July 11, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Matt Kavanagh, an incoming freshman attackman for the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team, will play for the United States in the upcoming Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Under-19 World Championships. The 12-team tournament will take place July 12-21 in Turku, Finland.
Kavanagh (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) is one of 23 players on the Team USA roster. Notre Dame rising sophomore goalie Conor Kelly (St. Davids, Pa./Gilman School) was one of four alternates for the squad.
The United States joins Australia, Canada, England and the Iroquois Nationals in the tournament’s Blue Division. Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Wales occupy the Red Division, while Scotland, Korea and the Netherlands make up the Yellow Division. Following round-robin division play, all 12 teams advance to the knockout round of the tournament. Division standings will determine seeding for the knockout stage.
Team USA opens play Friday versus Australia before facing Canada on Saturday and England on Sunday. The U.S. concludes division action Tuesday against the Iroquois Nationals.
The United States is 36-0 all-time in international play since the U-19 World Championships were sanctioned in 1988. The U.S. has won all six U-19 World Championships (1988, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2008). Canada has been runner-up four times, starting in 1988 and then in each of the last three tournaments. Australia has placed second twice in the six tournaments held.
Go to laxmagazine.com for more information on Team USA and the 2012 FIL U-19 World Championships.
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