Hot Sauce Wraps up 2021 Season at Wine Country Classic
Updated: Jan 1, 2022
AZ Hot Sauce Lacrosse wrapped up its 2021 season with a strong showing at the inaugural Wine Country Classic, December 17 to 18 in Temecula, California. Sauce finished strong, with an overall 2-3 record on the weekend in the face of stiff competition.
After the cancellation of previously planned tournament, Hot Sauce quickly pivoted and assembled a combined 2023/2024/2025 roster and headed out for Temecula to compete "up" against some older teams.
"We knew that we'd be battling uphill," said Coach Dan Lannon. "We had a lot of young guys going up against some experienced varsity players. I'm proud of how much grit they showed."
Hot Sauce dropped their first game of the weekend against RC Navy, 10-3, and then rebounded against the Laxdawgs, notching a 6-3 victory. Sauce finished out pool play against the SoCal Bulls, 14-3.
Sauce met up with the Bulls again on Sunday in the playoff bracket, losing 8-3, and then finishing the weekend on a win against the Laxdawgs, 7-5. Overall, Hot Sauce placed third in the 2023 division.
““Given the way our fall schedule broke against us this fall I am extremely thankful to all involved for providing the young men of our program one more opportunity to compete in 2021,” said Coach Frank Ferrantelli.
"The team improved steadily throughout the weekend," Ferrantelli added. "There is a lot of talent in this group. I, and the rest of our coaching staff, can’t wait to get started preparing them for the Phoenix Rise tournament!”
AZ Hot Sauce Lacrosse will complete its winter tournament season with the inaugural Phoenix Rise Tournament at the newly-opened Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Arizona. The following month, Hot Sauce will begin recruiting for its Summer 2022 teams and hosting evaluation camps for both youth and high school players.