LSA Teams to Compete in Shootout for Soldiers Event

KANSAS CITY, MO.- MCLA teams Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri State will compete in The Border War Memorial Tournament benefiting Shootout for Soldiers, which will be played October 4, 2025, at Paragon Star Sports Complex in Lee’s Summit, MO.

Shootout for Soldiers Kansas City for the first time ever will be having an event in the Midwest starting this year in honor of first Lieutenant Donaldson P Tillar III. Donaldson Tillar was the first lacrosse coach at Kansas State, who gave his life in service during Operation Desert Storm. His passion for lacrosse and dedication to his country live on through this event and the lacrosse community he inspired. 

Part of what makes this event special is that the MCLA teams that are invited Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri State will have the opportunity to play for the first ever Border War trophy in remembrance of Lieutenant Tillar’s service.  The sabers on the trophy commemorate his duty and love for his alma mater: West Point. 

Missouri assistant coach Cedric Walker served as the recruiting chair for the event and said, “As a coach, and at that time when this was all started and talked about in 2022 this was more of a dream to memorialize this individual for his contributions, not only to the armed services, but also to MCLA programs that he either helped or was a part of for a short time. In 2023 being one of the first coaches ever to win a conference championship in his honor means the world to me at this time, my life, because he never got to see the full growth of what Kansas State Lacrosse was at that time. So with partnership with a Kansas State alumnus and Shootout For Soldiers, this event has now become a reality.” 

The event will start with two separate round robins followed by a veteran’s game and a championship game.