when playing defense guarding an opponent is also called lacrosse

No, guarding an opponent in lacrosse is not called lacrosse itself. Lacrosse is the name of the entire sport. While there isn’t a single specific term to describe “guarding an opponent” in lacrosse, here are some terms that are more accurate:

Defending: This is the most general term that refers to the act of playing defense and trying to prevent the other team from scoring.

Marking: This term specifically refers to the act of closely following and guarding an offensive player to limit their movement and opportunities to receive the ball or score. Some variations include “man-to-man defense” or “marking tight.”

Sticking: This informal term describes using your lacrosse stick to check the opponent’s stick and disrupt their control of the ball.