The 2025 college lacrosse season officially got underway on Saturday and referees all over the country were absolutely dialed. They threw penalty flags like they were Aaron Rodgers launching a Hail Mary to the end zone as time expired.
It was a tremendous opening weekend for the zebras.
Our first highlight takes us to upstate New York. Second-ranked Syracuse dominated Jacksonville by a score of 24-5 at the Carrier Dome. However, the ACC officials walked away with the best play of the day.
The Dolphins committed a penalty during the second quarter with a big hit on the defensive end. A referee was standing right there and immediately threw his flag— except the word “throw” is severely understated. It was launched.
The flag stayed in the air for a full four count. The hang time was absolutely ridiculous.
Ridiculous hang time on this flag throw pic.twitter.com/ExpW3B15WS
— Adam Lamberti (@atlamberti) February 4, 2025
Our second officiating highlight takes us to Pennsylvania for a non-conference matchup between unranked Colgate and 12th-ranked Penn State. The visiting Raiders ultimately lost 14-9 but they put up a good fight against the Nittany Lions. Literally.
Colgate long stick middie Sam Erickson clobbered Penn State midfielder Ethan Long right in front of the sideline with just under two minutes left in the third quarter. A brouhaha ensued.
Amid all of the chaos, both Big Ten officials threw a penalty flag. One went flying straight up with tremendous arc. The other was more of a line drive.
Referees were absolutely dialed this weekend pic.twitter.com/0Hhhc1VcH5
— Adam Lamberti (@atlamberti) February 4, 2025
College lacrosse will conclude the 2025 season at Gillette Stadium on May 26. There are still a lot of games left to be played and the field is wide open. However, it was the referees who stole the show on opening day. I have never seen a penalty flag thrown with such gusto. And it happened twice on the same day in two different locations!