Teams Ready for USL U-15 National Championship
by Brian Logue | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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Stars Gold (Va.) was the runner-up at the inaugural US Lacrosse Girls' U-15 National Championship in 2009. © Steve Demeo |
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – On Saturday, it was hard to tell that 14 of the nation's top girls' youth teams were getting ready to compete for the US Lacrosse U-15 National Championship. Mickey Mouse, fireworks, and parading with athletes from a variety of sports – all part of the opening ceremonies for the 2010 ESPN RISE Games at Champion Stadium – can easily take the focus away from lacrosse.
But beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning, the whistle will blow and the first draws will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, home of the second annual US Lacrosse U-15 National Championships.
The boys event, featuring 25 teams, begins on Tuesday. Also taking place over the week are the Champion High School Showcases, featuring 176 of the nation's top senior high school lacrosse players.
The 14 girls' U-15 teams hail from 10 states, including three teams from California, but the favorites are likely to come from some traditional hotbeds. Stars Gold (Va.) was the runner-up at last year's championship, rallying from the No. 11 seed after pool play. They figure to be challenged by Top of the Bay (Md.) and the Yellow Jackets (N.Y.). Top of the Bay, coached by 2011 U.S. U-19 coach Krystin Porcella, downed the Yellow Jackets in the opening round of the championship bracket last year before losing in overtime to the eventual champion, Check-Hers 2012 Elite in the quarterfinals.
Yellow Jackets head coach Carol Rainson-Rose will be looking for her second US Lacrosse championship this year. In May, she led Long Island to the title in the top flight of the Schoolgirls' Division at the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament in Bel Air, Md.
Another team of note is Nor Cal Elite. The Nor Cal team won the Sportsmanship Award, voted on by coaches, officials and tournament staff, at last year's US Lacrosse U-15 National Championship.
Each team will play three pool play games on Sunday for seeding into the championship bracket. The top two seeds will earn byes in the first round of bracket play. Monday's schedule includes two rounds of championship play and the semifinals and championship game will be played on Tuesday.
Lacrosse Magazine Online will be live blogging throughout the event and more information can be found at the US Lacrosse U-15 Championship Results Page.
