Nanaimo field lacrosse players went a long way to find a place to play.
Nine members of the Nanaimo Raiders U19 field lacrosse team played well at the Sandstorm tournament in Palm Springs, Calif., last month.
The trip came about after Nanaimo fielded a team this season but found itself with no local opposition after a Lower Mainland U19 league folded and recruiting efforts in Victoria failed.
“We had 13 girls sign up in Nanaimo and no one to play, so we had to get creative to give the girls some sort of lacrosse season,” said Farren Ferguson, the team’s coach, in a press release.
The girls had played one seven-on-seven tournament in Langley but didn’t get a chance to play a full 12-on-12 game until last month’s tourney.
Nanaimo linked with a team from Pittsburgh called the Intrepid All-Stars; eight of the local girls suited up for that squad while one played for Team B.C.
For the Intrepid, Sophie Scobie scored five goals and 16 points and Nicole Briggs added seven assists. WIth Team B.C., Sarah Ferguson scored four goals and 10 points.
The purpose of the tournament, Ferguson said, was to expose players to U.S. college scouts and coaches.
“It was an absolute pleasure to coach the Nanaimo girls,” said Becky Luzier, director of Intrepid Lacrosse. “There are so many women’s college teams looking for players and I’m willing to do absolutely whatever I can do to assist in spreading this opportunity to as many girls as possible.”
Ferguson said he’s proud of the way the Nanaimo girls played and represented the city and the Raiders program.