Players on a Southern California high school lacrosse team were faced with the choice of a playoff game or attending the prom. The net result is that University High School is looking at a fine and suspension because of the decisions many lax players have made.

Four seniors on the team decided the prom was where they wanted to be rather than the playoff game, leading to the forfeit. The consequences for the school will extend beyond the seniors’ time at University High.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District released the following statement: “Upon conclusion of the regular season on Monday, April 21, the University High School lacrosse coach was informed that the team would be scheduled to square off just days later against Palisades High on that Friday (4/25) for a playoff game. Team and school officials, knowing that the 25th was the same day as the prom — a date that had been set more than a year in advance — requested that the game be rescheduled, but that request was denied. As a result, when four seniors opted to attend prom, the team had to forfeit.”

University High lacrosse faces sanctions after forfeiting semifinal to attend prom https://t.co/cHSk5InbDu

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 29, 2025

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: California HS lacrosse team faces sanctions over prom-playoffs debacle