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SPARKS, Md. – Day three of the Rivalry Challenge at USA Lacrosse shifted to sixes, a first-time experience for many of the players and coaches for the youth national teams from Canada and the United States.
“It’s a fast pace – we are the fastest game on two feet,” said Darcy Messina, the head coach for the U.S. Girls’ U15 Youth National Team. “I think being able to implement it with rules at a shorter distance on the field, you can showcase your talent. It kind of has a hockey and basketball vibe, which I think is special and the kids are buying into it, which is cool to see.”
The four-day event featuring the boys’ and girls’ U15, U17 and U19 teams from Lacrosse Canada and USA Lacrosse played traditional field lacrosse the first two days, but the opportunity to play sixes is key as the discipline grows in importance in international lacrosse. World Lacrosse will host the first sixes world championships in 2027 and of course the biggest stage will be when sixes is used for the LA28 Olympics.
With hopes of lacrosse continuing to have a presence in the Olympics after Los Angeles, opportunities for players and coaches to play sixes as a high level is key.
So, is the opportunity to embrace representing your country.
“Even my coaching staff group chat, we were talking about the movie Miracle and Herb Brooks,” Messina said. “To have that type of Disney magic to represent our country is something very honorable and something everyone is taking seriously.” The nerves and excitement are obvious for the players, but just as real for the coaches.
“The actual experience is amazing,” said Wes Speaks, a coach with the U.S. Boys’s U15 Youth National Team. “I drove up Thursday morning and I could not sleep the night before. I was so excited to be a part of this.
“I had that moment growing up with the 1998 World Games when Canada came storming back and the U.S. won by a goal, so that has stayed with me my entire life. You have a few of those moments that truly shape how you view the game. The World Games growing up were those moments. Being able to put on the gear and wear our colors, truly brings joy.”
One of the players that understands the Canada-USA rivalry in lacrosse a little better than most is Margaret Dusseau, a member of the U.S. U15 team from Upper Arlington, Ohio. Dusseau’s father, Steve, was a member of the 2002 U.S. men’s team that beat Canada for the world championship.
“It’s awesome,” said Margaret Dusseau. “He’s been through this before so he’s helped me a lot and taught me a lot. He just gives me good pep talks and hypes me up.”
Dusseau’s USA White team went undefeated in three games on Saturday with her combining for 10 goals and a pair of assists in the sixes format.
“I really liked it,” Dusseau said. “It was my first time playing sixes, but it was really fun and very fast-paced.”
It was also fun for her father, who watched from the stands.
“It’s unbelievable,” Steve Dusseau said. “We dream about this. It’s a really cool event, it’s really well done. She didn’t want my number (#19 with the U.S. team), she’s number two, but we like that for the Dusseau. I’m super proud.”
It also brought back a lot of memories from a couple of decades ago.
“We were in Australia back then and it brings back basically everything,” the former Georgetown and MLL star said. “It means a lot to be a part of this. I remember it like it was yesterday when we beat Canada in the final. It was a sweet experience. We were the underdogs with a lot of college kids and some old pros like the Lowe brothers.”
Suffice to say, it’s been a pretty cool week in the Kumin household. Corey Kumin, a junior at the Noble and Greenough School (Mass.), committed to the reigning national champions in women’s lacrosse – North Carolina – on Wednesday.
The next day, her younger brother, Sam, began play with the U.S. U15 Youth National Team in the Rivalry Challenge.
“It’s been exciting,” said Sam Kumin on Saturday from Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters. Their father, Sol, is a former Johns Hopkins lacrosse player and a longtime volunteer in the sport, including his current role as the chair of the USA Lacrosse Foundation. What’s the sport mean to the family?
“Everything,” said Sam. “My dad cares so much about it, I think he kind of brought all of us into the game and it’s been so much fun.”
Sam loves the competitiveness of the sport and is thriving in his first chance with the U.S. – Canada rivalry. After opening the tournament with a win over the Annapolis Hawks on Thursday, the U15 boys knocked off Canada on Friday night.
“Because we were playing Canada, I think everybody really represented the name on their shirt really well,” Kumin said. “I think everyone played really hard.”
Kumin scored early in that contest and had another strong showing on Saturday in sixes, including scoring four goals with an assist in a 17-14 victory over Canada East Red.
Lucy Schardt, USA U15 Girls: Schardt helped the USA White team to a perfect 3-0 record in Saturday’s sixes games, including a five-goal goal effort in a 25-16 win over USA Blue.
Matt Souter, Canada U19 Boys: Souter scored seven goals, helping Canada East Black to one of the most thrilling victories of the day, a 20-19 victory over USA White.
Presley Upton, USA U17 Girls: Upton had four goals and two assists in a win over Canada West Black, helping seal a perfect 2-0 day for her team.
Brian Logue has worked at USA Lacrosse since 2000 and is currently the senior director of communications. He saw his first lacrosse game in 1987 - Virginia at Delaware - and fell in love with the sport while working at Washington and Lee University.
