the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the boys #LAXMaroons win, earning their Group 4 trophy with a 14-3 victory over the Cherokee Chiefs!
Senior Myles McCutcheon scored a hat trick and the Maroons overpowered Cherokee, 14-3, on Friday in the Group 4 boys lacrosse championship.
The Maroons put on a show in the final and held the boys from Burlington County without a goal for the first 21 minutes.
A jaw-dropping performance ended with one more unusual twist at Bridgewater-Raritan. Ridgewood was so eager to get its hands on the trophy that part of it cracked off in the post-game festivities. Blame it on a eight-year state title drought that felt like an eternity.
Lacrosse is a team sport that originated among the indigenous peoples of North America, primarily among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and other tribes in the eastern Woodlands. It is considered one of the oldest organized sports in North America, with roots dating back several centuries.
The exact origins and early development of lacrosse are not well-documented, as the sport was primarily passed down through oral tradition and ceremonial play. However, it is believed to have been played by Native American tribes for various purposes, including spiritual, recreational, and even as a means to settle disputes between tribes.
The game was traditionally played on a large open field, often spanning several miles, with teams consisting of dozens to hundreds of players. The objectives and rules of the game varied among different tribes, but the basic idea was to use a long-handled racket, known as a crosse or stick, to catch, carry, and throw a small ball towards a goal. The goals were often marked by trees or rocks, and the ball was made of materials such as wood, animal skin, or deerskin.
Lacrosse had great cultural significance among Native American communities. It was seen as a way to honor the Creator, promote physical fitness, and develop important skills such as agility, endurance, and teamwork. The game also held spiritual and healing elements, and often had ceremonial and ritualistic aspects associated with it.
European settlers and explorers first witnessed lacrosse being played by Native Americans in the 17th century. French missionaries were particularly fascinated by the sport and gave it the name “lacrosse” due to the resemblance of the crosse to a bishop’s crozier, which is called “la crosse” in French.
Over time, the European settlers began to adopt and adapt the game, and it started to spread beyond Native American communities. In the 19th century, lacrosse gained popularity in Canada, particularly among the English-speaking communities. In 1867, the Montreal Lacrosse Club was established, becoming the first organized lacrosse club.
As the sport grew, formal rules and regulations were developed to standardize the game. The first set of modern rules was formulated in 1869 by Dr. William George Beers, often referred to as the “Father of Lacrosse.” His rules formed the basis for the modern game of lacrosse and helped establish it as a competitive sport.
Lacrosse continued to evolve and gain popularity throughout the 20th century. It became an official Olympic sport in 1904 and 1908, although it was later removed from the Olympic program. However, lacrosse remains widely played at the amateur, collegiate, and professional levels in North America and other parts of the world.
In addition to field lacrosse, which is played outdoors on a large grass field, there are variations of the game such as box lacrosse and women’s lacrosse, each with its own set of rules and equipment. Box lacrosse is played in an indoor arena, and women’s lacrosse has its own distinct rules regarding contact and equipment.
Today, lacrosse is enjoyed by millions of players and fans worldwide. It has become especially popular in the United States and Canada, where professional leagues such as Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) have been established to showcase the sport at the highest level.
Boy Power !
Way to go Ridgewood!!!