The road to next year’s world cup begins in the west for Australia’s women’s lacrosse team.
The Aussies have been using the western suburbs as a training base this month.
The squad had its strength and conditioning training at Mount St Joseph Girls College, Altona; it played international games against Japanese club champions Meiji University at Footscray Hockey Club and continued its camp at the Altona Hockey Club.
Newport Ladies Lacrosse Club head coach Sue Sofarnos is assistant coach of the Australian women’s team.
Ten players in the squad have western suburbs links.
Of the 10, three – Thea Kwas (Maryland), Steph McNamara (Louisville) and Bec Lane (St Josephs, Philadelphia) – are based in the US.
Sofarnos says the players are at a critical stage of training, with squads soon to be trimmed.
“It’s all happening in the west,” she said.
“We really pushed them at the training camp. There were some sore and tired bodies, and coaches too. There was a lot at stake for everyone.”
It is not only the Lacrosse World Cup in England getting the attention of players; lacrosse has been included in the World Games in Poland next year.
“It’s an Olympic Village type of atmosphere [at Altona] and this is the first step for lacrosse to have any chance of being an Olympic sport at some point,” Sofarnos said.
The Lacrosse Victoria women’s state league season starts April 17.
