Women lacrosse stars play in World Cup

When Terrapin women's lacrosse star Caitlyn McFadden and the U.S. national team battled Terp teammate Sarah Mollison and Team Australia in the 2009 FIL Women's World Cup Final last week, it was a fitting end to a tournament that featured 16 current and former Terps representing six different countries.

McFadden was able to get the best of Mollison, as the United States defeated defending champion Australia 8-7 to win the gold medal Saturday.

"To accomplish this great thing together was just amazing," said McFadden, a rising senior midfielder who placed second in goals and points for the Terps in the spring. "Winning the World Cup, it's the top thing you can get to in lacrosse. I kind of couldn't believe it."

The final between the United States and Australia was a chess match between eight current and former Terps.

"They are a great team," McFadden said. "All the familiar faces like Jen [Adams] and Maryland girls and a couple of current college players. They're a really good team. I think we just came out really strong and we played with a lot of confidence, kept fighting hard, ran them down and came out with the victory."

McFadden said the biggest challenge of the tournament was containing Jen Adams, who led the Terps to four straight national titles from 1998 to 2001 and is widely regarded as one of the best collegiate female lacrosse players ever.

"She's one of the best players ever," McFadden said. "She's mostly on the attacking end so we had to prepare for her being able to see as well as being able to go to goal."

Three current Terps - Laura Merrifield, McFadden and Mollison - were bunched together in Pool A of the tournament, which gave the trio the opportunity to play against each other. McFadden and Team USA got the better of both Merrifield and England, 17-8, as well as Mollison and Australia in pool play, 10-9.

"It was great to see them out there and to play against them," McFadden said. "As we said before this whole thing, we [hoped] we would play together. As we went though the game we just had to treat them as another player on that team that day. But before and after the games we [talked] to each other and wished each other good luck."

All three current Terps played big roles for their respective teams. McFadden was a facilitator for Team USA, racking up four assists. Merrifield was an offensive force for England, finishing with nine goals and an assist. Mollison finished with six goals and three assists for Australia.

Several former Terps also put up big numbers. Dana Dobbie led Canada with 18 goals and 3 assists, while Adams led all competitors with 41 points on 15 goals and 26 assists as she guided Australia to the final match against the United States.

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