I am not an expert on the rules of lacrosse, but my understanding is that penalties can be releasable or non-releasable. If it is a releasable penalty, the other team plays with a man advantage but the penalized player is released from the penalty box if the other team scores, and in effect the remaining time on the penalty is wiped out. A non-releasable penalty, on the other hand, means the player remains in the penalty box for the entire duration of the penalty, no matter how many times the opposing team scores. The more severe personal fouls, e.g., cross-checking, may result in a non-releasable penalty.
It is similar to minor and major penalties in ice hockey, if you watch that sport.
