Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/6/15
From Press Release
Agnes Irwin junior defender Sarah Platt has been selected as one of 18 high school lacrosse players to represent the United States as part of the 2015 U.S. Women’s National Under-19 Team.
Platt was one of 25 players who attended a three-day, 100-player tryout in August. She also competed with the training team in October and again at the recent US Lacrosse Champions Challenge in Naples, Fla. The team will travel to Scotland in July, where they will defend gold at the Federation of International Lacrosse Under-19 World Championship.
“It is such an honor to be 17 and representing our country on this team,” Platt said.
Platt, a defender and one of this year’s team captains, has played lacrosse for Agnes Irwin since ninth grade and on a club team since eighth grade. She credits Agnes Irwin varsity lacrosse coach Jenny Duckenfield with helping develop her talent.
“Coach Duck really knows how to individually teach each player,” Platt said. “She’s very intense, but she challenges me to be my best.”
That has translated into not only more skills on the field, but more confidence as well. “Coach Duck has taught me how to be resilient,” Platt said. “She’s been supportive through the entire thing, always given me the most confidence out of everyone, and has made me believe I can actually make it. I can’t thank her enough.”
“Sarah has demonstrated incredible mental toughness, hard work and commitment throughout the demanding tryout process,” Duckenfield said of the AIS junior. “We look forward to watching Sarah anchor the defense and lead Team USA to a fifth gold medal.”
In preparation, Platt will participate in another training weekend with the U19 team in June, where she will be joined by the 17 other players, including Hannah Proctor of nearby Radnor High School, who also made the cut. “It’s nice to know there’s someone on the team that I know and can relate to,” Platt said.
In all, four Philly players made the team; the others were 2017 midfielder Chloe Jones (Lawrenceville School) and 2015 defender Natalie Bulgier (Souderton).
The team heads to the Women’s National Tournament over Memorial Day weekend, and will spend a full week training in July before the World Championship.
“This talented group demonstrated incredible mental toughness, unselfishness, hard work and commitment throughout the demanding tryout process,” Head Coach Kim Simons said in a release from US Lacrosse. “Our coaching staff is looking forward to working with this amazing team of young women as we continue on our journey to win gold in July.”
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