SPARKS, Md. – Vanderbilt freshman Bri Gross has been named to the 2019 U-19 U.S. women’s national team final roster of 18 players, it was announced Monday.
Gross will represent the U.S. in the World Lacrosse Women’s U-19 Championship in Peterborough, Ontario, this August.
“Bri is an incredibly talented player and one of the fiercest competitors that I have ever been around,” head coach Beth Hewitt said. “We are so proud of her and we know that she is going to be a major contributor to this U-19 roster. Our Vanderbilt family cannot wait to cheer on Bri and her teammates as they compete against the best in the world.”
The U.S. U-19 team hosted 24 players for a training camp earlier this month at U.S. Lacrosse headquarters, and the staff made the final cuts to get the roster down to the maximum limit of 18 players allowed under World Lacrosse rules.
The team has two more training opportunities before the world championship — a camp at Northwestern University from July 8-10 and then a brief camp at Niagara University leading into the championship.
The World Lacrosse Women’s U-19 championship runs from Aug. 1-10 with the U.S. playing its first game on Aug. 2 against Australia.
The U.S. is looking to reclaim gold after its string of four straight world championships was snapped by a loss to Canada in the gold medal game in 2015 at the last U19 world championship in Scotland.
The U.S. has won four of the six previous World Lacrosse Women’s U19 championships (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011) while Australia (1995) and Canada (2015) have each won once.
“Playing for the national team is a dream come true and a chance to represent my country,” Gross said. “It also allows me to inspire youth players to go after their dreams.”
Gross enjoyed a successful debut season for the Commodores as a midfielder primarily coming off the bench. Twice this season she was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week.
She led all freshmen in assists (10), points (22) and finished third among freshman in goals (12). Her 44 draw controls were second on the team, and she led all freshmen in that category.
