SPARKS, Md. — For most of their lacrosse careers, Kori Edmondson and Maggie Weisman have been on opposite sides of the fence. Two of the top-rated high school players in the country, they play for rival Baltimore-area high schools — Edmondson at McDonogh and Weisman at Glenelg Country. On the club circuit, Edmondson plays for M&D while Weisman plays for Hero’s.
This weekend they wore the same colors — red, white and blue.
The Brogden Cup featured the USA Select U16 and U18 boys’ and girls’ teams competing against squads from Ontario and the Haudenosaunee Nationals. Sunday’s games took place on Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters and were streamed live on Lax Sports Network. More than 1,600 players participated in the tryout process for the USA Select teams, with 88 ultimately representing the country this weekend.
Edmondson and Weisman helped the USA Select girls’ U18 team go undefeated in four games against Team Ontario and the Haudenosaunee Nationals on Saturday and Sunday.
For Edmondson, it was her second time participating in the National Team Development Program. She played for the U.S. in 2019 in the inaugural year of the program before it was put on hold for COVID-19 last year.
“I’ve made so many close friends just in the span of three days,” Edmondson said. “That’s been the best thing this year and why I always come back. This atmosphere that USA Lacrosse does for us is just awesome.”
Weisman participated for the first time, but wishes she had another crack at it.
“It was honestly amazing,” Weisman said. “If I could do it again, and I wish I could, it was probably the best three days of my life. Even including the combine, even though those were three hard days in the tryouts, it was so much fun. I’m so glad I was able to represent my country and be an inspiration and idol maybe to the girls younger than me.”
Edmondson and Weisman each had a hat trick in a 10-2 win over Ontario on Sunday and Kiley Mottice then had a team-high four goals in a 17-1 victory over the Haudenosaunee Nationals to close the event.
For Edmondson and Weisman it’s not the last time they’ll be playing together, nor the last time to get to represent something bigger. After a final season of high school, they’ll both head to the University of Maryland.
“It’s always been a hometown hero type thing,” Edmondson said. “I’ve always wanted to play for my hometown and be that girl that has her state behind her. It means so much to me.”
“I’ve never been so excited to represent my state,” Weisman said. “I grew up here. Just being able to wear Maryland across my chest is probably one of my greatest accomplishments.”
USA Boys U18 Win Another Thriller
For the second consecutive day, the biggest drama came from the boys’ U18 showdown between USA Select and Team Ontario. On Saturday, the U.S. rallied from a four-goal deficit in the final two minutes to post a wild 13-12 victory.
On Sunday, Ontario looked to flip the tables. Trailing 5-1 early in the second half, Ontario, fueled by a hat trick by Alex Roussel, scored four straight goals to tie the game 5-5 and force overtime. But the U.S. had the answer once again.
Matthew Barraco won the faceoff to start overtime and then Nate Kabari used an inside roll for a great look at the goal. Ontario goalie Cody Coulson came up with a big save, but Collin Campbell picked up the loose ball and whipped in a behind-the-back goal just 38 seconds into the period to give the U.S. a thrilling 6-5 victory.
THAT JUST HAPPENED.
— USA Lacrosse (@USA_Lacrosse) October 17, 2021
Collin Campbell with the insane BTB game-winner to give the U18 USA Select team a 6-5 win over Team Ontario. pic.twitter.com/TjxiIRNkCP
“It felt amazing,” Campbell said. “I honestly felt I missed the goal, but then I heard the ping from the back of the net and just ran to celebrate with the team. I kind of caught the ball off the ground, saw I had no angle, so I just pulled it and it went in.”
That wasn’t the final drama of the day for the U.S. squad. In its final game, it trailed the Haudenosaunee Nationals 4-2 before rallying in the second half for an 8-4 victory. Mark Cheng’s extra-man goal gave the U.S. a 5-4 lead with 8:30 to play.
Evan Sharp made a save on a Haudenosaunee extra-man opportunity with just over five minutes to play and then Cheng, Jabril Belle-Walker and Zach White scored goals in the final four minutes to help the U.S. pull away.
USA U16 Girls Finish Unbeaten
Kelly Blake had a hat trick to lead the USA Select girls’ U16 team to a 10-4 win over the Haudenosaunee Nationals, completing a perfect 4-0 weekend. Madison Alaimo, Truus van Wees and Lacey Downey each added two goals for the U.S. squad.
Earlier in the day, van Wees, Carlie DeSimone and Ryan Hapgood each scored twice to lead the U.S. to a 12-3 win over Ontario.
USA U16 Boys Sweep Division
The USA Select boys’ U16 team put up a pair of dominant performances on Sunday to complete a sweep of its division with four victories for the weekend.
Luke Miller scored a team-high four goals in a 12-2 victory over Ontario in the morning and then followed that up with a pair of goals in a 13-0 blanking of the Haudenosaunee Nationals. Ben Firlie and Matthaw Han each scored twice against Ontario. Connor Sydnor had a team-high three goals against the Haudenosaunee and Alex Gatto added two.
Sunday Scores
U18 BOYS
Ontario 10, Haudenosaunee 3
USA Select 6, Ontario 5 (OT)
USA Select 8, Haudenosaunee 4
U18 GIRLS
Ontario 9, Haudenosaunee 3
USA Select 10, Ontario 2
USA Select 17, Haudenosaunee 1
U16 BOYS
Ontario 10, Haudenosaunee 2
USA Select 12, Ontario 2
USA Select 13, Haudenosaunee 0
U16 GIRLS
Haudenosaunee 8, Ontario 5
USA Select 12, Ontario 3
USA Select 10, Haudenosaunee 4