‘Here to stay’: Dixie wins Southern Utah Lacrosse League, sport surges in popularity

ST. GEORGE — While four state championships were decided to much acclaim and fanfare on May 20, a fifth team of champions was quietly crowned at Dixie High School.

The Dixie High School lacrosse team celebrates after winning the SULL championship game, St. George, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Kent Pascoe, St. George News

The Flyers held on to survive Cedar 9-8, winning the Southern Utah Lacrosse League championship in thrilling fashion and capping a high school season that saw a local groundswell of participation in one of the fastest-growing sports in Utah. 

“That’s a tough loss,” Cedar coach Josh Hill told St. George News. “One of those games we were down, the guys fought back and got us to striking range, then we just had a hard time keeping possession at the end.”

The first quarter of the league championship game saw only two goals as the teams settled in. The Flyers and Reds were tied 1-1 after one.

Then Dixie put together a run and jumped ahead 5-2 at halftime.

“I can’t say more for my guys,” Hill said. “I knew going into it, it would be a dog fight. Dixie thought the same way and it turned out to be what we expected.”

Both teams exploded out of the break, combining for seven goals in the third quarter, and Dixie clung to an 8-6 advantage heading into the final session.

Possessions became critical in the final minutes. 

“We made some small mistakes that kept piling up,” Hill said, “and their defense was just a little bit different in that last little bit.”

Dixie’s lone goal in the fourth frame was enough to provide the winning margin. Cedar won the quarter 2-1 but ran out of time.

Dixie senior Jordan Semmens led the way for the winners, netting a hat trick of goals and dispensing two assists in a monster game.

The Dixie High School lacrosse team celebrates after winning the SULL championship game, St. George, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Kent Pascoe, St. George News

Sophomore sensation Travis Shepard scored twice for Dixie and four other Flyers (Ishiah Bybee, Miles Hall, Porter Alleman, Robbie Seaman) each scored a solo goal. Alleman accounted for Dixie’s other assist in the win.

On the other side of the score sheet, six of Cedar’s eight goals were assisted. Sophomore Zak Reid dished out three of those helpers while senior Kagen LeFevre had two. Kai Gowan recorded Cedar’s sixth assist. 

“It was a great game, just what you want to see in a championship game,” Hill said. “Hopefully people will see all the effort families and kids are putting into it.”

Sophomore Trace Overson threw in three goals for a Reds hat trick. Reid and LeFevre both scored twice and Gowan accounted for Cedar’s eighth goal.

The Utah High School Activities Association officially sanctioned lacrosse at the high school level beginning in the 2019-2020 season, but not all county school districts in the state have granted the sport varsity status.

All of the high school teams in the Southern Utah Lacrosse League – Dixie, Cedar, Snow Canyon, Canyon View, Desert Hills, Crimson Cliffs–are club teams.

“It’s only right for us to get sanctioned, now we hope Washington County and Iron County can sign off and get behind it on a varsity level,” Hill said. “The kids deserve to play for state, they want to have that run and want to play for a state title.”

Dixie builds on depth, popularity among youth

The Flyers won the championship amid a surge of enthusiasm for lacrosse at Dixie.

Head coach Kent Pascoe, a longtime player and coach in Utah known as “Twigs” because of his distinctive long legs and tall frame, told St. George News that the Flyers had 12 seniors try out for the team as first-time players this year.

Add that to a core of sophomores that started playing a year after the COVID-19 season, and Dixie was able to field a deep, talented squad that accomplished all of its goals and finished the 2023 campaign undefeated at 12-0.

“The cherry on top would be to play for a legit state title,” Pascoe said. “I think this year we could have won it.”

Pascoe said Dixie’s Travis Shephard is generating interest among Division I teams at college, representing the quality of player that is being developed in Southern Utah despite the fact that lacrosse is not yet a varsity sport.

“What excites me the most about Dixie lacrosse is the growth and the understanding of the game among younger players,” Pascoe added, noting that he referees in lacrosse leagues for players in grades 3-8. 

“Younger players are getting more and more knowledge and opportunities to play down here,” Pascoe said. “With the growth I’ve seen it will be a powerhouse down here. Lacrosse is here to stay in Southern Utah.”

Southern Utah Lacrosse League, final standings (league, overall):

  1. Dixie 10-0, 12-0
  2. Cedar 8-2, 9-3
  3. Snow Canyon 6-4, 7-5
  4. Canyon View 4-6, 5-7
  5. Crimson Cliffs 2-8, 2-9
  6. Desert Hills 0-10, 0-11

Southern Utah Lacrosse League All Stars

Player of the Year: Travis Shephard, Dixie

Snow Canyon’s Preston Udy (left), here in a file photo, was named to the 1st Team All-SULL squad, St. George, Utah, May 31, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

1st Team Attack: Travis Shephard, Dixie; Preston Udy, Snow Canyon; Jordan Semmens, Dixie

1st Team Midfield: Cam Findlay, Canyon View; Cru Hammons, Snow Canyon; Ace Layton, Crimson Cliffs; Long Stick Midfield: Brody Woodbury, Snow Canyon

1st Team Defense: Ian Gibson, Canyon View; Xander Weaver, Cedar; Brexton Frehner, Desert Hills

1st Team Face-Off Specialist: Eric Burger, Cedar

1st Team Goalie: David Wilson, Snow Canyon

2nd Team Attack: Zak Reid, Cedar; Kai Gowan, Cedar; Easton Salazar, Snow Canyon

2nd Team Midfield: Porter Alleman, Dixie; Robbie Seaman, Dixie; Aiden Johnson, Desert Hills; Long Stick Midfield: Theron Stevens, Canyon View

2nd Team Defense: Tanner Gough, Snow Canyon; Jaxon Jensen, Dixie; Daxton Crowther, Crimson Cliffs

2nd Team Face-Off Specialist: Damian Lewis, Desert Hills

2nd Team Goalie: Mason Yuen, Cedar

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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