ST. GEORGE — After host Snow Canyon defeated Desert Hills 16-2 in a high school lacrosse game Tuesday night, Warriors junior Preston Udy talked about the feeling commonly held by prep lacrosse players in St. George.
“We’re all trying to get it to be a varsity sport,” Udy told St. George News. “We play like we’re a sanctioned, varsity team. We’re practicing all the time, putting in the extra hours and working hard.”
Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in Utah. The University of Utah’s lacrosse program is gaining prominence, and Westminster College in Salt Lake City has a competitive and rapidly growing team. Several other Utah colleges established teams and clubs over the past few years.
The Utah High School Activities Association sanctioned lacrosse as an official sport, but rapid growth at the high school level has been confined to large Salt Lake-area high schools like American Fork and Corner Canyon.
The lacrosse fire burned for a couple of years in the St. George area but only recently has its blaze been fully ignited.
“We’ve been talking to the school board and we’ve been pushing it,” Snow Canyon coach Greg Freihofner told St. George News. “It’s sanctioned in the state, now we just need to get varsity status down here. And the boys deserve it.”
Teams on Snow Canyon’s schedule this season include Desert Hills, Cedar, Canyon View, Dixie and Crimson Cliffs.
Freihofner said Tuesday night’s 16-2 score over Desert Hills indicates that some local schools are further along in developing lacrosse teams than others.
“Snow Canyon is one of the earlier programs, so maybe we advanced a little more quickly in the three years we’ve been playing,” Freihofner said.
Lacrosse games feature 10 players per side: three attackers, three midfielders (called “middies”), three defenders (who carry the longer sticks) and a goalie.
Snow Canyon’s depth Tuesday night was obvious. The Warriors’ bench had 15 players to substitute for their starters while the Thunder had just five subs.
The Warriors were led by their attackers as Udy scored five goals and had an assist and Easton Salazar tallied three goals and three assists in the win over Desert Hills.
“We had a lot of good work, a lot of our goals were assisted tonight, which we like,” Freihofner said. “Good ball movement, good defensively, just pretty good team play. Everybody got in and everybody played hard.”
Cru Hammons netted two goals in the Warriors’ win. John Freihofner, Owen Jones, Maddix McArthur, Jonah Anderson and Ace Hefen all recorded single goals for Snow Canyon’s win.
Anderson threw out two assists for the Warriors and Mason Boatright and Hefen distributed single assists in the triumph.
“It was a team game. As we move it around, playing as a team, we just take the opportunities they give you,” Udy said, noting the improvement at Snow Canyon over the last three years. “We started with barely any subs and now we have plenty. It’s grown a lot and it’s a lot of fun to be playing here.”
Desert Hills was valiant in defeat, playing hard but just running out of gas against the deeper Warrior squad.
Aidan Johnson and Matthew Ivory scored the two Desert Hills goals, both unassisted.
Snow Canyon has five more games on its schedule before playoffs are scheduled for May 16-20, time and location to be determined.
Photo Gallery
Snow Canyon's Preston Udy (left) passes to a teammate in a high school lacrosse game against Desert Hills, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
A Desert Hills attacker cradles the ball against Snow Canyon in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills defender Brexton Frehner moves the ball up the field against Snow Canyon in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Preston Udy (left) maneuvers to the Desert Hills goal in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Easton Salazer (middle right) fires a shot against Desert Hills in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Preston Udy ( middle left) maneuvers to the Desert Hills goal in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
A Desert Hills attacker fires a shot against Snow Canyon in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
A Snow Canyon attacker works the ball against Desert Hills in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Desert Hills defender Brexton Frehner moves the ball up the field against Snow Canyon in a high school lacrosse game, St. George, Utah, April 11, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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