When the 2001 women's lacrosse World Cup team travels to High Wycombe Abbey, England, to participate in the World Cup Competition from July 6-14, five Cavaliers will be aboard.
Former Virginia players Cherie Greer ('94), Bonnie Rosen ('93) and field hockey coach Jessica Wilk will be joined by Kara Ariza ('98) in their quest to defend the United States' title. Heather Dow, an assistant coach for the Virginia women's lacrosse team, will serve as the World Cup team's assistant coach.
The World Cup is sponsored by the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association and is held every four years. The United States has won the last three titles and four of the five titles since the competition began in 1986, placing second to Australia in '86.
Because the United States is the defending champion, it is the favorite to win again. But the United States isn't paying attention to history.
The key to victory is "not dwelling on the past," Dow said. "It doesn't matter to the other teams that you've won it before, and the past shouldn't matter to this team."
Dow has been a coach for the United States Team since 1990 after playing for the teams that won the silver medal in 1986 and the gold in 1989. She was named to the Virginia lacrosse hall of fame in 1999, and USLacrosse named Dow goalie of the century in 2000.
Greer played on the championship team in 1993 and 1997 and was named 1997 outstanding player of the World Cup. She won national defensive player of the year honors in 1994 as a Cavalier and also led the nation in scoring as a defensive wing. Greer helped the Cavaliers win two national titles in 1991 and 1993.
It is "a great honor" to be chosen for the third consecutive year, Greer said. "This is the best lacrosse team to be part of. To play against the best players of the best countries is an incredible experience."
Rosen is the current women's lacrosse coach at the University of Connecticut and serves on the U.S. Lacrosse Board of Governors. She is also a member of the National Teams Committee as well as the council representative for the Athlete's Council. Rosen, with Greer, was part of the Cavaliers' national championship teams in 1991 and 1993 and is a veteran of the 1997 World Cup Team.
Wilk has served as the Virginia field hockey coach for two years and was an assistant coach alongside Missi Sanders from 1993-99. She played on the 1993 and 1997 world championship lacrosse teams along with Greer, as the goalkeeper. She was also team captain in 1997.
"It's an amazing feeling" being chosen again, Wilk said. "To represent your country is an incredible opportunity. I don't care whether it's the first or second time. It never gets old."
Ariza, the newest addition to the team, has been a member of the USA Elite Team since 1998 but will be on the World Cup team for the first time. Ariza won ACC tournament most valuable player honors in 1998 when the Cavaliers were ACC champions and also was named twice as a first-team All-American.
"I am simply elated," Ariza said. "I have always just been grateful for the opportunity to continue playing the sport I love, and now I hope to make the most of the opportunity to represent the U.S."
Seven teams will vie for the World Cup title along with the United States: Germany, Japan, Australia, England, Wales, Canada and Scotland. The teams will compete in a round-robin style competition before getting clustered into two groups based on their first-round records. The winners among the two groups will play for the championship.
The U.S. team will participate in a training camp in Charlottesville at St. Anne's-Belfield School from June 22-24.
The ACC is well represented on the 16-member team. Eight Maryland players were selected in addition to the four Virginia players.
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