Australian Under 19s Ready to Break Twenty Year Gold Drought
Thursday July 2, 2015
by Lacrosse WA
Australian Under 19 Women's Team
The Under 19 Australian Women’s Lacrosse team is preparing to break a twenty year gold medal drought at the FIL Under 19 World Championships later this month.
The Aussies will depart Perth on the 12th July for a pre-World Cup tour to USA and Canada before arriving in Scotland for the World Championships. Three Western Australians will be playing in the team along with one aternate player and two assistant coaches.
The inaugural Under 19 World Championship was held in the USA in 1995 where Australia walked away with the gold medal. Since then in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 Australia has medalled silver at Under 19 level.
1995 team was Captained by now Under 19 Australian Coach, Trish Adams. Trish will be supported by her sister Jen (both from South Australia) as an Assistant Coach who was once named the World’s Best Women’s Lacrosse player, along with Western Australian champions Rebecca Banyard and Caitlin Ryan.
Players representing Western Australia are team Captain, Ashtyn Hiron (18) from the Phoenix Lacrosse Club, Karri Somerville (16) from Subiaco Lacrosse Club and Goal Keeper Sharn Muffett (17) from Wanneroo Lacrosse Club. Wembley Lacrosse Club’s Rhiannon Panting (15) was selected as an alternate.
Assistant Coach, Rebecca Banyard said “It's so exciting to see the players in their final stages of preparation. The toughest parts of physical conditioning have been completed and now it's all about polishing and getting ready to take on the world.”
The World Championship will take place from 23rd July to 1st August in Edinburgh, Scotland. Other countries competing in the World Championship include USA, Canada, England, Germany and new lacrosse nations, Israel and Colombia.
The process of selection has been a long one for the girls just to get to this point. Two years of solid training and interstate travel to various camps around the country have seen them selected in the team.
For more information about Lacrosse WA visit www.lacrossewa.com.au