In an effort to promote lacrosse in Northern California, Sacramento was chosen to host the 2017 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star game this last weekend. Held July 8 at Papa Murphy’s Park, the two opposing teams, called the Stars and Stripes, were each made up of 19 of the best MLL players of the 2017 season.

Sacramento does not currently host a MLL team, but the sport is popular and growing in the state with California being one of 14 states that has at least 10,000 youth participants, more than half of which come from Northern California. The MLL formed in 2001 in response to the growth of the sport in the US.

The All-Star game proved to be as exciting as expected. It was a close win with Team Stripes beating Team Stars, 21-20, in this 16th edition of the MLL All-Star Game.

This photo gallery captures some of the highlights of the game and its star players.

Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game Comes to Sacramento [Photo Gallery]