St. MIchael-Albertville Lacrosse Set for Spring, Teams with Swarm

One of the west metro's fastest growing sports, lacrosse, is taking off in St. Michael-Albertville. 

The STMA Youth Lacrosse Association is teaming up with the Minnesota Swarm tomorrow for STMA Youth Lacrosse Night, as the Swarm takes on the Calgary Roughnecks at the Xcel Energy Center. 

Part of the promotion is a "Chuck -a-Ball" contest, which will help raise money for the association. All proceeds from the contest will be given back to STMA lacrosse. 

Director Craig Cusick said youth lacrosse is "new and rapidly growing." Girls' lacrosse at St. Michael-Albertville High School, for example, has 40 (grades 9 through 12) students signed up for the spring club season.

This is the first year for STMA boys' lacrosse, and four teams have been created from grades three to varsity. Two teams are playing indoors this spring, and two teams will move outdoors (the junior varisty and varsity programs).

"We've had some sucess early. Our grade three/four team tied Wayzata, and our middle school team played really strong, leading for most the game despite losing, 5-3, to Edina," Cusick said. "Both of those teams come from cities that have had organized lacrosse for nearly 10 years."

If you're are new to lacrosse, think of hockey on grass, mixed with a tinge of soccer. It's high-action, medium contact and very exciting for fans of all ages. High school games are played on fields to the east of the high school building, north of Fieldstone Elementary. 

Cusic said he's working on creating new squads, hoping to offer summer lacrosse to kids who have competed through the spring elementary and middle school seasons. The summer program would be open to players from surrounding communities, including Buffalo and Monticello

To check out the club, or if you're interested in playing, get over to the STMA Youth Lacrosse website.

Better yet, swing down to the "X" Saturday. The association has more than 45 tickets it can sell for a reduced price. As a bonus, the staff plans to help remove the turf at the Xcel and kids can skate on the surface for (for a small fee).

Check out the flyer for more information.