July 3, 2002

BALTIMORE, Md. - The U.S. Men's Lacrosse Team begins its quest for a sixth straight world championship Saturday, July 6 as the 2002 International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship gets underway at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. The U.S., winner of seven of eight world titles, opens play against the Iroquois Nationals at 7 p.m. local time (7 a.m. EDT).

Maryland All-American defenseman Michael Howley (Wantagh, N.Y.) is one of the 23 players on the Team USA roster and is the first Terp undergraduate to be a part of the team.

Seventeen nations will field teams in an event that began in 1967 and is now held every four years. Australia, Canada and England join the U.S. and the Iroquois Nationals in the Blue Division, comprised of the top five teams from the 1998 World Championship, held in Baltimore and won by the U.S. over Canada, 15-14 in overtime. A Red Division will compete with the Blue for the world title, and for the first time ever, five developing lacrosse nations will compete in a Green Division. Other youth and adult tournaments will occupy 17 fields over the 10-day lacrosse festival.

"The last time the World Championship was in Perth in 1990, we had five nations compete. Twelve years later, 17 nations are sending teams, and another three or four are sending delegates to get a first taste of lacrosse, so we're very excited about the growth and development of the international game," said Steve Stenersen, executive director of US Lacrosse and chair of the International Lacrosse Development Committee, a joint committee of the ILF and International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA).

"As far as the actual competition for the championship, the Blue and Red divisions will be the most competitive from top to bottom that we've ever had. In years past, the general feeling was that the result of the tournament was a foregone conclusion-the U.S. was the heavy favorite. That's not the case this time, which will make for a better, more exciting tournament."

The Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Scotland, Sweden and Wales will comprise the Red Division. After five days of round robin play, the top three teams from the Blue Division and the winner of a game pitting the fourth-place team from the Blue Division against the first-place team from the Red Division will advance to a final four, scheduled for Friday, July 12. The world championship game will start at 3 p.m. local time Sunday, July 14.

The U.S. team is comprised of 23 of the best players in the nation, including nine current or just-graduated collegians. Combine that with the fact that attackman Darren Lowe (Brown '92) is the only holdover from the 1998 U.S. team, and this year's squad is the youngest and least internationally experienced the U.S. has ever fielded in world play. Army head coach Jack Emmer serves as coach, assisted by Ron Fraser (Brine Lacrosse Club), Mike Pressler (Duke) and Ray Rostan (Hampden-Sydney). A complete roster is attached and available online at www.lacrosse.org/nationalmen.html.

"It's refreshing and exciting to have the college guys on the team. We think it will work to our advantage. We know they're in great shape. They bring enthusiasm, and when they're combined with the veterans, it is a terrific mix," Emmer said.

The U.S. played six exhibition games in June, winning all six by an average of 18.8 to 7. The team was selected in June 2001 after a four-day tryout that included 121 players.

"We're very pleased with the U.S. team and the quality and caliber of the players and coaching staff. We feel very good about their opportunities for success. It's one of the most exciting and talented groups we've ever assembled, and maybe the best true 'team' ever in that they play so well together and are a tight-knit group. There's also no better group of coaches used to working with college-aged players," Stenersen said.

Canada is the only other nation to win an ILF World Championship, having defeated the U.S. in 1978 in Stockport, England. Since then, the U.S. has won 26 straight ILF games and five straight world titles.

Further information on the 2002 ILF World Championship can be found online at www.lacrosse.org and www.lacrosse2002.com.

The 2002 U.S. Men's Team Schedule:
Saturday, July 6 Iroquois 7 p.m. local (7 a.m. EDT)
Sunday, July 7 Australia 4 p.m. local (4 a.m. EDT)
Tuesday, July 9 Canada 7 p.m. local (7 a.m. EDT)
Wednesday, July 10 England 4 p.m. local (4 a.m. EDT)
Thursday, July 11 Playoff (if necessary) 2 p.m. local (2 a.m. EDT)
Friday, July 12 Semifinals 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. local (5 a.m. and 8 a.m. EDT)
Sunday, July 14 Championship 3 p.m. local (3 a.m. EDT)