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ike many things in Frank Kelly III’s life, FCA Lacrosse began with a leap of faith.

In 1992, seeking to make an impact in the lacrosse community, Kelly wanted to enter a team sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the Elite Division of the renown Vail Lacrosse Shootout. Unfortunately, Kelly was told by event organizers that the field was full and no slots were available. The idea was tabled.

But a phone call in mid-May brought news that there had been a rare cancellation, and a spot was available. Organizers needed an immediate commitment from Kelly, who had no team, no travel arrangements and no accommodations for Vail. No problem. Let’s go. 

“We had no idea who was going to come,” Kelly said.

And so the work, and prayers, began. In the days before social media, it was time to phone a friend. 

“The first question we asked was, ‘Do you play lacrosse?’” said Dan Britton, a member of the 1992 team who now serves as FCA’s director of international ministry. “The challenge was finding enough Christian lacrosse players that were good enough to play at that level.”

Eventually, Kelly and friends collected 21 players. The roster included Kelly’s three brothers — Bryan, David, and John — as well as four players who had just graduated from high school. The “God Squad” was born, with Frank serving as the team’s player-coach.

“I remember thinking that we are so out of our league,” Britton said. “This is crazy.”

After an opening-round victory in the 16-team field, Team FCA faced a daunting task in the quarterfinal round: a matchup against the two-time defending Vail champions, top-seeded Greene Turtle. This heavyweight squad featured a lineup anchored by future National Lacrosse Hall of Fame members Gary Gait, Dave Pietramala, Rob Shek and Brian Voelker. 

“I looked at that roster, and there was fear and trepidation there,” FCA goalie Steve Mason said.

One of the strongest tournament teams ever put together playing against, as Britton called them, “a bunch of no-names.”

To nobody’s surprise, Greene Turtle jumped ahead 2-0 in the first minute, but by halftime, FCA had surprisingly forged a tie. 

“At halftime, Frank told me to take a picture of the scoreboard because it was 5 to 5,” said Kelly’s wife, Gayle.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Greene Turtle led 8-7 before FCA tied the score with just more than four minutes remaining. Regulation ended at 8-8, and the first four-minute overtime was scoreless.

Then, 1:46 into the second overtime, Britton fed David Kelly on a cut and Kelly buried the winner. The no-name, first-timers had just upset the two-time defending Vail champions.

The postgame celebration quickly gave way to a prayer huddle.

“We just praised the Lord and thanked God for his goodness,” Frank Kelly said. “We did it quietly. We weren’t trying to be rude. I remember all of us — the third that were committed in their faith, the third on the fence, and the third that were there just to play lacrosse — we were all giving praise to God.”

Gary Gait, who had scored seven goals in Greene Turtle’s opening-round win, was held without a goal against Team FCA. Some cheekily suggested that the festivities the night before the game may have contributed to Greene Turtle’s demise. Like many post-collegiate club tournaments, the Vail Lacrosse Shootout is as much a social gathering as it is a lacrosse event.

“We came out here with a little different purpose than a lot of other teams,” said Mason, who recorded 17 saves while facing 51 shots. “The newspapers were writing about God, and that was pretty cool.”

“FCA winning that game was an amazing thing,” said Leif Elsmo, one of the TV broadcasters at the 1992 Shootout. “Nobody knew about them and they didn’t have all the biggest names, but they played one of the greatest games.”

“That’s definitely one of the more memorable games we’ve had in 45 years,” said Jim Soran, one of the tournament’s founders.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK KELLY

FCA’s tournament run continued the next day with a semifinal win over another heavily-favored opponent, Team Colorado, before finally ending with a 10-7 loss in the championship game to the famed Mount Washington Club. Ultimately, that result hardly mattered. 

“That team impacted not just FCA, but impacted lacrosse,” Pietramala said.

The movement had been born.

“That was a springboard for FCA to evolve into what it is today,” said Ron Klausner, another member of the Greene Turtle squad.

That evolution has led to incredible growth for FCA Lacrosse, which combines lacrosse and Christian ministry. FCA is committed to developing three-dimensional athletes and coaches who want to fulfill their potential physically, mentally and spiritually.

Kelly is quick to note that Team FCA is not limited to just Christian athletes, but rather, anybody who loves lacrosse and is open to growing in their relationship with God.

“The values of FCA haven’t changed. The purpose is larger than just winning games,” Kelly said.

This summer, Team FCA is marking its 25th anniversary at the Vail Shootout. After sponsoring its first Vail youth team in 2004, FCA is sponsoring seven teams across all age divisions in 2017. The ministry also sponsors dozens of additional FCA squads that compete in tournaments all across the country. 

The organization celebrated its silver anniversary milestone with a huge dinner at the Four Eagle Ranch near Vail last week that featured more than 500 players, coaches, parents and friends.  Additionally, eight members of the original 1992 team are playing on the Team FCA entry in this year’s Supermasters Division (ages 40 and older).

And Frank Kelly is still right there in the middle of it all.

“We certainly didn’t realize how that 1992 experience would serve as a catalyst,” Kelly said. “We just had a bunch of guys who loved lacrosse and who wanted to grow in their relationship with God. It’s not like I had a clear vision for FCA Lacrosse. When I look at what God’s done, I’m blown away.”

Vail is ‘Tough to Beat’

The annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout, hosted in the beautiful mountain resort of Vail, Colo., is celebrating its 45th anniversary. The event started Sunday with under-19 boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Regarded as one of the premiere club tournaments in the United States, the Shootout will play host to more 65 men’s teams and 40 women’s teams in what has become a pilgrimage for any true lacrosse fan. 

The Shootout started in Aspen, Colo., in 1973 and was founded by Flip Naumburg and Jim Soran.  “We just wanted to play another game of lacrosse,” Soran said.

After making its permanent move to Vail in 1979, the tournament has enjoyed steady growth and become a fixture on the lacrosse landscape.  A support staff that works year-round now helps Naumburg and Soran manage all the details.

“We still have a beautiful setting with majestic views of the mountains from all of the fields,” Soran said. “It’s tough to beat.”