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TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/25/15
From US Lacrosse
Or so it would seem for Sky Walkers, the northern Maryland-based club that decisively clinched the fourth seed in the US Lacrosse Girls’ U15 National Championships in its first appearance in the event since 2013. Sky Walkers 2018 shut out Eagle Stix 2018 after the Georgians had closed to 3-2 midway through the first half, using intelligent passing after draw-control wins to score an 18-2 victory and 3-0 record in pool play at the River City Sportsplex inMidlothian, Va., Friday.
“We teach our players to challenge with their heads up,” said Sky Walkers coach Molly McLaughlin, who guided the program to the gold medal in 2012 and a trip to the quarterfinals in 2013. “A lot of them have played together since sixth grade. They trust each other.”
Sky Walkers 2018 assisted on nine of its 18 goals, and earlier on four of seven in a five-goal win over Top Guns 2019 (N.Y.). The Marylanders joined top-seeded Yellow Jackets Blue (N.Y.), second-seeded Top Guns 2018 (N.Y.), third-seeded Yellow Jackets Gold (N.Y.), fifth-seeded 1812 Shootout All-Stars (N.Y.) and sixth-seeded Yellow Jackets White (N.Y.) as unbeatens seeded via tiebreakers.
Several games pitted teams from developing areas against those from traditionally strong states; the stalwarts won nearly all of them, save for Florida Select’s late 5-4 win over Northern Virginia’s Cardinal 2018. Air Khaos (Ga.) led Ultimate Elite (Pa./N.J.) at the half 6-2, but Ultimate Elite rallied for a 9-8 win behind two goals apiece from Riley Delaney, Saige-Lyn Gidzinski and Natalie Hughes. Ultimate Elite also came closest to knocking off one of the Yellow Jackets teams, falling 12-11 to the White squad.
Defending national champion Yellow Jackets Blue had little trouble, allowing just two goals in three games. Coach Carol Rainson Rose’s program swept the podium last year, and it could medal as many as two teams this time around. US Lacrosse Southeast Regional Champion Integrity Green (Md.) checks in as the seventh seed at 2-1, while central regional champion Lakeshore 2019 Orange (Ill.) struggled at 0-3 and is seeded 23rd.
Integrity may have gotten the best preparation for the start of the single-elimination bracket, however. The program won the #RoadToRichmond photo contest, presented by Richmond Region Tourism and US Lacrosse, and enjoyed an evening at Aura Salon and Spa to relax and recharge.
First-round action begins at 8 a.m. today, which will end with the quarterfinals. Semifinals and the championship game take place Sunday.
Athlete’s Connection, STX and Gatorade are sponsors of the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship.
Standings after Day 1
1. Yellow Jackets Blue (N.Y.) 3 0 0 1.000
2. Top Guns 2018 (N.Y.) 3 0 0 1.000
3. Yellow Jackets Gold (N.Y.) 3 0 0 1.000
4. Sky Walkers 2018 (Md.) 3 0 0 1.000
5. 1812 Shootout All-Stars (N.Y.) 3 0 0 1.000
6. Yellow Jackets White (N.Y.) 3 0 0 1.000
7. Integrity Green (Md.) 2 1 0 .667
8. Cardinal 2018 (Va.) 2 1 0 .667
9. Top Guns 2019 (N.Y.) 2 1 0 .667
10. Florida Select 2 1 0 .667
11. C2C Dallas (Texas) 2 1 0 .667
12. Ultimate Elite (Pa./N.J.) 2 1 0 .667
13. Team 180 2019 (Colo.) 2 1 0 .667
14. 3d Select (Colo.) 2 1 0 .667
15. New Jersey South 2 1 0 .667
16. Air Khaos (Ga.) 1 2 0 .333
17. Utah 1 2 0 .333
18. Eagle Stix 2019 (Ga.) 1 2 0 .333
19. Eagle Stix 2018 (Ga.) 1 2 0 .333
20. Pride 2019 Red (Va.) 1 2 0 .333
21. Storm Elite 2018 (Va.) 1 2 0 .333
22. Lacrosse Monkey (Minn.) 0 3 0 0.000
23. Lakeshore 2019 Orange (Ill.) 0 3 0 0.000
24. Washington 0 3 0 0.000
25. Coast To Coast LA Blue (Calif.) 0 3 0 0.000
26. West Coast Starz (Calif.) 0 3 0 0.000
27. Desert Heat (Ariz.) 0 3 0 0.000
28. Coast To Coast LA Red (Calif.) 0 3 0 0.000
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