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DATE: May 20, 2002
CONTACT: Paul Krome, pkrome@lacrosse.org
U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team Begins Exhibition Schedule
Sunday Vs. MLL's New Jersey Pride
Baltimore — The 2002 U.S. Men’s Lacrosse Team, bound
for Perth, Australia, July 5-15 for the International Lacrosse Federation
(ILF) World Championship, will begin its exhibition schedule Sunday,
May 26, against the New Jersey Pride of Major League Lacrosse at
Bridgewater Raritan High School’s Basilone Field in Bridgewater,
N.J. The exhibition will follow the NCAA Divisions II and III championship
games, held that afternoon at nearby Rutgers University.
The U.S. team, seeking its sixth straight ILF championship, will
play six exhibition games beginning Sunday through June 27 as final
tuneups for the ILF tournament. Gates at Basilone Field will open
at 4:30 p.m. There will be no advance sale of tickets. Tickets may
be purchased for $10 and $7 (youth) at the gate and using cash only.
Faceoff is set for 6 p.m.
"We are excited about the opportunity to come together as
Team USA, especially against a high-caliber team like the New Jersey
Pride," said Jack Emmer, head coach of the U.S. team.
"It’ll be a challenge. This is our first time together,
without any practices yet. We’re challenging our guys to come
ready to play. This will be a good way to evaluate our team, to
see who works well with whom."
The U.S. is fielding its youngest team ever in the world games.
Attackman Darren Lowe is the lone returning player from the
1998 U.S. team. Nine collegians highlight the 23-man roster.
"We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to play against the
New Jersey Pride," said Jody Martin, US Lacrosse Men’s
Division Director. "It is a special opportunity to have the
game’s best players on the field together. I’d like to
thank Major League Lacrosse for working with us on this partnership
and for its support of our men’s national team program."
"I am thrilled that the New Jersey Pride has the chance to
participate in this exhibition against the U.S. team," said
Tim Shea, MLL Director of Lacrosse Operations. "Major
League Lacrosse is committed to and supports amateur international
competition and we worked diligently with US Lacrosse over the last
few months to make this great showcase event a reality. I salute
Jody Martin and the Pride’s Charlie Shoulberg who were
instrumental throughout this process."
The game will feature the MLL’s two-point arc and 45-second
shot clock. New Jersey went 8-6 in the inaugural MLL season last
year and features four players—David Curry, Jesse
Hubbard, Peter Jacobs and Reid Jackson—that
played on the 1998 U.S. team. Trevor Tierney, a goalie on
this year’s U.S. team, is also on the Pride’s roster.
The 1998 U.S. team defeated Canada 15-14 in Baltimore to win its
fifth consecutive ILF championship.
The U.S. team will next square off against the Capital All-Stars
in Bethesda, Md., on Saturday, June 1. For more information on the
2002 U.S. men’s team, visit www.lacrosse.org/nationalmen.html.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is the national
governing body of men's and women's lacrosse. To learn more, visit
its web site at www.lacrosse.org.
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