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Copper Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Copper Cup
SportField Lacrosse
TypeCollegiate
First meetingApril 7, 2006
Montana, 13–8
Latest meetingMarch 29, 2024
Montana State, 16–2
TrophyCopper Cup
Statistics
Meetings total16
All-time seriesMontana, 9–8
Trophy seriesMontana State, 6–3
Current win streakMontana State, 5 wins 2018–present

The Copper Cup is an annual Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA)-level college lacrosse rivalry game between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats, and was formerly a round-robin tournament with the University of Providence Argonauts.

Montana was the first to receive the cup following their victory in 2014. Since then, the cup has changed hands a total three times. Montana officially leads the all-time series 9–8 (.529), while Montana State leads the cup series 6–3 (.667). The overall series is notable for having seven games decided by a single goal.

Unlike the football rivalry between Montana and Montana State, the two teams do not compete in the same conference, with Montana competing in the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL),[1] and Montana State competing in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC).[2] Providence originally played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Frontier League, but after a single season they would move to the MCLA, playing in the PNCLL.

History

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The series began in 2006, which was only Montana State's third season as a team, where they lost to Montana 13–8. The early years of the rivalry were informal, with the hosting team alternating every year.

In 2014, the teams decided to formalize the rivalry and create a local event for the game. Being another team from Montana, the newly formed team from the University of Providence was invited to play in the Copper Cup, which was then restructured into a round-robin tournament format.[3] In addition to the tournament, several high school matches between local high schools were hosted.[4] The Copper Cup trophy was created and donated by local blacksmithing company Copper Mountain Creations in Missoula, Montana, it's worth an estimated $2,000,[5] and the winner of the game possesses the cup for one year, in addition to having their team's name engraved onto it.[6]

The tournament operated in this manner for 5 years from 2014 to 2018, when Providence folded its lacrosse program. Throughout their time as a team, Providence only managed to secure a single win in the Copper Cup tournament, a 9–8 victory against Montana State in 2017. Their victory led to the only 3-way tie of the tournament's history, with the cup ultimately being awarded to Montana based on score differential.[7]

Since 2019, the Copper Cup has returned to a single-game format, rather than a tournament-style format.

Accomplishments by Team

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As of the conclusion of the 2024 Season:

Team Montana Montana State Providence
National titles 1 1 0
Conference titles 6 3 0
All-Americans 32 45 1

Results

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Season Location Winner Montana-Montana State Score
2006 Bozeman, MT Montana Montana, 13-8
2007 Missoula, MT Montana State Montana State, 11-10OT
2008 Bozeman, MT Montana Montana, 17-16
2009 Missoula, MT Montana Montana, 15-14
2011 Missoula, MT Montana Montana, 18-3
2012 Bozeman, MT Montana State Montana State, 10-6
2013 Missoula, MT Montana Montana, 12-7
2014 Bozeman, MT Montana Montana, 7-6OT Montana-Providence Score Montana State-Providence Score
2014 Missoula, MT Montana Montana, 8-7OT Montana, 20-5 Montana State, 19-6
2015 Bozeman, MT Montana Montana, 13-12OT Montana, 21-6 Montana State, 21-6
2016 Great Falls, MT Montana State Montana State, 13-9 Montana, 18-6 Montana State, 18-5
2017 Missoula, MT Montana (Awarded based on score differential) Montana State, 15-12 Montana, 14-5 Providence, 9-8
2018 Bozeman, MT Montana State Montana State, 11-9 Montana, 10-5 Montana State, 21-6
2019 Missoula, MT Montana State Montana State, 14-9
2022 Bozeman, MT Montana State Montana State, 8-6
2023 Missoula, MT Montana State Montana State, 10-6
2024 Bozeman, MT Montana State Montana State, 16-2
Season Montana leads total series 9-8

Montana State leads cup series 6-3

Montana-Montana State Score Montana-Providence Score Montana State-Providence Score

References

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  1. ^ "About the PNCLL - A Conference of the MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  2. ^ "About the RMLC - A Conference of the MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  3. ^ "Griz lacrosse hosts Copper Cup, MSU this weekend". ABC FOX Montana. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  4. ^ "Annual Copper Cup to be played in Missoula". Montana Lacrosse. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  5. ^ "Grizzly lacrosse hosts inaugural Copper Cup". Montana Kaimin. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  6. ^ "Here Comes the Copper Cup". Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ "College lacrosse: Montana Grizzlies win Copper Cup, lose to Montana State". AP NEWS. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2023-03-08.