SPARKS, Md. — The lacrosse world’s collective march toward Los Angeles in 2028 and the return of the sport to the Olympic Games has been marked by one international event after another.
Nations are competing in their home regions — be it Pan-American, Asia Pacific, or European — in the Sixes discipline to secure a spot at the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships next year, with the goal of qualifying for the Olympics.
One such event on the trail is USA Lacrosse’s Atlas Cup. Teams from the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Haudenosaunee took the field at USA Lacrosse HQ in Sparks, Md., for three days of sixes competition. While it doesn’t have the stakes of Olympic qualification, it is another chance for nations to hone and refine their sixes rosters, and of course, battle for bragging rights.
Whenever these teams take the field, there are fireworks.
The setting was part lacrosse tournament, part three-day festival. Flags of competing nations lined the street outside USA Lacrosse HQ, welcoming fans to William G. Tierney field.
The opening ceremony took place Friday night. The men’s and women’s teams from all four teams took the field together and were introduced, with each national anthem being played in turn. A land acknowledgment was also made before the Haudenosaunee anthem.
Teams were commingled all weekend, given just how many players had been teammates in some capacity at some point in their lacrosse careers. Individual traditions for each team were also on display. On Sunday, the Irish and Haudenosaunee women joined arms at midfield after the game to sing Ireland’s Call, the Irish national team anthem.
There was a fun intimacy to the event and a real opportunity for fans to rub shoulders with players. A VIP lined the entire side of the field opposite team benches, putting fans right on top of the action. Players who were either just wrapping up a game or up next on the field also walked through the area enjoying the games.
It was common to see a player who had just played, or was about to play, sitting among the fans watching the action.
Music played during the games, courtesy of an on-site DJ. Local radio station 105.7 The Fan was there for Friday night’s action. The music during games, alongside the players and fans being right on top of the action and each other, led to an almost pickup game vibe. It was as if the teams waiting to get on the field for their game had shown up and called “we got next.”
The fan zone sprawled outside the stadium. In one endzone, giant inflatables and games were in heavy use from kids at the event. The last game Friday night began around 8:30 p.m. and even as it wrapped around 10 p.m., the slides and bounce houses were still shaking.
Vendors, food trucks, and popup bars lined the parking lot outside the field’s entrance. The intimacy of the event made it a great setting for fans. Players moved through all areas of the fan zones, including by the vendors, and autograph seekers were able to get signatures and photos with their favorite players.
The entire site was bustling with activity throughout the weekend. Fans moved from their seats to the fan zone behind the field for games and food, to vendors, and back again. Children came in costumes Saturday for a contest and got to get their trick-or-treating started early with some candy at the entrance gates.
As expected, matches between Canada and the United States were the top ticket. The two are expected to be the top contenders for gold, both at World Lacrosse Sixes Championships and at the Olympics a year later. The men played Saturday night in primetime, while the women were the final game of the event on Sunday afternoon.
The biggest crowd was Saturday evening. Fans with lawn seats lined the outside of the field, while the bleachers were packed and fans stood on the concourse above.
The U.S. men took the field to “Free Bird,” and the energy was palpable for the latest installment of the sport’s best rivalry. The U.S. scored just seconds into the game, as Blaze Riorden made a save that became an outlet pass to a streaking Ryan Terefenko for a dunk. The cheer for the first goal was massive, and energy stayed high as the teams battled throughout the first half.
Canada pulled away in the second half, though fans continued to urge the U.S. to try and fight back. Canada was inspired by a spectacular game from Zach Currier, who dominated all weekend and was ultimately given the Titan Award for the best player in the men’s portion of the tournament.
The crowd Sunday was equally electric. The USA and Haudenosaunee men took the field and played an extremely physical and well-fought game. Zed Williams had nine points, as he looked downright unstoppable in the sixes format. He scored a goal to bring the Haudenosaunee within a goal, 17-16, with just 33 seconds to play.
A U.S. turnover gave the Haudenosaunee a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Ryan Croddick made a doorstep save on Williams as time expired to secure the win. It was the most dramatic moment of the weekend and drew massive cheers. The high drama was a great appetizer for the main course that was USA-Canada on the women’s side.
The teams traded blows in the first half. A critical moment came when USA star Ally Mastroianni was given a red card for a dangerous shot, an expulsion foul that meant her day was done before halftime. At the break, the USA led 6-5.
The second half turned into the Jenika Cuocco Show. The U.S. defense, backstopped by Cuocco making her USA debut over the weekend, slammed the door on Canada, allowing just one goal in the entire second half. Cuocco finished with 14 saves, including eight in the second half.
Kate Levy scored on a well-executed inside roll to put the U.S. up 12-6, and then Cuocco followed with a save on the other end, as American fans got loud sensing that victory was within reach. Cuocco was given the Titan Award for her performance.
It’s been a busy fall for sixes. Pan-American Lacrosse Championships, followed by Asia Pacific Championships, into Atlas Cup, which roll into European Championships in November and then the Global Lacrosse Games in December.
While the regional championships are part of the qualification process for the World Lacrosse Sixes Championships and ultimately the Olympics, the Atlas Cup remains all about fun for fans and evaluation opportunities for coaches.
The official stakes might be lower, but the rivalries still have the same fire. Fans enjoyed the action on the field, the fun off the field, and environment all around USA Lacrosse HQ.
