Not defending late hits and thug-ish behavior, but you all need to remember that the Edge kids play box and it does have an 'ice hockey mentality'.
I'm here in NY and don't play for Edge but my kid does play box and we have come to understand the differences between field and box. Box is much more contact, constant contact, cross checks away from the ball, hard cross checks, cross checks in the back, etc. (which is why box players wear full rib, arm, upper arm, and shoulder pads) All that is LEGAL in box.
Again, I'm not saying any of those techniques should be carried over into the field game, but I do understand where it originates. Get your kids into a box program and you will understand more.
You don't have to, and shouldn't accept that style of play in field lacrosse, but you will understand it more.
A good field coach will point this out to referees and flags should be dropped.
Again, not defending, just explaining. I have no dog in this fight.
