Aug. 5, 2011
HANOVER, Germany – Allie Murray and Barbara Sullivan, incoming freshmen with the University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team, have both played key roles in the United States start at the 2011 Under-19 World Championships. The U.S. enters the tournament hoping to claim its fourth-consecutive World Championship title after winning in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
The Americans find themselves 2-0 after the first two contests of pool play. The squad opened the tournament Thursday with a convincing 19-5 victory over Japan before pulling out a 13-6 decision against Canada Friday in a match that saw eight different U.S. players tally a goal.
Murray, a 5-5 goalkeeper from Exton, Pa., saw action in each of the first two contests, replacing Kelsey Duryea in the second half of both matches. She has compiled seven saves to this point in the tournament. Her high school days saw her play at Downingtown East High School while also playing as a member of the PA Express lacrosse club. Recognized as one of the top high school goalkeepers in the nation, she is ranked fifth on ESPN RISE’s list of top senior goalkeepers “On The Rise” for 2011. In 2010, Murray backstopped Downingtown East to a 19-6 season, fifth place in District 1 and a berth in the second round of the PIAA state championships. She was selected all-conference in each of the last three seasons. A two-sport athlete, Murray was a member of the Downingtown East field hockey team where she served as team captain in the fall and was a two-time all-conference selection. Murray also was a member of the Philly team that participated in the 2010 Under Armour Underclassmen games last summer in Baltimore, Md.
Sullivan, a 5-10 defense/midfielder from Garden City, N.Y., has helped lead a stonewall American defense that has allowed only 5.5 goals per game on just 19 shots from the opposition. She played at Garden City High School and was a member of Long Island Yellow Jackets lacrosse club. She is regarded by many as the top defensive recruit in the nation. A four-year regular at Garden City, she helped her team to three consecutive New York State Class B championships. A 2010 U.S. Lacrosse high school All-American and Academic All-American, she was selected all-county and all-Long Island following the 2010 season. Sullivan was the most valuable player of the New York State Class B Championship game and was selected to the all-tournament team. A member of the 2010 Under Armour Team, she also played for the gold medal team at the 2010 Empire State championships. Sullivan also played basketball and soccer at Garden City. In basketball she was a two-time team captain where she played guard. She was a two-time all-county selection and was the 2010 conference player of the year while taking all-state honors. The captain of the 2010 soccer team, Sullivan helped Garden City to its first-ever New York State championship in 2010 while taking all-Long Island and all-conference honors.
The U.S. team has three more pool play contests against Haudenosaunee (Saturday), England (Sunday) and Australia (Tuesday) before being seeded for the quarterfinals which take place Wednesday.
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