19th OC Lacrosse Classic Underway

OCEAN CITY- The fastest game on two feet takes center stage in and around Ocean City this weekend when some of the top men’s and women’s lacrosse teams in the country descend on the resort for the 19th Annual Ocean City Lacrosse Classic.

The annual tournament got underway yesterday with opening round games in the Masters and Grand Masters divisions at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in Berlin. Northside Park in Ocean City continues to be tournament headquarters and most of the action all weekend will take place there, but because of the growth of the tournament in recent years, some early round games will be played at the other venues. For example, most of the early round games in the Women’s Elite Division will take place at the downtown Ocean City fields at 4th Street.

From modest beginnings in 1993, the Ocean City Lacrosse Classic has grown to become one of the sport’s most highly anticipated events. Last year, a record 105 teams participated, but that number has grown again this year to 108 including 51 men’s elite teams, 33 women’s elite teams, 11 men’s masters teams and eight grand master’s teams. The King Neptune Division featuring players over 50 still interested in playing competitive lacrosse will include five teams this year.

Highlighting the event each year is the men’s elite division, which features some of the top collegiate and professional players in the country. Last year, the Maryland Lacrosse Club won the Men’s Elite division, beating Magerks, 12-3, in the final. Pickle’s Pub won the Women’s Elite division, beating Ocean Pride, 9-8, in the championship game. Greene Turtle-Fells Point won the men’s masters division, beating Kooper’s Tavern, 7-6, in overtime, while Team Harley Davidson won the grand masters division and Piv’s Pub won the King Neptune division.

Masters and Grand Masters action continues today in Berlin, while the early round action in the Men’s and Women’s Divisions got started this morning. The games will go on night and day throughout the weekend and culminate with title games in each division on Sunday.

While the action on the field is clearly the big draw, the resort area will become the center of the lacrosse universe throughout the weekend with food and drink vendors, lacrosse equipment and clothing vendors and live music, turning the athletic complex into a weekend-long celebration of the sport.