As it turned out, the road to Denver ran through Long Island. The fourth annual World Series of Youth Lacrosse brought together 24 of the best club lacrosse teams that the U.S. has to offer, but the title showdown came down to two New York teams separated by less than ten miles.

OUR WARRIOR FAM HOOKED US UP 🔥💯@ExpressLacrosse sports the blue.@team91lacrosse will be in white. #WSYL pic.twitter.com/qDmfL0tLJR

— World Series of Youth Lacrosse (@worldserieslax) July 4, 2018

The Long Island Express and the Team 91 Bandits (N.Y.) ran roughshod through the field, posting matching 7-0 records before locking horns in the title game. The Express dominated the White Division, which included one of the three international entries (Team Israel). The Bandits found similar success in their Red Division, and also dispatched an international opponent, Evolve (Canada). The championship showdown between the Bandits and Express took place at Sports Authority Field in downtown Denver and aired on ESPN2 on the fourth of July.

From the faceoff X to the crease, we got you covered at the @worldserieslax in Denver, Colorado! pic.twitter.com/6XVH0ujhty

— LeagueApps (@leagueapps) July 3, 2018

The game itself was a barnburner from start to finish. The Bandits stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the first period, thanks to a quick hat-trick from Jack Speidell. The Express clawed back in the second quarter and closed the margin to a single goal as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

Five seconds into the second half, the Express’ Patrick Carragher found the back of the cage, knotting things up at seven. The championship would remain in doubt down the stretch before a pair of Bandit goals in the waning minutes put the game out of reach. The championship title is the Bandits’ first at the WSYL since 2015, and cements them as the top 13U club team in America.

Congrats to @team91lacrosse for winning the @worldserieslax championship. Watch the Bandits celebrate climbing to the mountain top at Mile High! #PlayForever pic.twitter.com/mcZg8F5KZM

— LeagueApps (@leagueapps) July 5, 2018

In addition to the tournament, the teams that qualified for the WSYL were treated to an immersive lacrosse experience during their time in Denver. Jake Steinfeld, the founder of both Major League Lacrosse and the WSYL, set out to provide the ultimate lacrosse experience and has turned the tournament into an all-out celebration of the game. For starters, the swag was plentiful for the participants. Warrior gave every player a new pair of cleats and provided the Express and Bandits with new jerseys for the title game. In addition to a handful of guest speakers, players were also able to participate in a series of challenges, from a 40-yard dash to the fastest shot competition. Michigan Warriors’ Joe Mullet took home the 40-yard dash crown while running barefoot! The fastest shot title belongs to Tri-State’s Alexander Urniyak.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkvyPrbn8BR/?utm_source=ig_embed

We’re proud that a third of the teams in the WSYL field are LeagueApps partners, including the L.I. Express and Team 91 Bandits. LeagueApps software powers some of the top lacrosse teams in the country. For more information on our platform, click here.