U.S. U-19 team begins world championships

The U.S. Lacrosse Women’s U-19 team begins pool play in the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship today in Hannover, Germany. Team USA will face Japan first. Its next opponent will be Canada on Friday. The United States has won the last three FIL championships, blowing out Australia in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

There were five Long Islanders named to the U-19 squad:

Kelly McPartland, midfielder: Graduated Farmingdale in June and will play for Maryland. The speedy All-American led the Dalers to a sixth straight Nassau Class A championship.

Cortney Fortunato, attack: The youngest member of the team, entering her junior year at Northport. Fortunato finished second in LI in scoring and notched the winning goal in overtime of the Class A state final.

Barbara Sullivan, defender: The Garden City graduate will take her talents to South Bend (Notre Dame) later this month. She helped lead the Trojans to a sixth consecutive Class B state title.

Mikaela Rix, midfielder: Also part of the Garden City class of ’11; will attend Boston College. Rix was Newsday's Nassau Player of the Year.

Shannon Gilroy, midfielder: The Northport graduate was selected to the team but won’t play as she’s recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the Class A state final (while scoring the go-ahead goal in overtime). Gilroy, who led Long Island in scoring, is headed to the University of Florida.