NLF Summer Kick Off RECAP

The 2025 NLF Summer Kickoff delivered everything you'd expect from one of the top youth
lacrosse events in the country—high-level talent, tight games, statement wins, and a few
surprises. With elite programs battling across all age groups at the Kirkwood Sports Complex,
the weekend set the tone for the summer circuit. Here's a breakdown of how the projected
outcomes stacked up against what actually happened on the field.

2029 Division
LI Express 2029 Channy Black lived up to expectations—and then some—putting together a
dominant run on championship Sunday. They were projected to win it all, but the final score
showed just how far ahead they were.
Final Pool Winners:
● Pool 1: Laxachusetts 2029 Black (3–0)
● Pool 2: LI Express 2029 Channy Black (2–1)

🏆 Championship Result:
LI Express 2029 Channy Black defeats Laxachusetts 2029 Black, 13–2
🔍 Pre-Tournament Prediction vs. Reality:
Prediction had #1 Express Black (Channy) beating #3 Team 91 LI Chaos, 9–8. Instead,
Chaos didn’t make the final, and Channy crushed Laxachusetts in a lopsided title game.

2030 Division
Team 91 LI Cyclones were projected champs—and they delivered, backing up their national #2
ranking with a strong bracket performance. The final score was a bit wider than expected.
Final Pool Winners:
● Pool 1: Team 91 LI 2030 Cyclones (3–0)
● Pool 2: Dawgs LC 2030 (3–0)
● Pool 3: Crabs 2030 (3–0)

🏆 Championship Result:
Team 91 LI 2030 Cyclones defeat Crabs 2030, 11–5
🔍 Pre-Tournament Prediction vs. Reality:
Prediction was Cyclones over Crabs, 12–10. The teams matched exactly, but Cyclones won
more comfortably than expected.

2031 Division
Crabs 2031 proved themselves the grittiest team in the bracket, knocking off the top seed and
then edging out HHH BirdDogs in a tight title game.
Final Pool Winners:
● Pool 1: Express East 2031 Vitale (3–0)
● Pool 2: Laxachusetts 2031 Black (3–0)
● Pool 3: LI Express 2031 Chucks (3–0)

🏆 Championship Result:
Crabs 2031 defeat HHH BirdDogs, 4–3
🔍 Pre-Tournament Prediction vs. Reality:
Prediction called for Crabs over LI Express Chucks, 7–6. The Crabs still won, but the Chucks
didn’t make the final—BirdDogs did, pulling off a semifinal upset.

2032 Division
In the biggest surprise of the weekend, Sixers 2032 took down one of the hottest teams in the
age group to earn the championship.
Final Pool Winners:
● Pool 1: Team 91 LI 2032 Valor (3–0)
● Pool 2: LI Express 2032 O’Connell (3–0)
● Pool 3: Sixers 2032 (3–0)

🏆 Championship Result:
Sixers 2032 defeat Team 91 LI 2032 Valor, 8–7
🔍 Pre-Tournament Prediction vs. Reality:
The prediction had Annapolis Hawks over Laxachusetts Black, 6–4. Neither team made the
final. Sixers flew under the radar but proved to be the true top dog.

📝 Reflection
The 2025 NLF Summer Kickoff didn’t disappoint—living up to the hype as a proving ground for
elite youth lacrosse talent. While many predicted matchups held true (like the dominance of
Team 91 LI Cyclones and Channy Black), the weekend also delivered upsets and surprise runs,
particularly from Sixers 2032. The tournament highlighted the growing depth in club lacrosse
and showed that rankings don’t always predict results. From tight finishes to commanding pool
play, this event once again reinforced the NLF’s position as the gold standard for youth lacrosse
competition.