NEXT STOP, HONG KONG! Australia name Women’s U20 team determined to continue ascension up U20 podium

Lacrosse Australia and Australian U20 Women’s Head Coach Meghan Mollison have named the 20 players to represent Australia at this years 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship in Hong Kong, China.

The world number 3 is one of the first teams to be named following World Lacrosse’s announcement that Australia was among 20 nations to vie for the 2024 crown and comes after a gruelling trial process which cumulated with the Southern Crosse Tournament held in Melbourne in the first week of January. “Southern Crosse was a great test for our squad”, said Head Coach Meghan Mollison, “the squad demonstrated great resilience, versatility and teamwork during all games. The coaching staff really challenged players to step outside their comfort zones, new positions, roles, plays and strategies and the squad really responded”.

Following the Southern Crosse Tournament, the coaching staff went through the agonizing task of whittling the squad down to the final twenty players, with the enormity of the task not lost on the staff, “selecting the final team was by far and away the toughest challenge so far with the squad filled with players who I know are going to have very long and distinguished careers in the green and gold, irrespective of whether they made this team” said Mollison “however I am confident that we have selected a group of women that will give Australia the best chance to go and chase a gold medal”.

I am confident that we have selected a group of women that will give Australia the best chance to go and chase a gold medal - Head Coach Meghan Mollison

The final squad has a nice blend of positions with 5 attackers and defenders to go along with 8 midfielders. The team also boasts 2 goalkeepers, University of South Florida commit Natalie Eastwood and Woodville’s, Jordon Watts. “The final team is a fine balance of individual skill sets, tactical understanding, chemistry & cohesion, physical ability and potential/versatility, “said Mollison, “we have some great depth within our squad which will give us great versatility to go along with a strong chemistry and that same tenacious Australian spirit that has been a staple of Australia sides for many, many years”.

The team has a strong South Australian flavour with 10 being named to the team including a team high four players coming from Woodville. Glenelg is also well represented with three players while Burnside has two players and Brighton has one player. Victoria has seven players but in a show of the improving parity in the Victorian competition, five clubs are represented with Camberwell and Williamstown Women leading the way with two players while Malvern, Newport and 2023 Premiers, Footscray, all have a single representative. Ocea Leavy is Western Australia’s sole representative with Leavy also being the only returning member of the 2019 Australian U19 team which claimed bronze at the 2019 World Lacrosse U20 World Championship held in Peterborough, Canada. Rounding out the team are the US based players Natalie Eastwood, a University of South Florida commit and Missouri’s Harriet Sloane.

With the wait now over, the team will now turn its focus to Hong Kong and embedding the style of play that Mollison and her staff envisage for her team, “as a coaching staff we are really eager to continue implementing strategies and principles of play that showcase individual flair, embrace inquisitive thinking and creativity whilst motivating and challenging all individuals to be the best versions of themselves”, said Mollison. The team will now move into their strength and conditioning programs with state-based training to resume shortly. The team will then meet in again in March for a camp before travelling to Perth in June for the 2024 Lacrosse Australia Senior Nationals, a key leadup event, with Mollison excited for what is going to come next, “I am excited to see the progression of this team over the next 8 months, we have a solid foundation and if we continue to do the work we have the ability to reap the rewards”.

As a coaching staff we are really eager to continue implementing strategies and principles of play that showcase individual flair, embrace inquisitive thinking and creativity whilst motivating and challenging all individuals to be the best versions of themselves - Head Coach Meghan Mollison 

Australia will go into the Championship with high expectations given its lofty status as one of the most successful nations in the Championships 29 year history with Australia having won gold in 1995, silver in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and bronze in 2019.

The World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship is scheduled from August 15 to 25 and will be held at the 6,500 seat Mong Kok Stadium which serves as the host of Hong Kong Premier League Football matches with the majority of games to be played on ancillary fields around the stadium. For more information on the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 World Championship visit World Lacrosse.

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