Members of PA lacrosse team witness Stonehenge vandalism

by tom deschriver

Members of the DeSales University men’s lacrosse team witnessed an international event on Wednesday during their trip to England.

The team members are in England this week as part of a sports and cultural experience.

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On Wednesday, team members were at the Stonehenge monument in southern England when two climate protesters were arrested for spraying orange paint on the ancient relic.

According to The Associated Press, the two protesters are members of Just Stop Oil. It’s one of several activist environmental groups in Europe that have drawn attention by vandalizing treasured artwork and disrupting sporting events.

According to the group’s website, the pigment was made of an “orange cornflour” that would wash away in the rain.

Wednesday’s vandalism came one day before thousands are expected at the 4,500-year-old stone circle to celebrate the summer solstice.

The DeSales team played two exhibition matches over the weekend before embarking on sightseeing trips.

On Saturday, DeSales lost 11-3 to the England Men’s Performance Squad at Wilsmslow Lacrosse Club, which is about 12 miles south of Manchester.

On Sunday, DeSales lost to the England Under-20 national team, 12-9, at Manchester University’s Armitage Centre. England’s U-20 team is in preparation for the Euro Under-20 Men’s Championship in July.

DeSales’ head coach, Matthew Brancaccio, was an assistant coach last summer on England’s men’s lacrosse team which played in the World Lacrosse Championship in San Diego.