Aug. 24, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Wills made the 24-player roster of the 2009-10 U.S. Developmental team following two days of tryouts earlier this month in Baltimore.
As a freshman last season, Wills led the Commodores to 10 victories and their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Kent Island, Md., native is one of only three student-athletes nationally from the Class of 2012 to be featured on the U.S Developmental Team.
“We are very proud of Natalie for making the U.S. team,” VU Head Coach Cathy Swezey said. “I am happy to see her talent and work ethic recognized by U.S. Lacrosse and know that she will have a positive experience.”
Vanderbilt’s last representative on the U.S. Developmental Team was Brooke Shinaberry, who was on the squad for the 2007-08 season following her graduation. Current VU assistant coach Amber Falcone is part of the U.S. Elite Team that recently captured gold at the 2009 World Cup.
Team USA debuts Oct. 11 at the fourth-annual US Lacrosse Stars and Stripes event. The newly-named Developmental team and gold medal-winning U.S. World Cup team will play North Carolina and James Madison at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes school in Alexandria, Va.
Coach Swezey’s Commodores will prepare for the 2010 campaign with a pair of Fall Ball trips to North Carolina (to play UNC, Duke and William & Mary) and Pennsylvania (to face Penn and Penn State) in October. Vanderbilt returns 11 starters from last year’s 10-7 squad that finished the year ranked No. 11 in the IWLCA poll.
