With home field advantage, three West Shore teens are hoping for a clean sweep at the Female National Lacrosse Championships at Bear Mountain Arena, July 29 to Aug. 2.
Elle Hamilton, 13, of Langford was the only Island girl selected to play for the bantam Team B.C.
Two midget players from the West Shore have earned a spot on the roster for the midget B.C. team. Kat Gosselin, 16, of Colwood is in her second year of midget and this will be the last time she has an opportunity to play for the elite team. Her teammate, Talia Mavin, 15, is in her first year of midget and still could play one more year.
Hamilton and Gosselin have both played for Team B.C. in the past and say returning to the competition is exciting.
“Now I know the experience and the the intensity of it,” Gosselin said, explaining she will be better prepared this time around.
This year’s tournament means a little more to the girls since it’s being held on the West Shore.
“All of our families and friends can come out and support the team,” Gosselin said.
“I am determined to fill that stadium,” said Mavin, who’s from Langford. There is no charge for spectators.
Another interesting difference for all three players is that they will be on an all-girls team. For years, they’ve played on primarily male teams.
That experience will help with one aspect of their game as the national competition is full contact. While the boys play full contact, most female lacrosse teams don’t.
“We’ve been hitting since we were in novice,” Mavin said.
Tryouts for Team B.C. were held the last weekend in May. About 60 players across the province battled it out in the box to earn one of the 20 coveted spots. The competition for the midget team was a little less steep with 38 players vying for the prize.
The teams have been training in Vancouver on weekends heading into this weekend’s competition.
charla@goldstreamgazette.com