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Florida Select 2020/2021 Takes Bronze in the US Lacrosse U14 National Championship Tournament

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
This past summer, the girls that make up the Florida Select 2020/2021 lacrosse team headed up to Indianapolis, IN for the US Lacrosse U14 National Championship Tournament. Heading up there, they knew that this would be one of the hardest events, if not, the hardest event they would ever play in. At no time, over the entire history of this event has a team from Florida ever medaled. This team is made up players from Weston to Delray Beach, FL. All the time and hard work was about to be put to the test. They played teams from all over the country. From Florida to as far north as Minnesota to as far west as Colorado. They really didn’t know what to expect, they just knew that they had to stay focused on the task at hand. Their first game of the tournament was against Minnesota Elite. Minnesota Elite had already played earlier in the day and won their game over a solid team from Illinois 16 to 6. When the whistle sounded to start the game, the girls played with a fire that we had not seen before. They started strong and never looked back. By half time, Florida Select was up 9 to 1. The game ended with a 14 to 4 win for the Florida girls. After the day of pool play, Florida Select found themselves as the number three seed in this tournament. On day two, the playoff rounds began and they continued right where they left off. They soundly beat Lakeshore Lacrosse out of Illinois to start the day. This brought them to quarter finals and a game against a strong Orange Crush team. Again, Florida Select started strong and never looked back. The game ended with 9 to 5 win. As day three began, the girls found themselves in uncharted territory. No Florida team had ever been here before. In front them stood Maryland’s Integrity Lacrosse team who is considered one of the top programs in the country. Like Florida Select had done all tournament, Integrity came out strong. They took the lead and never looked back. When the horn sounded Florida Select had loss 14 to 5. The loss didn’t mean the tournament was over by any means. They would now have to play for the bronze. In front of them stood Team 180 out of Colorado, who on the previous day knocked out one of the favorites, The Long Island Yellow Jackets Gold Team. The game was close throughout and with 10 minutes to play, Team 180 took the lead 8 to 7. The girls did not give up. They never put their heads down. They preceded to score three unanswered goals. When the game ended, this team from South Florida did something that others had tried before, but were unable to accomplish. A team from Florida placed at the National Championships. “This is one heck of a team that did not let up at all throughout the whole tournament. Another great thing about this team is that they are also so very young as half of this team could have played in the U13 Division.” Coach McClain added, ” I am so very proud of each and every girl. They play with such humble confidence.” This Florida Select Team is an invitational team that has pretty much been the same group of girls on this team for the better part of 3 years. This coaching staff develops these players to become the best that they can be. If you think you have what it takes to be a part of this program you can contact John McClain, the Director, through www.madskillzlax.com. The Florida Select team will be traveling to Maryland in the Fall to again play against some of the best teams in the country.