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Payson's Morgan Jacobson (10) and Bear River's Makenzie Mickelsen pursue the ball after the draw in the 4A girls lacrosse state finals at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson senior Morgan Jacobson drives towards the goal during the 4A semifinal match against Timpanogos at Dumke Field in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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One day when Morgan Jacobson was a freshman — a “baby freshman,” in her words — she discovered lacrosse.

“Morgan just randomly came home with a stick and wanted to play lacrosse,” her father, Marc Jacobson, said. “By the time she was midway through her first season with her high school team, Morgan was pretty set that this was what she wanted to do.”

Morgan Jacobson made the most of her four years of lacrosse in high school. As a senior, she led the Lions to an 18-2 record and the state 4A finals to earn the 2024 Daily Herald Valley Player of the Year award.

Jacobson led the Lions with 67 goals and 16 assists for 83 points. She converted 55% of her shots and added 27 draw controls as Payson didn’t lose in Region 8 (10-0). Payson pushed top-ranked Bear River to the brink in the 4A state title match before losing 12-9, the undefeated Bears closest finish all season.

After her introduction to lacrosse, Jacobson didn’t take long to love it.

“I didn’t know the sport but I had a friend of a friend that played,” she said. “I wasn’t somebody who wanted to try new sports and I didn’t know how to play. But I was immediately into it and crazy about it. I needed all of this stuff. My dad, bless his heart, and my mom were so supportive and that opened up opportunities for me.”

Jacobson played on multiple club teams, including Lynx Club Lacrosse.

“I had a lot of great coaches that helped me fall in love with lacrosse,” she said. “It’s not just a great sport but there are so many great people involved. My high school team, I remember every single senior who was ever on the team. The bonds we built, they are built forever. On and off the field we are super close. I’ve built so many relationships from lacrosse.”

“She played some rec sports and was kind of into horses,” Marc Jacobson said. “My other kids all played sports and she tried them all but didn’t love them. Lacrosse was her thing. Morgan has a great lacrosse IQ and a great attitude, just second to none. She’ll help younger kids so her patience level is awesome and she stays positive. She’s dedicated a lot of time to lacrosse. I get to see it at home. She spends a lot of time out back hitting the rebounder. She does a lot of running.”

Marc Jacobson would know his daughter’s strengths as a player since he took the head coaching job at Payson in January.

“Coaching Morgan was, honestly, a ton of fun,” Coach Jacobson said. “I had been able to watch her from the bleachers but on the sidelines I was more involved. I could see in the huddles and on the sidelines how she helps other players with her knowledge. It was an opportunity I wasn’t going to miss.”

While the Lions just missed out on a state title, there is nothing about the season Morgan Jacobson regrets.

“It was so competitive right out of the gate,” she said. “We were new to Class 4A but we knew we could do this. We had a new mindset that was just, ‘Let’s go win.” I had great teammates. The season was so fun because we’d never made it to the semis. The championship was so intense and fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior year.”

Morgan Jacobson will continue her lacrosse career at Division II Colorado Mesa and will join the Maverick program in August. She plans to study criminal justice in college.

“My club coach told us we needed to go to a camp at Colorado Mesa,” she said. “I immediately fell in love with the team and the school and the program. Putting Payson on the map as a lacrosse program has opened up so many opportunities. I know we can grow the game in Utah. Once it’s in, it’s everywhere.”