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Dawn of New Season Rises at Disney

Ned Crotty, Duke's standout attackman/midfielder and LM's Preseason Player of the Year, will suit up this weekend for the Manchester-bound U.S. team against the Blue Devils at Champion Challenge in Orlando, Fla. © Joe Rogate

by Paul Krome and Matt DaSilva| Lacrosse Magazine Online

Lacrosse fans making the trip this weekend to the Champion Challenge in Orlando may enjoy a relaxing visit to Disney World and a respite from winter’s grip, but the U.S. teams don’t see relaxation on their travel itinerary.

There’s too much work to be done.

“Some of our guys have NLL commitments Friday and then will be going from the indoor mindset, which is totally different, to two field games in two days,” said U.S. men’s team coach Mike Pressler. “That’ll be a big challenge. But it’s our first time together as a coaching staff and 23 final players, so our excitement is at an all-time high.”

The U.S. men, along with the U.S. Elite and Developmental women’s teams, highlight a seven-game schedule that will draw top college teams to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Jan. 30-31. US Lacrosse announced Tuesday that Sunday's games between the U.S. men's and women's national teams and their Duke opponents will air on delay on ESPNU.

The fifth-annual Champion Challenge also will feature three youth instructional clinics (two for girls, one for boys) conducted by members of the national teams.

“For the Developmental team players, it’s a chance for them to get acclimated with our system and style of play,” said U.S. women’s team coach Ricky Fried, whose squads will match up with Duke, Florida and Notre Dame. “There will still be a core of players from this group involved in the 2013 World Cup.”

The American men face more immediate competition, as the FIL World Championships in Manchester, England, loom this summer.

Army and Notre Dame round out the slate of men’s teams at Champion Challenge. Names big and small dot the U.S. roster; the inclusion of role players a direct result of the Americans’ loss to Canada in the 2006 championship.

“Alex Smith is the best faceoff guy in the U.S.,” said Pressler. “The Canadians had their way with us in faceoffs in ’06. He’s one guy who will fulfill an important role.”

Here's a team-by-team breakdown, with schedule, of the Champion Challenge exhibitions.

U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

vs. Army - Saturday, 3 p.m.
vs. Duke - Sunday, 1 p.m.

What to watch: Former Army goalie and surprise Team USA qualifier Adam Fullerton displayed sharper instincts and better athleticism than those he beat out for, presumably, the backup nod behind Brian Dougherty. With military duties and his status as a seldom-used backup for Jesse Schwartzman with the Denver Outlaws, Fullerton makes the most of his time between the pipes. Unlike others who bear the brunt of NLL and MLL obligations, Fullerton always looks fresh. You know he'll be pumped... Ned Crotty, the only current collegian on the team and LM's Division I Preseason Player of the Year, will suit up for Team USA against his current team, Duke. Expect him, Ryan Boyle and Ryan Powell to rotate through as the table-setters on attack... Former Blue Devils Kevin Cassese, Matt Zash and Nick O'Hara -- who is not on Team USA's 23-man roster for Manchester but was a late addition to the Champion Challenge slate due to some players' NLL obligations -- also get shots at their alma mater... For those arriving early, there will be plenty of international intrigue in Friday's night's NLL showdown between the Rochester Knighthawks and Orlando Titans at Amway Arena (7:35 p.m.). Boyle and Zash will suit up for the Titans, while Team USA d-middie Chris Schiller plays for the Knighthawks. Also on the floor that night for the Hawks will be former Team USA midfielder Joe Walters. That's not to mention the Canadian contingent. The Titans' Jordan Hall, Matt Vinc, Pat Merrill and the Knighthawks' John Grant, Shawn Williams and Mac Allen are all currently on Canada's 30-man roster.

U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM

vs. Notre Dame - Saturday, 1 p.m.
vs. Duke - Sunday, 11 a.m.

What to watch: Oodles of college-to-Team USA ties here, including four former or current Duke players taking on their alma mater -- Katie Chrest (2006), Megan Huether (2006), Caroline Cryer (2008) and current Blue Devil junior Sarah Bullard... Other current collegians looking to get some preseason scouting in are Maryland's Caitlin McFadden, LM's Division I Preseason Player of the Year, and Northwestern's Katrina Dowd, a player of the year candidate. Dowd makes her much-anticipated debut in the red, white and blue after joining the team in the Prague over the summer as a potential injury replacement that was never needed... Captain Michele DeJuliis, midfielder Holly McGarvie and defender Regina Oliver, three members the standing World Cup team that won gold medals, are inactive for the 2009-10 season. Goalie Amy Altig, who has bounced around the U.S. teams since graduating from James Madison in 2005, attacker Hilary Bowen and defender Christy Finch have been added to the roster... Dowd, Bowen and Finch are three of six current or former Northwestern standouts on the squad, the others being Sarah Albrecht, Kristen Kjellman and Lindsey Munday... Eight Team USA players -- Albrecht (UMass), Michi Ellers (Georgetown), Huether (William and Mary), Erica LaGrow (Florida), Munday (Northwestern), Katie Rowan (Syracuse), Acacia Walker (UMass) and Devon Wills (Denver) -- are currently assistant coaches on the Division I level.

U.S. DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM

vs. Florida - Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
vs. Duke - Sunday, 8:45 a.m.

What to watch: Youth infusion. Fifteen of the 24 Devo players are current collegians hoping to make headway in the U.S. national teams program... High school reunions. Notre Dame grad Jillian Byers, and current Hofstra and Northwestern standouts Corrine Gandolfi and Lacey Vigmostad, respectively, were high school teammates at Northport (N.Y.). Northwestern's Alexandra Frank and recent BU grad Kelly Munroe, meanwhile, both hail from Westwood (Mass.) High School... Grit and guts from current UMass standout Jackie Lyons, who made LM's Preseason Division I All-DaSilva Team for her ability to score in clutch situations. Seven game-winning goals as a sophomore in '09 is nothing to sneeze at... Lauren Schmidt has been around the U.S. teams circuit and would warrant more attention on the collegiate level if she didn't play on the West Coast. This Stanford standout is feisty and fast. With the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation getting an NCAA tournament AQ in 2010 and the Cardinal being the perennial favorite out of that conference, Schmidt stands to make noise on a grander stage.

NOTRE DAME

vs. U.S. Elite Team - Saturday, 1 p.m.

What to watch: Get an early look at who Tracy Coyne gives the starting nod to between the pipes. It's a battle between two freshmen -- 5-foot-9 Louise Fauth and 5-foot-2 Ellie Hilling. Fauth needs to make an impression after sitting out fall ball. Other freshmen the Irish will want to look at in competition are McKenzie Brown, Emily Conner and Jenny Granger... With Gina Scioscia now a known commodity who inherits the keys to Notre Dame's offense from Byers, is it Ansley Stewart's turn to do damage under the radar? Or will it be the Shaylyn Blaney show from the midfield position? The tweaks in the Irish offense are worth watching.

ARMY

vs. U.S. Men's National Team - Saturday, 3 p.m.

What to watch: Army was better than their 6-10 record in 2009 indicated. The Black Knights suffered five one-goal losses, including three in overtime. Defense is Army's strength, starting with first team All-Patriot league long pole Bill Henderson, who in the fall became the first junior named team captain in Army's proud history. That should tell you something. Goalie Tom Palesky (8.89 GAA, .590 sv pct.) plays in the mold of a Fullerton -- athletic between the pipes and great outlet feeder. Army's midfield is an amalgam of role players, led by Rob McCallion (9g, 10a), whose shooting needs to improve to complement his passing abilities. Jeremy Boltus (26g, 25a) is the team's lone returning starting attackman. With whom will head coach (and U.S. assistant coach) Joe Alberici surround him?

FLORIDA

vs. U.S. Developmental Team - Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

What to watch: The Gators, making the most highly anticipated debut in women's lacrosse history, showed they were up to snuff in the fall against teams like Princeton and Northwestern. Here's another test to throw at the team comprised almost entirely of freshmen -- well-touted freshmen (consensus No. 1 recruiting class), yes, but freshmen nonetheless. All eyes are on attacker Janine Hillier, a two-time MVP of the New York state championship game and arguably the top player coming out of Long Island. How will Florida's defense, anchored by goalie Cara Canington, hold up? You might also want to bring a few copies of January's LM to be signed by Sam Farrell, the Gator lurking ominously on its cover.

DUKE WOMEN

vs. U.S. Developmental Team - Sunday, 8:45 a.m.
vs. U.S. World Cup Team - Sunday, 11 a.m.

What to watch: The Blue Devils are looking to retool their entire offense behind Lindsey Gilbride (59g, 17a), a big component in settled and transition situations. She's the only of Duke's top four scorers returning, which means head coach Kerstin Kimel is looking for breakout seasons from Virginia Crotty (junior), Amanda Jones (sophomore) and Kat Thomas (sophomore). Expect to see plenty of Danielle Kachulis wreaking havoc on the defensive end, where the midfielder came into her own last year and has emerged as the player whom Kimel prefers for shut-down match-ups. Problem is, exactly whom do you look to shut down on these talent-loaded U.S. squads?

DUKE MEN

vs. U.S. Men's National Team - Sunday, 1 p.m.

What to watch: Parker McKee narrowly missed out on joining Ned Crotty on Team USA. He's not bitter or anything, but it stands to reason he'll have the Blue Devils' defense -- an imposing trio of him, Mike Manley and Dan Thedoridis -- fired up for this affair. These guys are physical and athletic enough to hang even with a Team USA attack loaded with playmakers (including one of their own teammates)... Faceoff specialist Sam Payton will have his hands full going against the best of all-time, Alex Smith. Great prep work for the fifth-year Blue Devil, although we'll no doubt see long pole C.J. Costabile try his hand in slowing down Smith... Head coach John Danowski hinted that he might look to Crotty to return to midfield at times in 2010. Some good chemistry between Max Quinzani (131 goals in 58 career games), Zach Howell and Will McKee, with Crotty playing for Team USA, could inch that move closer to reality.