Foxborough Lacrosse Programs Take Part In NCAA Championship Weekend

From Gillette Stadium:

FOXBOROUGH, MA. — A Memorial Day Weekend of lacrosse at Gillette Stadium for the 2017 NCAA Championships provided hundreds of lacrosse players from Foxborough the chance to get in on the action and enjoy the tournament’s return to Massachusetts for the first time since 2012.

On Thursday, May 25, hundreds of Foxboro Youth Lacrosse players and their families greeted the Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse teams participating in Championship Weekend to a welcome reception at Gillette Stadium. The group even welcomed Patriots head coach and lacrosse enthusiast Bill Belichick to the event, high-fiving him as he entered the venue to speak at the event.

On Sunday, May 28, the Foxborough High School girls’ lacrosse team attended the NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Championship game between Boston College and Maryland. The team watched the game from a Gillette Stadium suite courtesy of the Kraft family. The crowd of 11,668 who attended the BC-Maryland title game set a new NCAA Division I Women’s Championship attendance record.

“Thank you to the Kraft family for the amazing experience as we prep for the playoffs,” said FHS girls’ lacrosse coach Britney Sherry.

Maryland defeated BC, 16-13, to win their 13th national title and complete its unbeaten season.

On Monday, May 29, Foxborough High School boys’ lacrosse and Foxborough Youth Lacrosse players participated in the unfurling of a large American flag during the pregame ceremonies of the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Championship game between Ohio State and Maryland. Following the on-field experience, the Warriors attended the men’s title game; catching the action from a suite courtesy of the Kraft family.

“What an awesome opportunity for our boys to be able to experience an NCAA Lacrosse National Championship game right in their backyard at Gillette Stadium,” said FHS boys’ lacrosse coach Matt Noone. “This weekend brought the nation’s best players in the sport to Foxborough and our guys got to see two excellent teams in Maryland and Ohio State battle it out for the national title. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Maryland took home its first national title in 42 years, defeating Ohio State, 9-6. Rich Cormier, Foxborough High School’s Athletic Director, thanked the Kraft family for their generosity.

"Foxborough Athletics would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the Kraft Group and the Patriots for hosting our high school lacrosse programs over the weekend at the NCAA Lacrosse Championships,” said Cormier. “The coaches and players enjoyed a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience lacrosse at the highest level while bonding with their teammates as they prepare for the start of the state tournament. We would like to once again thank the Kraft Group and the Patriots for their continued generosity and support for the Foxborough Public Schools and our Athletic Program."

The attendance for Monday’s NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship was 28,971 – the most in a NCAA men’s lacrosse final since 2012, also held at Gillette Stadium.

The NCAA Lacrosse Championships will return to Foxborough next May with the 2018 games scheduled for Gillette Stadium.

Images provided by Jeremie Smith/Gillette Stadium