MORE than 200 athletes from across Australia and New Zealand descended on the city for the 2014 Australian Lacrosse Association under-18 national championships.
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Held over four days, the annual event so the sports up and coming stars show off their skills at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve.
It was the first time a regional Victorian city had hosted the prestigious tournament.
The event also acted as a key component to the squad selection for next year's women's under-19 world championships in Scotland and 2016 men's under-19 world championships in Canada.
Semi-final games were played on Sunday while the grand final for both the boys and females were played on Monday afternoon.
Games were also played to determine which team finished in third and fourth place respectively.
In the girls section, the final match was played between Western Australia and South Australia.
The match saw both teams shoot goal-for-goal in the first half.
Western Australia managed to score two goals to lead 5-3, however South Australian duo Hayley Fuss and Olivia Parker managed to score straight back to level the game.
After the main break Western Australia’s Carlyn Blair scored first however South Australia had an immediate response.
It went goal for goal again in the second half with the game forced to go into overtime.
South Australia scored first, they managed to hold off their opponents to win the coveted title.
Victoria took on New Zealand in the third versus fourth match.
Victoria held on to their lead despite a fast-finishing New Zealand team.
The final score 11-8.
In the boys division, reigning champions Victoria took on Western Australia in the final.
Both teams scored early in the first quarter but it was Western Australia who held on to a one goal quarter time lead.
Victorian player Joel Adams scored the first goal in the second quarter but it was Western Australia who managed to get ahead, leading 7-3 at half time.
Momentum swung Victorian’s way at the start of the third quarter, with Peter Kwas and Joel Adams scoring.
However Western Australia managed to hold-off the resurgent Victorian side to steam ahead.
Western Australia’s Nick Graham and Keegan Davis both scored to extend the lead to five goals.
At three quarter time the score was 11-6.
It was a dominant display by Western Australia in the final quarter, they won 14-9.
South Australia stormed home in its third versus fourth play-off match against New Zealand, the final score 16-4.
