Lacrosse tournament brings the best of the best to Springfield

Premiere Lacrosse League championship begins in Virginia

Many of the world鈥檚 best lacrosse players are in town for the kickoff of the Lexus Championship Series on Friday night at the St. James in Springfield, Virginia.

The tournament for the Premier Lacrosse League and the Women鈥檚 Lacrosse League will feature Olympic-style 6-on-6 play instead of the more common 10-on-10.

Rachael DeCecco, senior vice president of lacrosse for both leagues, said it will be an exciting preview of what to expect in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Men鈥檚 lacrosse returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1908, and women鈥檚 lacrosse will make its debut in Los Angeles.

DeCecco said the smaller format gives fans a faster, higher scoring game.

鈥淵ou’re going to see really the best athletes in the world compete,” she said. “This game is similar to basketball, with the speed and the skill. So if you’re a basketball fan, or you just like sports in general, this is a great entr茅e into lacrosse.鈥�

A fast and exciting game to be sure, but it is also a competition, and professional athletes are nothing if not competitive.

Ally Mastroianni, the captain of the California Palms, said she wants to win this weekend.

鈥淚’m extremely competitive,” Mastroianni said. “It would mean so much.”

Mastroianni has been playing lacrosse since she was a kid in New Jersey, and besides the Palms, she also plays for the U.S. National Team.

Midfielder Bryan Costabile is originally from Sykesville, Maryland. He鈥檚 been playing lacrosse since he was 4 years old and has been a professional player with the New York Atlas for six years.

Costabile said fans can expect a fast-paced game with a lot of intensity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unlike anything you鈥檝e seen before,” he said.

The Lexus Championship Series tournament starts Friday. The semifinals will be played March 7 and a final winner will be declared in a championship game March 8.

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