The U.S. women’s national team is at a pivotal stage in its process. With July’s World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship on the horizon, it’s time for the coaching staff to continue its evaluation of the 37 players set to take the field at this weekend’s Fall Classic.
Head coach Jenny Levy and her assistants — Amy Altig, Alex Frank and Joe Spallina — must eventually get the roster down to 18 players for international competition. But Fall Classic, a massive event at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., will combine the evaluation process with top-level competition against Canada, the Iroquois Nationals and NCAA champion Boston College.
Here are five players to keep an eye on this weekend.
USA LACROSSE FALL CLASSIC
Men’s Teams: Canada, USA, Virginia
Women’s Teams: Boston College, Canada, USA
Brogden Cup: Ontario 16U/18U, USA Select 16U/18U, Haudenosaunee Nationals 16U/18U
Dates: Oct. 15-17, 2021
Location: Sparks, Md.
Schedule | Tickets
LIZZIE COLSON, DEFENSE
Colson, the IWLCA Defender of the Year out of Maryland, finished the 2021 season as a Tewaaraton finalist and led the nation with 49 caused turnovers. She was sidelined for the U.S. women’s national team tryouts and subsequent training weekend due to a wrist injury she suffered in the NCAA tournament, but she’s healthy and ready to suit up at Fall Classic.
Prior to her injury, Colson was as ferocious as they came in college lacrosse, and was strong in transition.
KAYLA TREANOR, ATTACK
Treanor returns to USA Lacrosse headquarters for the first time since she accepted the head coaching position at Syracuse. She now has her dream job, and is working with fellow training team members Kenzie Kent (assistant), Emily Hawryschuk and Sam Swart.
Can Treanor take what she’s learned at the helm of her former program and apply it to the U.S. national team?
TAYLOR CUMMINGS, MIDFIELD
Cummings is coming off possibly the best stretch of her career, winning the inaugural Athletes Unlimited championship in August. She’s a veteran of the U.S. national team and has competed in every Fall Classic since its inception in 2016.
With a rare combination of stick skills and physicality, Cummings has the ability to take over a game. She may be the best player in the world, playing her best lacrosse of her career.
CHARLOTTE NORTH, ATTACK
North captured the attention of the entire lacrosse community this past spring, scoring 105 goals en route to winning the Tewaaraton Award and leading Boston College to the national championship. She made her U.S. women’s national team debut this summer, making the training team and scoring six goals in the Blue-White scrimmage in July.
At Fall Classic, North will line up against her current team, Boston College, while playing with the national team. “We definitely have some smack talk going on this week,” she said.
KAYLA WOOD, DEFENSE
Wood may have been the breakout star of the summer, leading the Athletes Unlimited standings for much of the season just months after wrapping her career at North Carolina. She finished sixth in the overall standings, topping all defenders during the five-week season.
As a result, she’s making her first appearance with the U.S. women’s national team program at Fall Classic.