The 2009 World Cup has officially ended and the accomplishment of the past 10 days has yet to sink in. I have officially been gone since June 4^th and I have to admit that it is very hard to reincorporate into normal life. For the past 4 years (and longer for many), many of us have based much of our daily lives around training for the World Cup and for the chance to represent the United States. We trained in order to be prepared to play for the gold medal at any moment. Since June 4^th, that focus, hard work, and preparation only intensified. Now, though many of us are home, it is hard not to have a melancholy feeling. For a month, we existed not as a group of 18 individuals, but as ONE—as USA. And, as hard as the 3-a-days, 2-a-days, and “fun runs” were, I would go back in a second to exist again in that bubble known as USA. That is where my heart is…

Though the World Cup was only 10 days, they were the most physically and mentally taxing days I have ever been through. But it is that which made the experience so special and our accomplishment so great.

I thought that rivalries in college were intense. World Cup taught me that pride in your country is far greater than pride in your alma mater. This first hit me the day the other teams moved into our hotel; flags, posters, pictures, streamers of 16 different nations were taped to the walls in the hallways and hung from the windows. Though we may have had friends on opposing teams, it took a few days before we would cross country boundaries and mingle. Now, looking back, I appreciate how proudly each team wore their country’s colors, including our own.

In our first pregame meeting, our team shut our eyes, and listened to a beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. When we opened our eyes, several people had smeared eye black from shedding a few tears while others were bouncing in anticipation to take the field. We did this again before the gold medal game, and the same thing happened. So many people were overcome with the belief in what we could accomplish, and we did it. We made great plays, we made mistakes, but through the whole game—and whole tournament—the staff and the whole team never lost the belief in our abilities. We marched forward as one. We lived the dream. We lived USA.

Congratulations to my fellow 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONS! Miss and Love you.

http://www.beyourbestlax.com

BE OUR GUEST AND LEARN FROM THE BEST!!!!

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from TEAM USA CAPTAIN, MICHELLE DEJULIIS! Just back from Prague and winning the World Cup against Australia, Michelle will be at Carpenter Park this Thursday to provide a free clinic for all lacrosse players in our area.

Be Your Best Lacrosse Camp would like to provide this FREE CLINIC for everyone!

Come for Q&A, pictures, demo and free autograph session with the TEAM CAPTAIN of TEAM USA!!!!

More info on Michelle DeJuliis:

Michelle DeJuliis: 3-Time All American, Princeton Lacrosse Coach, Team Captain of Team USA!

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/063009aaa.html

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/061709aaa.html

Day 1

After a long flight we arrived in Praha Airport and on our way to another adventure, rental cars! The car we rented was a stick shift, something I had not driven in say about, 6 years! It was an adventure to say the least but we were thankful that here in Prague you still drive on the right side of the road and yes, the steering wheel is on the left side! Getting used to a 6 hour time difference took a little getting used to but after a long night sleep we woke to a beautiful morning in a beautiful city!

Day 2

Day 2 found us on our way to the stadium where the games were being played and also where we would set up shop to sell lax gear with SHW. After settleing in and getting the currency exchange rates down we were off to a great start! Most of the girls from other countries were thrilled to see SHW and Debeer. They said that in their country they can either noever find lacrosse gear or that it is out of this world exspensive. We ahve sold out of our Impulse sticks, all but 2 of our handles and all of our GripperPro stringing kits! The last game of the day was USA vs Australia! It was a nail biter, USA was down 9-4 to the Aussies going into the half. USA pulled together to end the match 10-9 and keep their undefeated streak alive! Day 2 was a complete success! Lauren and I went for a nice walk around our hotel to find some local fare and “czech” out the area!   All in all it was a great day!

Day 3

I can’t wait to get to training at camp and to see my friends. And call me sappy, but I can’t wait to put on the red, white, and blue everyday for basically the entire month of June. This is truly the most memorable time of my life, and I know that though it is all time to prepare and to play at our best, to also remember how special it is to be a part of this group and this experience. GO USA!

If you’ve been following women’s lacrosse this year, you’re aware of the ups and downs we’ve had this season but despite it all, I have had an amazing journey with this squad. It’s a great group of girls not unlike the teams I remember being a part of way back when (ok only 3 years ago).

I quickly learned a lot of new names and faces of younger kids. Their youthful exuberance always harkens me back to my first year and how clueless we were and how hard it was to adjust but also how much fun we had along the way. When I see our fourth year class nostalgia takes me back to when they were seemingly just tiny first years not so long ago. I see how much they’ve grown since their first year and it’s neat to see them taking on different (bigger) roles on the team nowadays.

When I’m on the practice field I can’t help but smile because I know how much fun these girls are having. Before they know it however, their lives will not be dictated by coaches, game schedules and academic advisors. Soon “the real world” will dictate their day to day lives.

The real world isn’t fun.  Sure no more papers and you are no longer beholden to a whistle and your coach’s whim but there are so many little things that we grads undoubtedly miss. Obviously, I miss waking up after 9:30 every day but I also miss the hysterical sideline conversations at practice. I miss piling into someone’s SUV after practice to carpool home. I miss the fast food chow-downs after a long, grueling practice. I miss the movie nights and the all day barbecues. I even miss the runs when all you wanted to do was quit but that teammate beside you dragged you through the finish line.

If there’s one thing I could give these girls it would be the perspective to enjoy every single second of the ride. I would say enjoy every last drill, every last film session, every last lift, every last practice scrimmage, every last team meal, every last bus ride, every last run, and obviously every last game. Take a minute at practice and look around and soak it all in. Because as fun as it is, it’s going to end sooner than later. Four years is just too short, so stock up on memories while you can so one day you’ll be able look back and smile too.

May 5, 2009 For Immediate Release www.SATLACROSSE.com

Peachtree City, Georgia – The most prolific girl’s elite lacrosse event in the southern United States has joined forces with the official equipment provider for the US Lacrosse Women’s Elite Team. deBeer Lacrosse, a leader in lacrosse manufacturing world wide, will sponsor the event and bring their equipment and exciting contests to the Southern Alliance Tournament (SAT) held May 30^th and 31^st at the baseball-soccer complex in Peachtree City, Georgia.

“At deBeer Lacrosse we are always excited to embrace change and evolve with the times. Lacrosse is seeing tremendous growth in the south and western U.S. right now and groups like LaxManiax and MCC Sports are responsible for a huge part of it. This event will bring the southern lacrosse communities together and we want to celebrate this atmosphere and help the game to continue to prosper throughout the south,” added deBeer Lacrosse director of Women’s Lacrosse Jacqueline McDevitt.

deBeer Lacrosse and the SAT’s partnership will include games and contests, such as deBeer’s famous Urban Bingo game and other fun contests for the participants of the tournament to enjoy. With 600 participants and several thousand fans descending on majestic Peachtree City for the weekend event, these games will compliment what is sure to be a tremendous start to the national travel season for the south’s finest comprehensive elite club programs. More than 36 teams will attend this year’s sold-out event.

“We are thrilled that deBeer has stepped up and taken a leadership role in girl’s lacrosse in the south. No other manufacturer has committed the resources that deBeer Lacrosse has contributed over the past two years in the southern United States. The south is full of opportunities to help new players come into the game and also has a burgeoning base of talent from programs like Carolina Fever, Hotlanta Lacrosse, Cardinal Lax, and LaxManiax Elite. These programs are locally operated and have player improvement as their top priority and deBeer Lacrosse supports this mission by sponsoring this event and contributing equipment grants for grass roots development,” commented MCC Sports President Paul McCord and co-sponsor of the SAT.

“The reputation of deBeer Lacrosse is bringing innovative and intelligent products to the market for boys and for girls. There are other manufacturers out there on the girls side, but what it comes down to is that their sticks are still compared to deBeer’s. They have great sticks and designs and every year they innovate.”

The tournament will play host to three school-girl aged divisions: Class of 2010, 2011, and Open. Accompanying these brackets will be two middle school divisions based on ability. Three of the major clubs doing battle at the SAT have experience playing in the nation’s top recruiting tournaments, the IWLCA Champions and Capital Cup. All three have competed competitively against the best club programs from across the nation.

“As lacrosse has grown in the south, the talent base continues to improve and challenge the top comprehensive club programs from traditional hotbeds,” said Pam McNabb, director and co-host of the tournament. “Hotlanta lacrosse grew as a result of the demand for locally directed travel lacrosse programs in the Atlanta metro area. Hotlanta Lax has already competed in the Rivalry Challenge (top recruiting event in the Fall) and this year we are excited to bring a great recruiting and competitive opportunity to the kids in our region.”

Please contact Heather Albro for more information about the Southern Alliance Tournament at:

Heather.Albro@MCCSportsinc.com

Watching this team play made me appreciate the fact that even though their skills may still need some fine tuning, they were out on the field for the love of the game and pushing themselves to grow. Too often, lacrosse can seem like part of a routine; workout, wall ball, drills, drills, drills. However, in watching a first year program like Fresno State, it is easy to appreciate the reasons why they play and to remember the reasons why we all play individually.

Being born and raised in Colorado, I know first hand what it is like to live in an area where lacrosse is still “new” in popularity. Yet, each year, the sport continues to expand and grow, across geographic boarders and among sociological boundaries.

I feel like the upcoming World Cup is vital in exposing lacrosse to all those budding lacrosse communities around the world. I feel lucky to be a part of it and am so excited to have it finally arrive in June.

http://atlantic10.cstv.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/040909aac.html

Leaving high school, maintaining my #18 was very important to me. However, knowing that I was entering a team where that jersey number was being worn by a junior, and a very skilled junior, I knew I had to let that dream go. I would never again be known as good old 1-8. In addition, my head coach at Dartmouth had a very strong feeling that it was important to start fresh in college; to create a new emblem of identity to wow the collegiate scene.

My backup number to 18 had always been 13. It made no difference that it rivaled the evenness of 18; rather, it was simply the number of one of my best friends that I grew up with and with whom I played hockey. I must admit that when I wore #13, I did feel somewhat studly. Not only was it an odd number, but it was also a number that everyone either loved or hated. That appealed to me. However, once again, in college #13 was already taken.

Before heading off to college I consulted with a friend as she knew that the number I wore was important to me. She directed me towards the musical great Bob Marley and his song: “Three Little Birds.” To quote the song;

“Risin up this morning, smiled with the risin sun, THREE little birds pitch by my doorstep, singin sweet songs of melodies pure and true, sayin, this is my message to you-ou-ou: singing don’t worry bout a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be all right.”

Instead of idolizing some athletic great and wanting to replicate their athletic successes my love for music and the message of this song directed me towards the number three. So, no, the number three is not my lucky number, but it has become a number that I can wear and also be happy with the reasons for and how I chose it. Now, I can’t ever imagine going back to 18, or even 13. That’s the reason for being 3.

I know everyone out there is in their lacrosse seasons. Good luck to everyone! To all my teammies training for camp in June and then off to THE WORLD CUP… CRUSH IT!

I have had so many coaches that have influenced me from the past, and now looking back I know that’s why I love coaching. I had coaches that not only taught me how to be a great lacrosse player and get better each time I stepped out on the field, weather it was practice or a game, but taught me how to be a better person! Taught me how to grow up and be a respectable person and carry myself in a way were people would know that I not only believed in myself but made them believe in me as well.

My dad was one of my first coaches and although he may not be my coach that is standing on the sideline today but is still my coach in a different way everyday. He taught me how to play with confidence without being cocky…. to work hard for what you want and never stop… and to love what you do, because once you stop loving it its time to move on. After teaching me how to do these things in life he has showed me how they can transition into lessons in life as well, and that’s what I truly believe every good coach does. At the end of the day the balls are put away and the sticks are put down…. but that doesn’t mean the attitude you learned to have and the confidence you have in yourself needs to be put away as well. Carrying this through life will teach you more then you could ever imagine, and I will always cherish what those great coaches from my past have taught me and let allow that to influence me everyday because I hope they realize what a great impact they have had on me.