The state’s two collegiate lacrosse programs played for the first time this past Saturday, making the inaugural game historic. SDSU won the match 7-2.

USD hosts the second lacrosse program in the state and the first collegiate program. The feeding team to what is now USD lacrosse was called Mad Cow Lacrosse and was established in 1999 by Brad Carclay, Tyler Neuharth and Josh Ring. The three were named team officers. 

The club received the first taste of competition the following year after taking a season to develop the program and a roster. 

Recruiting proved difficult due to the lack of lacrosse knowledge in the area. Lacrosse was often confused for rugby and referred to as “the sport from American Pie”. 

A rivalry was instantly born during the team’s first game held at USD against the University of Nebraska Lincoln and Dordt College. 

The Mad Cows thrived for two years before diffusing in 2001. Neuharth and Ring brought the program to USD’s campus recreation department the following year. 

USD lacrosse had been competitive in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association from 2005 to 2010 only to pick back up again, after having three seasons off, for 2014. 

SDSU’s lacrosse team, led by Jorgen Dahl continues to guide the team in the right direction as the team president and player. 

Lacrosse proves to be a true team effort at SDSU. The club’s program is often responsible for fundraising, equipment management and facility rental among various duties varying from program to program. Time and effort put in by club members is equivalent to that of a part-time job. 

The Jacks look to build on their success story in the upcoming tournaments against North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, St. Mary’s, Carleton, Hamlin, Concordia and St. Scholastica.