NILL Getting Ready for Season 2

The NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League, a 7 v 7 indoor lacrosse league in Duluth, MN is preparing for its second season of play beginning December 9.  Teams are still being formed and players may also register as Free Agents and be placed on a team.  Go HERE to register.

New for the 2012-2013 season is a Middle School Division that will offer game play for kids grades 5-8.  This season will also include 12 games, up from 8 last year.  We also expect an 8 team league including two teams from Grand Rapids and one from Brainerd.  Last season we had 6 teams.  In addition, we expect at least 3 Middle School level teams.

For more information, please visit the NILL Website.  Schedules will be finalized once the teams are set.  Game dates are as follows:

2012-2013 NILL Game Dates:

Game 1 - Sunday December 9
Game 2 - Friday December 14
(off for holidays)
Games 3 & 4 - Sunday January 6 (doubleheaders)
Game 5 - Friday January 11
Games 6 & 7 - Sunday January 13 (doubelheaders)
Game 8 - Sunday January 27 - @ UW-Superior Fieldhouse (tentative)
Game 9 - Friday February 8
Game 10 - Sunday February 24 - @ UW-Superior Fieldhouse (tentative)
Game 11 - Sunday March 3 - @ UW-Superior Fieldhouse (tentative)
Game 12 - Sunday March 10 - @ UW-Superior Fieldhouse (tentative)
Playoffs - Sunday March 17

Join us for the second exciting season of NILL!

Great Night for Northern Minnesota Lacrosse

In the first ever winter indoor lacrosse games in Northern Minnesota, the NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League kicked off its inaugural season last night.  Six teams are competing in the 8 game winter indoor lacrosse season.  The 8 game regular season will be followed up with playoffs and the first ever NILL Championship to be played on March 25.  Two teams from Grand Rapids and 4 teams from Duluth are competing in this first season of NILL play.

Game 1 action

Opening night proved to be a success with 3 exciting games of lacrosse.  In game 1, Team 2 - Halver defeated Team 4 - Grand Rapids 18-5 behind a flurry of goals from Matt Reeves and Cooper Carlson, each notching 5 goals.  Mitch Smerz added 3 goals and Britton Harris scored a pair for Team 2.  Steve Halver, Zack Galo and Andrew Martin each added a goal.  Goalie T.J. Vallie stopped 8 shots.

For Team 4 - Grand Rapids, goalie Tyler Altringer withstood a flurry of shots stopping 16 in the process.  Joey Keating notched a hat trick for Team 4 with three goals.  Doug Jensen and Ben Dunnell each added a goal.

Game 2 action

In game 2, Team 6 - Free Agents took on Team 5 - Grand Rapids.  In a game that was tied at halftime, the Free Agents pulled away in the second half to win 14-9.  The Free Agent team, comprised of several former UMD Bulldogs lacrosse players, displayed some crisp passing before putting the ball in the back of the net on a more regular basis in the second half.

In the first half, the scrappy and talented Team 5 - Grand Rapids team played very well and kept the game close.  Team 5 was led by Christian Higginbotham who notched 3 goals.  Ben Dunnell and Joey Keating scored 2 goals and Zach Smith and Jace Martientto added a goal apiece.

The Free Agents were led by Scott Wishart and Brandon Gilseth each scoring 3 goals.  Bobby Moore added two goals, both beautiful behind the head shots that found the back of the net on consecutive goals.  In a display of depth, 6 other players added a goal apiece.  Matt Kampmeyer, 8th grader Gage Kuhlmey, Matt Koppang, Brandon Nispel, Steve Lokken and Alex Rogers all scored one goal for the Free Agents.  Goalie T.J. Vallie stopped 8 shots.

In the final game of the night, the young Honey Badgers team comprised primarily of 9th graders with one 8th grader and an old guy took on Team 3 - Wieczorek, both Duluth teams.  In a game that stayed close most of the night, Team 3 prevailed 11-8.

Team 3 was led by Brody Carlson and Kyle Limoseth, both notching 3 goals apiece.  Jimmy Bendas and 8th grader Silas Wieczorek each added 2 goals apiece and Mike Nowicki added 1 goal.

Game 3 Action

The Honey Badgers were led by Jesse Larson and old man Andy Holak, both with 2 goals.  Beau Holappa, 8th grader Bryce Holak, Zack Zierden, and Dan O'Connell each added a goal.  Zierden also added two assists.  Goalie Mike Vuchetich stood tall in the goal for the Honey Badgers making 12 saves on the night.

All in all, it was a great night for lacrosse in Northern Minnesota.  Here's to many more winter lacrosse games in Northern Minnesota in the future!

Lavin Lacrosse to Sponsor NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League

The NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League (NILL) is happy to announce a partnership with Lavin Lacrosse.  The NILL is a winter indoor lacrosse league in Duluth, MN geared to provide offseason lacrosse opportunities for area high school players.  Lavin Lacrosse is a complete lacrosse supplier in Rosemount, MN.  Lavin is one of Minnesota's only lacrosse specialty stores selling a full line of lacrosse gear and providing custom team uniforms and apparel.  Lavin also supports the growth of lacrosse in the state and offers several excellent lacrosse camps including the well regarded UMD Bulldogs Lacrosse Camp in Duluth.

Lavin will be helping with league jerseys/pinnies and providing discounts on lacrosse gear to all league participants.  The NILL is encouraged by Lavin's presence and is looking forward to a very successful first season.

New Winter Indoor Lacrosse League Forming in 2012!

The NorthCoast Indoor Lacrosse League (NILL) would like to announce it will begin play on Sunday January 8, 2012.  The NILL is an exciting new offseason lacrosse opportunity for Northern Minnesota lacrosse players in grade 9 and up.  Games will be fast paced, exciting and high scoring.

All games will be played at the new Pioneer Park indoor turf field at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC).  The season will consist of 8 games and playoffs will take place March 18, 2012.

The NILL is designed primarily for local high school lacrosse players to hone their lacrosse skills over the winter and have some fun while the fields are still covered with snow.  The NILL is intended to promote improvement of lacrosse skills, lacrosse I.Q. and stickwork.  The safety of all players participating in the league is at the forefront and league rules are designed to encourage safe play and improvement of lacrosse skills.

If you're interested in playing, please visit the NILL website for more information.  To register for the league, please go to the Registration page and complete the online registration form.

Looking forward to some fun lacrosse play this winter in Northern Minnesota!