Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/30/09
Six women with Philadelphia ties will play for final spots on the U.S. National Team this weekend in the fourth annual Champion® Challenge at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The event, sponsored by Champion® Athleticwear, will include the U.S. women’s national team program, Japan’s women’s national team,Duke University, University of Virginia, University of Maryland’s women’s lacrosse teams and Rollins College and University of Florida’s WDIA club team.
The U.S. national teams will play exhibition games against Japan, Duke, Virginia and Maryland. Team USA will also offer a youth clinic for girls’ lacrosse players (grades 3-12) on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
The six Philly women are: Radnor graduates Nikki Lieb (Virginia) and sister Jessi Lieb (Penn State), Strath Haven grad Michi Ellers(Georgetown), Pottstown grad Regina Oliver (Ohio State), Newtown’sWhitney Douthett (Dartmouth) and Philly-based Ultimate Goal Lacrosse Club directorMichele DeJuliis (Penn State) will vie for 18 positions on the World Cup team. Six alternates also will be selected.
The 2009 FIL World Cup will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, June 17-27.
DeJuliis, a Princeton University assistant who has been involved with the US National team program for an amazing 15 years, said the players have a great camaraderie.
“This is a great group of girls and everybody wants to see everybody succeed,” DeJuliis said during a break at the US Lacrosse National Convention in Baltimore earlier this month. “It’s a long process but we can’t wait until the next event.
“We enjoy each other’s company and thrive off energy from everyone. It’s a special group.”
The U.S. World Cup Training team also includes two-time World Cup veteran Quinn Carney (Maryland), former Tewaaraton Trophy winners Katie Chrest (Duke, 2005) and Kristen Kjellman (Northwestern, 2006, 2007), plus current college players Sarah Bullard (Duke ‘11) and Caitlyn McFadden (Maryland ’10).
The 23-member U.S. Developmental team includes 15 current collegiate players, including Duke’s Lindsay Gilbride.
The teams were selected from a 48-player pool that competed at the US Lacrosse Stars & Stripes Weekend in Syracuse, N.Y. on Oct. 11-12.
The current US Elite Team Roster
2 Sarah Albrecht Midfield Braintree, Mass. Northwestern ’06
40 Amy Altig Goalie Severna Park, Md. James Madison ’05
8 Hilary Bowen Attack Rochester, N.Y. Northwestern ’09
31 Sarah Bullard Midfield Needham, Mass. Duke ’11
20 Quinn Carney Attack Flemington, N.J. Maryland ’01
18 Katie Chrest Midfield Hampstead, Md. Duke ’06
17 Caroline Cryer Attack Centennial, Colo. Duke ’08
12 Michele DeJuliis Midfield Glen Arm, Md. Penn State ’98
27 Whitney Douthett Midfield Newtown, Pa. Dartmouth ’07
4 Michi Ellers Midfield Swarthmore, Pa. Georgetown ’04
1 Amber Falcone Defense Westminster, Md. North Carolina ’09
16 Christy Finch Defense Hudson, Ohio Northwestern ’08
44 Megan Huether Goalie Lutherville, Md. Duke ’06
33 Kristen Kjellman Midfield Westwood, Mass. Northwestern ’07
28 Erica LaGrow Midfield Skaneateles, N.Y. North Carolina ’08
24 Jessica Lieb Midfield Villanova, Pa. Penn State ’08
32 Nikki Lieb Midfield Villanova, Pa. Virginia ’07
43 Caitlyn McFadden Midfield Phoenix, Md. Maryland ’10
46 Holly McGarvie Midfield Medford, N.J. Princeton ’09
9 Lindsey Munday Attack Mountain Lakes, N.J. Northwestern ’06
14 Regina Oliver Defense Pottstown, Pa. Ohio State ’05
21 Katie Rowan Attack Delmar, N.Y. Syracuse ’09
13 Acacia Walker Midfield Sherwood Forest, Md. Maryland ’05
3 Devon Wills Goalie Denver, Co. Dartmouth ’06
Head Coach – Sue Heether
Assistant Coaches – Jennifer Ulehla, Mac Ford, Ricky Fried
Manager – Beth Stone
Athletic Trainer: Michael Cantele
