From the Goal Line

Tukwila, WA – The Space Needle Shootout, the largest lacrosse tournament in the Northwest, returns to Starfire Sports in Tukwila with over 60 teams, this Friday for the weekend, rain or shine.

The shootout, known as a evenly split Canadian-American tournament, boasts teams from Washington, Oregon, Utah, British Columbia, Maryland and Montana, and showcases lacrosse from U-12 teams through U-18 teams.  In it’s seventh year, the shootout begins Friday at 5 p.m., with opening games in all four age divisions.

The Shootout grew seemingly instantaneously from a 12-team local gathering to today’s 64-team international event.  Hosted by the Seattle Starz organization, it’s become a fixture in the winter lacrosse schedule.

“We created the Shootout just to provide an event in December that kids can play in,” said Fred Wilmot, the tournament founder. “I think we all were amazed when it started growing – I mean, who wants to come to Seattle in December?  But now, we’re consistently getting top teams from across the border and across the country. The shootout helps develop American field players to compete with talented box players on the same field.  I think they both learn something from each other.”

The Canadian invasion will be the story of the 2010 Shootout, since, in the ’09 event, teams from Canada packed the finals in every division, filling all eight berths.  This year the teams from Victoria, PacRim and New West all return to defend their crowns and prove that it was no fluke.  Follow the Seattle Starz Elite after a 5-1 East coast tear, and a handful of Division I hopefuls take on friendly rivals the South Sound Starz, and Oregon’s best as they try to unseat B.C. as the reigning region of Lacrosse.

“One of the most beneficial things for players playing in the Shootout is the competition between Canadian and American styles of field lacrosse”, said Doug Locker, NLL Washington Stealth General Manager. “The impact of Canadian players on the NCAA field game is no longer a novel trend, it’s an established fact. The Space Needle Shootout provides an opportunity to expose that lacrosse style to players who do not have a box lacrosse background.”

In addition to the plethora of talented teams, and fans descending on Tukwila, Warrior Lacrosse will be hosting three clinics over the course of the weekend, Breakaway Sports will have all the latest gear, and the Washington Stealth will host the coaches in a Saturday night social.  Come see why some of the best talent in B.C. comes down to battle in the crucible of the new lacrosse cradle.  Find out why box skills in the field game is rapidly becoming the gateway to college lacrosse.  The shootout will also have film of the weekend posted with our friends at InsideLacrosse and of course, here at Walax.com.  Stay tuned for stats, scores , pictures and video throughout the weekend and after.

Walax.com is the premier provider of Lacrosse events, camps, clinics, and leagues in Washington.  For more information please contact info@walax.com or go to http://www.walax.com for details.