 teams — bumped up from last year's 24 teams and the previous year's 16 — Wegener said several clubs boasted Division I college players from top-notch universities.
For example, Colin Briggs from the University of Virginia, who was named MVP of the 2011 Division I National Championship game, highlighted the Olympic Club's roster, Wegener said, while Tropics pulled off the title in large part because of their goalie, who starts for John Hopkins University.
“He played out of his mind in the final,” Wegener said of the goalie. “He was making great saves.”
The local team, Tahoe Dawgs, finished 1-3 in the tournament. They started off with a 9-5 loss to the Woozles on Friday before rebounding for a 9-7 win against Bay Flow later that day. On Saturday, the Dawgs lost a nail-biter in overtime, 9-8, to Palo Alto. They ended the tourney with a 7-4 loss to Sacramento on Sunday.
“We were very competitive in all our games,” Wegener said.
The tournament, which serves as a major fundraiser for the nonprofit Truckee Tahoe Lacrosse Association, spans two weekends, concluding with the U-19 tourney on July 30-31.
The U-19 tournament also has expanded to include 14 teams, up from last year's eight, Wegener said.
