| Sport | Field Lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Type | Collegiate |
| First meeting | April 7, 2006 Montana, 13–8 |
| Latest meeting | March 29, 2024 Montana State, 16–2 |
| Trophy | Copper Cup |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 16 |
| All-time series | Montana, 9–8 |
| Trophy series | Montana State, 6–3 |
| Current win streak | Montana State, 5 wins 2018–present |
The Copper Cup is an annual Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA)-level college lacrosse rivalry game between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats, and was formerly a round-robin tournament with the University of Providence Argonauts.
Montana was the first to receive the cup following their victory in 2014. Since then, the cup has changed hands a total three times. Montana officially leads the all-time series 9–8 (.529), while Montana State leads the cup series 6–3 (.667). The overall series is notable for having seven games decided by a single goal.
Unlike the football rivalry between Montana and Montana State, the two teams do not compete in the same conference, with Montana competing in the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL),[1] and Montana State competing in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC).[2] Providence originally played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Frontier League, but after a single season they would move to the MCLA, playing in the PNCLL.
- ^ "About the PNCLL - A Conference of the MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ "About the RMLC - A Conference of the MCLA". mcla.us. Retrieved 2023-03-08.