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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. Eight current and former Virginia men’s lacrosse players are among 84 players selected to try out for the 2010 U.S. men’s lacrosse team that will compete in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship in Manchester, England from July 10-24, 2010. The tryouts will be held from June 7-10, 2009 at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.
Two current Cavalierssenior attackman Danny Glading and junior defenseman Ken Clausenare among 12 active college players selected to attend the try out.
Six players who played important roles in Virginia’s last two national championships and currently playing professionally in Major League Lacrosse will also compete to win a spot on the national team.
Midfielder John Christmas (UVa class of 2005), midfielder Matt Poskay (UVa ’06) and goalie Kip Turner (UVa ’07) currently play for the Boston Cannons, while defenseman Brett Hughes (UVa 04) was recently allocated to the Denver Outlaws.
Attackman Matt Ward (UVa ’06), the 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, played last season with the Washington Bayhawks but was recently allocated to the Long Island Lizards. Midfielder Kyle Dixon (UVa ’06), the 2006 Midfielder of the Year, plays for the Bayhawks.
Overall, Johns Hopkins leads the way with 10 current or former players chosen to try out. Virginia had eight players selected and Duke, Maryland and Syracuse had seven each.
Nearly 200 players submitted applications to be considered for the tryouts. The pool was narrowed to 84 by the U.S. Men’s Team Player Selection Committee.
Following the tryout weekend, the group will be trimmed to approximately 40 players that will compete in three training weekends during the fall of 2009. After those three weekends, the roster will be cut to the FIL-mandated size of 23 players.
The U.S. has won seven of the nine world titles held since 1974, failing to win gold only in 1978 and 2006. Mike Pressler, the head coach at Bryant University, will coach the 2010 U.S. team.