CALDWELL, ID - The College of Idaho men's lacrosse team stormed onto their home turf at Simplot Stadium and left no doubt, dismantling Washington State 18-7 in a thrilling showdown on February 21, 2025. The Cougars struck first, igniting the visiting bench, but the Yotes responded with unrelenting intensity — piling on a 7-goal run to take an 8-4 lead into halftime.
The second half was all College of Idaho, as they held the Cougars scoreless in the third quarter while adding 6 more goals to their tally. By the time the final whistle echoed across the field, the Yotes had outshot Washington State 54 to 38, showcasing their relentless offensive pressure and rock-solid defense.
Paul O'Neill was a force to be reckoned with. He scored five goals and tallied four assists to total nine points in a dominant display. Kip Childs had a stellar performance scoring a brace and contributing a pair of assists. Also getting four points, Wyatt Neu was prolific with a hattrick and an assist.
On the defensive end, Max Anderson,was a powerhouse, racking up 3 forced turnovers (FT) — a relentless thorn in the Cougars' side as he disrupted their attack time and again. At the faceoff, Lanson Drain was a machine, winning an impressive 61.5% of his draws, ensuring the Yotes controlled possession and dictated the pace of play.
Anchoring the defense, Jacob Wong stood tall between the pipes, making 16 crucial saves to stifle any hope of a Washington State comeback. His distribution from the back was also stellar achieving clears and counterattacks.
The Yotes' fierce combination of offensive firepower, gritty defense, and steady goalkeeping was simply too much for the Cougars to handle. While Washington State fought valiantly, their shooting percentage lagged at 18.4%, compared to the Yotes' sharp 33.3% — a reflection of College of Idaho's superior shot selection and execution. The Yotes will continue their home stand on March 2nd as they host Arizona Christina Univ. with a slated 3pm MT start time.
