Lax Reference - Hidden Stats That Win Lacrosse Games, Overrated vs. Underrated, How Data Can Help Your Team Win

In this episode of The Ride, host Zach Quezada sits down with Zack Capozzi, the mind behind Lax Reference, to discuss the growing role of data and analytics in lacrosse. They explore trends in the 2025 season, the importance of shooting efficiency, and how coaches and players can use stats to their advantage. Zack also shares insights into how his platform is changing the way teams approach the game.Topics Discussed: Introduction to Lax Reference and its mission to improve lacrosse analytics. Why traditional stats like goals per game might be overrated. The critical role of shooting efficiency and its impact on winning. Challenges in analyzing defensive performance due to limited data. Exploring high school adoption of advanced analytics. How the shot clock era has reshaped lacrosse strategy. Underrated stats every coach and player should pay attention to. Using data to improve player development and game strategies.Timestamps:00:00 Sneek Peek00:47 Welcome to the 2025 Season01:07 Introducing Lax Reference02:12 Exciting Start to the Season03:14 Deep Dive into 2025 Season Trends06:25 Recap of 2024 Highlights10:51 Challenges in Lacrosse Data17:24 Lax Reference: Tools and Insights21:25 Adoption and Growth of Lax Reference25:54 High School Lacrosse Data29:01 Overrated Stats in Lacrosse32:09 Underrated Stats in Lacrosse32:42 Shooting Efficiency and Its Impact34:15 Turnover Rate: A Deeper Look34:52 Total Numbers vs. Ratios38:44 Player Engagement and Aggressiveness40:12 The Role of Data in Game Plans46:18 The Evolution of Lacrosse with the Shot Clock47:42 Specialty Stats: Faceoffs and EMO54:41 The Importance of True Faceoff Win Rate56:11 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKey Quotes from the Episode:"Friends don't let friends cite goals per game. What you really should be focusing on is increasing the chances of scoring on any possession." – Zack "The most correlated stat with winning isn't just shooting percentage—it's how often your misses were off the cage versus saved." – Zack "It's not about looking at turnovers or goals alone; it's about understanding efficiency and how opportunities were created." – ZackResources Mentioned: Lax Reference Website – Explore analytics and insights for NCAA lacrosse. Lax Reference Newsletter – Weekly storytelling and analysis based on lacrosse data. Hudl – A common tool for video review and stat tracking in high school sports.Connect with Us: Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates. Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you found this episode insightful, share it with your teammates, coaches, or fellow fans! Don’t forget to subscribe to The Ride for more deep dives into the world of lacrosse. Join the conversation on social media and let us know your favorite takeaways from this episode!