Boston College Athletics
Lacrosse Newcomers Excel at National Level
September 26, 2011 | Lacrosse
Sept. 26, 2011
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -
Freshmen Covie Stanwick and Mikaela Rix had the experience of a lifetime this summer, as they helped lead the U.S. Women's Lacrosse Under-19 national team to its fourth consecutive world title.
"Although at home I had won some state championships, nothing beats winning a gold medal for the USA," Rix said. "I am happy to have gotten the opportunity to play on this team."
Rix, a midfielder, and Stanwick, an attacker, were named to the finalized team roster in February 2011. In July, the team came together for handful of exhibition games and a week-long training camp in Maryland before heading to Hanover, Germany for the 2011 FIL Under-19 Women's World Championship.
Stanwick continued a family legacy in the U.S. Lacrosse program. Her older sisters, Sheehan and Coco, played for the U.S. Elite and Under-19 teams, respectively. Coco was the captain of the 2003 U.S. U19 team that won a gold medal at the World Championships in Towson, Md. Stanwick's older brother, Steele, was a part of the 2008 U.S. U19 men's national team that won gold in Coquitlam, British Columbia, but could not participate due to injury.
"Being selected to the national team is such an honor and it is so cool that I get to share that honor with a few of my siblings," Stanwick said. "Every one of them has worked so hard and that fact that I can be put in the same category as them because of the national team is such an amazing feeling."
At opening ceremonies on August 3, things started to sink in for the red, white and blue girls, who were now thousands of miles away from home, and they jumped at the opportunity to bond with players from all over the world.
"Every country had something different to offer and it was just awesome to meet so many girls and see how much lacrosse is spreading," Stanwick said.
"I made really good friends with some girls [from England] and Canada, and on the last night we were able to trade some of our gear with them, which was really cool and I wear it all the time," Rix added.
Among all of the other new experiences the incoming Eagles enjoyed about being a part of the U.S. team, getting to travel was one of their favorites.
"The traveling was something new for me because I had never been out of the country before, but being with the team made it a lot of fun," Standwick explained.
"Prior to this trip, I had never been to Europe before and the opportunity to get to play lacrosse and represent my country overseas was something I never thought I would ever get a chance to do," Rix said.
The U.S. team collected seven wins in as many days to advance undefeated to the championship game. The U.S. earned victories against Japan, Canada, the Haudenosaunee, England and Australia in the round-robin stage of the tournament. The U.S. then defeated Scotland, 13-1, in the quarterfinals, and downed England, 19-5, in the semifinals, to advance to the championship game.
The title game between the United States and Australia was set to reignite a rivalry that first began in 1995 at the inaugural FIL U19 World Championship, when the U.S. finished second to the Aussies. The 2011 U.S. squad earned their revenge with a 14-11, come-from-behind win over Australia. Team USA trailed 6-3 midway through the first half, but stormed back to complete its title run and end the tournament with a perfect 8-0 record.
Stanwick scored three goals in the championship game, while Rix tallied two to lead the U.S. to the gold. Following the game, Rix was named to the 2011 FIL U19 All-World Team.
With the school year beginning and lacrosse season just around the corner, these young Eagles aim to take what they learned at the national level and use it to make them better collegiate players.
"I think that the experience gives a little bit of a preview for what D-1 lacrosse will be like because players from the other teams are also playing in college, so they brought that style of the game to the tournament," Stanwick commented. "Also, international play has always been known to be much more physical than high school, so I think that that has played a role into preparing us for college."
Even though both Stanwick and Rix still have plenty of memorable moments to come, as they have their entire collegiate careers with the Eagles ahead of them, their time with the national team is not something they will not soon forget.
"Winning was absolutely incredible," Stanwick said. "I can remember where I was standing when the clock went to zero. I was kind of stuck in my position for a second or two just letting it set in.
"The experience overall is something that we will all remember for the rest of our lives."
Stanwick, Rix and the rest of the 2011-12 Eagles squad were featured in the September issue of Inside Lacrosse Magazine. The story by Danielle Bernstein looks at whether BC is on the verge of becoming an ACC powerhouse. The article, in its entirety can be read here.
