Week 2 Produces Exciting Games

Some exciting games were played during week 2 of the NILL season.  Games were close, and one game came down to a final goal within the last minute of the game.

Silas Wieczorek goes to the air for a shot on goal

Game 1 proved to be the most dramatic of the night with Team 3- Wieczorek taking on Team 4 - Grand Rapids.  The score was close throughout the game and was tied 7-7 going into the final minute.  The league commissioner was left scrambling to find the league rules to remember how he designed overtime anticipating our first overtime game of the season (note: overtime is decided by a 3 minute over time period with sudden victory.  If after the 3 minute overtime period the game is still tied during the regular season, the game ends in a tie.  For playoffs, if the game is still tied after the 3 minute overtime period, sudden victory Braveheart ensues until a team scores a goal.).  However, the Grand Rapids team solved the problem with a last second goal to end the game.  Team 4 - Grand Rapids took the victory by an 8-7 score. 

Ben Dunnell and Joey Keating once again led the way for Team 4 with 3 goals apiece.  Jackson Schwartz and Doug Jensen each chipped in with a goal.  Joey Keating was also a ground ball machine, scooping up 8. 

For Team 3, Kyle Limoseth led the way with 4 goals and now leads the league in scoring.  Tom Wieczorek played the role of garbage man, cleaning up loose balls in front of the net and putting them in, scoring 2 goals on the night.  Jimmy Bendas chipped in with 1 goal and 1 assist.  Defenseman Hunter Wieczorek forced 7 turnovers and now leads the league by a wide margin in that category.

In game 2, the young Honey Badger team took on Team 5 - Grand Rapids.  Once again, the game stayed close throughout.  The score was tied 2-2 at halftime with both teams having a little trouble finding the net.  In the second half, the scoring opened up a bit with Team 5 finally taking a lead midway through the second half.  Bryce Holak would respond with a goal soon after to cut the lead once again.  However it wasn't enough, and the young Honey Badgers would fall to Team 5 by a 7-5 score.

Christian Higginbotham and Zach Smith led the scoring for Team 5 each scoring 2 goals.  Kirk Watson, Zachary Beyer and Joey Keating (filling in from Team 4) each added a goal.  Kirk Watson played tough defense causing 3 turnovers and scooping up 8 ground balls.

Bryce Holak and Zack Zierden led the way for the Honey Badgers each scoring 2 goals.  Dan O'Connell added a goal.

The last game of the night featured two strong Duluth teams, Team 2 - Halver and Team 6 - Free Agents.  While the Free Agents maintained a lead for the entire game, Team 2 fought hard and kept the game close.  Just when it looked like Team 2 was out of it, they would answer with a goal or two to make the game exciting.  In the end, the Free Agents would take the victory 13-9.

The Free Agents were led by midfielder Brandon Nispel who notched 4 goals.  Steve Lokken, Bobby Moore, Brandon Gilseth and Scott Wishart each added two goals apiece.  Matt Koppang chipped in with one goal.

Tyler Kolquist and Zach Galo led the way for Team 2 with 2 goals apiece.  Steven Halver, Matt Reeves, Cooper Carlson, Mitch Smerz and Peter Donars each added a goal.

Play will resume on February 5, Super Bowl Sunday, following a conference and the gun and knife show that will tie up Pioneer Hall.  Super Bowl Sunday Spectacular should be fun, with the game on TV and snacks and dishes for the players and fans.

2012 Schedule Updated

Please go to our Schedule page to see the full 2012 NILL schedule.  Please note that we have games on Super Bowl Sunday and plan to make it a fun day of lacrosse and football watching.  We'll have a T.V. in Pioneer Hall to watch the game and we may ask players/parents to bring a snack or pot luck dish for a Super Bowl party that day.  Playoffs will be held on March 25 and we will have two early games that Sunday because the field is booked for soccer prior to our 4:00 p.m. game.

Standings and Stats Updated

League standings and stats have been updated after our first weeks games.  Regarding stats, goals are accurate but assists were problematic for the scorers with numbers only on the back of the jerseys.  It was hard to get an accurate reading of who made the assist.  If you are sure you had an assist in your game and are not listed, please let us know.  We will try to get a better reading of assists next week and ask that the referees also record goals and assists for an even more accurate recording.  We will also try to get an accurate recording of ground balls and caused turnovers starting next week and for the remainder of the season.  Thank you for your patience.

Great Night of Lacrosse in Northern Minnesota

In the first ever winter indoor lacrosse games in Northern Minnesota, the NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League kicked off its inaugural season last night.  Six teams are competing in the 8 game winter indoor lacrosse season.  The 8 game regular season will be followed up with playoffs and the first ever NILL Championship to be played on March 25.  Two teams from Grand Rapids and 4 teams from Duluth are competing in this first season of NILL play.

Game 1 action

Opening night proved to be a success with 3 exciting games of lacrosse.  In game 1, Team 2 - Halver defeated Team 4 - Grand Rapids 18-5 behind a flurry of goals from Matt Reeves and Cooper Carlson, each notching 5 goals.  Mitch Smerz added 3 goals and Britton Harris scored a pair for Team 2.  Steve Halver, Zack Galo and Andrew Martin each added a goal.  Goalie T.J. Vallie stopped 12 shots.

For Team 4 - Grand Rapids, goalie Tyler Altringer withstood a flurry of shots stopping 16 in the process.  Joey Keating notched a hat trick for Team 4 with three goals.  Doug Jensen and Ben Dunnell each added a goal.

Game 2 action

In game 2, Team 6 - Free Agents took on Team 5 - Grand Rapids.  In a game that was tied at halftime, the Free Agents pulled away in the second half to win 14-9.  The Free Agent team, comprised of several former UMD Bulldogs lacrosse players, displayed some crisp passing before putting the ball in the back of the net on a more regular basis in the second half.

In the first half, the scrappy and talented Team 5 - Grand Rapids team played very well and kept the game close.  Team 5 was led by Christian Higginbotham who notched 3 goals.  Ben Dunnell and Joey Keating scored 2 goals and Zach Smith and Jace Martientto added a goal apiece.

The Free Agents were led by Scott Wishart and Brandon Gilseth each scoring 3 goals.  Bobby Moore added two goals, both beautiful behind the head shots that found the back of the net on consecutive goals.  In a display of depth, 6 other players added a goal apiece.  Matt Kampmeyer, 8th grader Gage Kuhlmey, Matt Koppang, Brandon Nispel, Steve Lokken and Alex Rogers all scored one goal for the Free Agents. 

In the final game of the night, the young Honey Badgers team comprised primarily of 9th graders with one 8th grader and an old guy took on Team 3 - Wieczorek, both Duluth teams.  In a game that stayed close most of the night, Team 3 prevailed 11-8.

Team 3 was led by Brody Carlson and Kyle Limoseth, both notching 3 goals apiece.  Jimmy Bendas and 8th grader Silas Wieczorek each added 2 goals apiece and Mike Nowicki added 1 goal.

Game 3 action

The Honey Badgers were led by Jesse Larson and old man Andy Holak, both with 2 goals.  Beau Holappa, 8th grader Bryce Holak, Zack Zierden, and Dan O'Connell each added a goal.  Zierden also added two assists.  Goalie Mike Vuchetich stood tall in the goal for the Honey Badgers making 12 saves on the night.

All in all, it was a great night for lacrosse in Northern Minnesota.  Here's to many more winter lacrosse games in Northern Minnesota in the future!

Opening Day is Tomorrow!

Our inaugural NILL season kicks off tomorrow with our first game at 4:00 p.m. between Team 2- Halver and Team 4 - Grand Rapids.  PLEASE NOTE that our game times have changed a little.  Team 6 - Free Agents and Teams 1 - Honey Badgers and 3 - Wieczorek have moved their game times up 1 hour to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. respectively.  Our opening day schedule is below:
  
Week 1 - January 8:

4:00 p.m. - Team 2 - Halver vs. Team 4 Grand Rapids
5:00 p.m. - Team 6 - Free Agents vs. Team 5 Grand Rapids
6:00 p.m. - Team 3 - Wieczorek vs. Team 1 - Honey Badgers

Lavin Lacrosse will have a booth set up at Pioneer Hall and will be selling lacrosse gear, stringing supplies, sticks, heads, shafts, shorts, shirts and all sorts of lacrosse gear.  So, if you need any lacrosse supplies, Lavin can set you up.

Take a look at the league Rules before play and let's get ready for some lacrosse!