Lacrosse teams claim titles

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands Junior High grade 5/6 team and The Woodlands 7/8 Green team were undefeated, taking home the championship in their division in the 2nd Annual 7’s for 7 Lacrosse Tournament.

Presented by The Friends of Drew Webb and Nike Lacrosse, the tournament was held at the Houston Amateur Sports Park on Saturday, Jan. 7.

“It was great to hear praises from other coaches at the tournament regarding the ‘team play’ exhibited by The Woodlands boys 5/6, 7’s for 7 lacrosse team,” coach Mike Prochaska said. “The group of boys, representing The Woodlands Junior High grade 5/6 team, have really embraced playing together.”

This year was the first year for the 5/6 championship division. The team won every game in the five game series, finishing with a win in the championship game against Team Texas 3 from Austin with a score of 9-4. The Woodlands 5/6 team only allowed eight goals during the five game series and scored more than 70 goals.

Ten boys 5/6 teams played in the tournament, along with 61 other boys and men’s teams and 18 ladies teams. Each game was 30 minutes, with clock running with seven players on each team playing on a 40x65 yard field.

Two Woodlands eighth-grade teams also participated in the tournament, which included 16 7/8 teams. Both of The Woodlands 7/8 teams went undefeated in division play.

At the end of the day the two Woodlands 7/8 teams faced off, for the second consecutive year, in the championship game. The Woodlands Red team won the Braveheart overtime competition after the teams tied during regulation play.

The tournament is held to honor Drew Webb’s memory and to raise funds for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Greater Houston that assists other athletes and their families who are struggling with mental health issues.

Drew Webb, who wore a number 7 lacrosse jersey when he played at Episcopal High School in Houston and when he played at Cornell University, set multiple scoring records and was recognized as a three-time All-State selection and a two-time high school All- American. He earned four varsity letters while at Cornell, winning multiple Ivy League championships and competing in the NCAA Final Four.

The Woodlands Lacrosse Association is the governing body for The Woodlands High School, Junior High lacrosse programs and youth programs. Lacrosse in the state of Texas is not currently a UIL sponsored sport, so therefore it is not funded or facilitated by public high schools.

The Woodlands Lacrosse Association is an umbrella organization representing over 300 lacrosse players and their families from the Young Guns and Young Dolls to the varsity programs for both girls and boys.

For more information on the WLA, visit www.woodlandslax.com.