I heard, and correct me if I"m wrong, that the reason helmets were voted down was the feeling that wearing helmets would encourage more violent play.

My first experience with lacrosse was with the boys' game, and to then see the girls play, well, it was frustrating. So much stoppage of play. I always wanted to just suit the girls up like the boys and let them get on with the game. Every game girls are getting hit in the head by errant checks (or at least making it look that way, referencing posts earlier in this thread). I know a goalie who took a ball to the helmet and got a concussion, so imagine if she hadn't had a helmet on. Scary. Every defender that runs in to help defend the net runs the risk of a shot to the head.