Lacrosse action can get pretty intense, as these Rio Rancho Raptors (in white and blue) and Duke City Scorpions show in their reason meeting at Enchanted Hills Elementary’s field. (Herron photo)

 

 

People driving past a Rio Rancho Raptors’ lacrosse game might wonder if a bathroom break is coming up, when they hear calls of “Wizzer! Wizzer!” Nope, it’s just an offensive play call from the sideline, as are calls of “Monster!” and “Party!” It must be working; the team improved to 6-0 after a lopsided 12-1 victory on April 22 over the visiting Duke City Scorpions, as the Raptors happily celebrated Senior Day.

After a 6-2 loss at Santa Fe on April 26, the Raptors have two games left in the regular season: Saturday in Los Alamos, facing an El Paso team at 10 a.m. and host Los Alamos at 2. The Raptors are expected to be the No. 1 seed for the upcoming postseason.

The Rio Rancho Lacrosse Club, with a high school team that combines players from Cleveland and Rio Rancho high schools, is committed to growing the game of lacrosse in Rio Rancho. Its origins are of indigenous people; more specifically, lacrosse originated among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquis).  They played lacrosse as a way to honor the creator, encourage cooperation between the different clans & connect with the spiritual world.  .

The team, which has “FAMILY” at the bottom of the jerseys, has five sets of brothers: Christian and Damien Tafoya; Logan and Lucas Carrick; Brayden and Reilly Monroney; Jaxon and Michael Denison; and Dylan, Lukas and Jacob Garcia. (Michael Denison and Jacob Garcia are middle school students.

Sometimes, lacrosse players get a chance to obtain a college offer, which is what Cleveland High senior Drew Rivera got from Colorado State-Pueblo.

Rio Rancho Lacrosse is the premier lacrosse club in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Founded in 2010 when the sport of lacrosse made its way to New Mexico;

According to MaxPreps, the game is recognized as a sport or activity in 43 states for boys, 35 states for girls. New Mexico is not among them.

For more information on the team or the organization, visit RRLAX.org.