Maine Lacrosse Coaches Alliance

Hi there! Matt Speno here - I am the Treasurer of a non-profit called the Maine Lacrosse Coaches Alliance - a.k.a The MLCA. Growing up and playing the Game in Baltimore, I am grateful for the nurturing of my humanity I received from my teammates, coaches, refs, and opponents. Long story short, our non-profit organization puts on several events during the year, culminating in an All-Star and Underclassman Showcase after the State High School Lax Championship. The showcase event allows seniors to play "one-more" game at the high school level. On the same day, we also hold a high school underclassmen game. For this game, tryouts are on a Monday, and the game on a Wednesday. We have 50 slots for the two teams and we consistently have around 100 to 120 players try-out. We have players from all over the state of Maine tryout. These players travel from all over the state, and get this, there is a lacrosse team up north in Houlton, Maine and it takes any where from 3 to 4 hours, ONE WAY, for these players to get to the field! We also have representation from New England college coaches who are looking to recruit rising Maine talent, and we are developing campaign to have more coaches from the lower 48 come to watch and recruit players. Other events we support are lax clinics for middle schoolers, a rules clinic for coaches, and collaborations between Maine College and Maine High School Lax coaches.

One of the things I am most proud of is the development of two scholarships that we award to seniors who will be playing the Game at the collegiate level. Unfortunately, this initiative was brought about by the untimely death of one of the most kind and unselfish high school lacrosse players in Maine. We are so proud to keep the memory of Steel Crawford alive for his parents and the wider Maine Lax community.

Another initiative we are working on is to merge Maine High School Women's and Men's lacrosse programs to provide continuity of the Game. Oh yeah, we are also working on an initiative to create a Maine Lacrosse Hall of Fame - this will surely be EPIC!

I want to thank you for taking the time to consider donating to our cause. Your support will ensure the continued (rapid!) growth of the game in one of the most rural states in our Union.