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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Women's Lacrosse Goes Down Under
December 09, 2008 | Women's Lacrosse
PRINCETON, N.J. (12/9/08) - The Princeton women's lacrosse team will ascend upon Australia this month for a 10-day adventure down under. The Tigers depart Princeton on December 13, the day after classes end, and return on December 23. During the trip, team members will submit blogs to the Princeton Athletics Web site, documenting their incredible journey. This is the second trip in program history to Australia, and it is sure to be an unforgettable experience for the team.
“We are so excited for our trip to Australia, and so thankful for the Princeton Lacrosse Endowment, which makes this trip possible for us,” head coach Chris Sailer said. “The 2009 team already has wonderful team chemistry, and this trip will bring us even closer together. You just couldn't ask for a better pre-season bonding experience for the team. It's going to be a blast to travel with this group, explore new cities, experience a different culture, and engage in some amazing activities as a team.”
The Tigers arrive in Sydney on Monday for three exciting days of touring, practice and of course a little relaxation. Sydney is home to the great Biondi Beach and Darling Harbour, just two of the many stops planned for the Tigers while they are in the city. The team will have the opportunity to explore all the major tourist attractions that Sydney has to offer, such as the great Opera House, the Bridgewalk and its many beaches. One highlight of the stop in Sydney will be the team surf lesson at Manley Beach. Be sure to check out the blogs and photo gallery at www.goprincetontigers.com for some great stories and pictures from this excursion. The Tigers will have the majority of their downtime in Sydney, so it will be a terrific chance for them to really soak up all the Australian culture and fare.
The next leg of the excursion down under takes the Tigers to Adelaide, where the team will compete against the reigning World Champions, Australia. In just a three-day period, the Tigers will play four games ? three against the Australian National Team and one against Team Koala, the Australian Developmental Team. The Australian National Team brought home the gold medal after defeating the USA National Team in the 2005 World Cup, which was held in Annapolis, Maryland. Some of the players who compete with the Aussies are current college players and college coaches in the US.
“Playing the Australian National Team is the best competition we could go up against outside of the US,” Sailer said. “The Aussies have a unique style. They play a fast-paced game and are phenomenal stickhandlers and playmakers. Competing well against them will require us to be at our best both physically and mentally. It will be fantastic preparation for our team as we look ahead to the 2009 season.”
The competition will be fierce for the Tigers but it will also prove to be a great learning experience for the 2009 team. Following the games with the Aussies, the team will be able to interact with their counterparts at dinners and social events. After the last game against Australia, the Tigers will take part in a Zag People to People Humanitarian event. During their ambassador effort, the team will interact with a group from Baylana, a center for individuals with unique needs, primarily those with Downs Syndrome. The athletes will have lunch with the group and then spend the afternoon hanging out with the members of the Baylana community and introducing them to the game of lacrosse.
While the majority of their time in Adelaide will be spent on the field, the Tigers will have plenty to do off the field as well. A trip to the Cleland Wildlife Park will give the team a chance to hold koalas, feed kangaroos, and experience wildlife specific to Australia, such as wallabees, dingos, and tazmanian devils. The Tigers will spend their last full day in Australia exploring the many treasures of Kangaroo Island, including Seal Bay, the “Little Sahara”, Vivonne Bay, and Flinders Chase National Park. Seal Bay is one of two places in the world where you can stroll through a wild seal colony full of rare Australian Sea Lions. The “Little Sahara” is an area of spectacular white sand dunes, which will be the perfect setting for a sand-boarding lesson for the Tigers. Following their sand boarding adventure, the Tigers will take a dip and catch some rays at Vivonne Bay, which has been ranked one of the top beaches on the continent of Australia. The Tigers will end their day trip to Kangaroo Island with a stop at Flinders Chase National Park, home of the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Flinders Chase National Park has breathtaking views of the Yacca Flats and the coastal scenery. Needless to say the last day in Australia will be one full of spectacular sights and lifelong memories for the Princeton Tigers.
While in Adelaide, the team will be staying at the Adelaide Shores on West Beach, giving them the opportunity to unwind by the beach after each game. Though it will be summertime in Australia, the Tigers will get into the holiday spirit with a team cookout and gift exchange before returning home to spend the holidays with their families.
"It's hard to think about leaving for Australia in eight days amongst the holiday spirit and end-of-semester school work, but having the opportunity to play against the Australian World Cup Team is something our team has been looking forward to for a long time,” captain Holly McGarvie said. “Not only do we have the tremendous opportunity to travel and interact with local Australians, but we will be exposed to the most competitive level of lacrosse in the world. In our coming practices, we will channel our excitement towards learning and developing our play so that we represent Princeton well! We couldn't be more grateful for having the chance to travel to Sydney and Adelaide, and we will undoubtedly return with memories that our team will cherish forever."