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GUILDFORD, England – Only a 45-minute bus ride from Bisham Abbey to the University of Surrey on Monday stood between the U.S. women’s national team and its pursuit of its third straight gold medal at the 2017 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women’s Lacrosse World Cup.

Last week was training camp, but this week, it’s real.

The flags of the event’s record 25 nations, including seven first-time participants (Belgium, Colombia, China, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Switzerland), now fly high above the grandstand at the Rathbones championship pitch in Surrey Sports Park, where opening ceremonies will take place today at 4:30 p.m. local time.

“It feels like a big deal tournament, which for us, it is,” said U.S. co-captain Sarah Bullard. “But obviously, lacrosse is still kind of a rising and developing sport, so for it to feel as big time as it does here, I think it’s really good. England clearly put a ton into this. We’re excited to be here.”

After successful scrimmages against Scotland and Japan last week, Team USA recognized the constant opportunity to improve as a team with one goal in mind – “the focus is obviously a gold medal,” said fellow captain Devon Wills – but it takes the small plays to reach the big moments, she added. 

Head coach Ricky Fried described the team as “relentless in their pursuit. … They know what they want [and] they’re driven” to achieve it. The training camp was purposeful in that it provided one full week for the team to be together in England before the World Cup and ample time to focus on the business side of lacrosse before back-to-back games in pool play.

“The players showed up ready,” Fried said. “We’re at a place now where we’re ready to get things started.”

Fried found that each individual player thrives under pressure, but with rising competition from opposing countries and seven World Cup titles belonging to the U.S., now it’s time to see if the team can do the same. The veteran leadership is starting to showcase itself on and off the field, he said.

“We’ve taken the approach that pressure is a privilege,” Wills said. “We embrace that. I also think this team thrives under challenges and hard work. We find a good balance between competing and rising to that, as well as enjoying it and learning from it.”

In yesterday’s meeting to kick off their first full day at Manor Park, now Team USA’s home for the next 10 days, assistant Jess Wilk – who won three World Cup titles as a goalie in 1993, 1997 and 2001 and has been coaching the U.S. senior women since 2009 – reminded the players how important it is to enjoy opening ceremonies, take in the excitement, feel the emotion and then focus on their first game on Thursday when the time comes.

But what brought everything full circle for this year’s squad was a video montage of good luck messages from past U.S. players dating back to the first-ever U.S. team in 1982, as well as many who played with Bullard and Wills, including Sarah Albrecht, Michi Ellers, Amber Falcone, Megan Huether, Lindsey Munday, Holly (McGarvie) Reilly and Acacia Walker. It was all smiles, happy tears and even some laughs as Reilly rapped for the 2017 U.S. World Cup team.

“That was really, really special,” said Bullard. “They are my U.S. experience. They defined all this. They made this so amazing for us and we want to keep doing it.”

As Kelly Rabil wrote in her blog as part of the team's "Mission Log," "the best part about that feeling we all had while watching those videos and listening to all of those amazing women is we will get a chance to feel that again with one another. There will be many more opportunities to come just like that in the next two weeks – and that is one of the many feelings as a Team USA player you may not ever be able to describe to anyone, but you know what that feeling is."

Team USA will play its first match against Scotland on Thursday, July 13, at 3 p.m. local time, followed by games against Australia, England, Canada and Wales to round out pool play. Quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on July 19 and 20, respectively, with medal games on July 22.

While the U.S. has established a tradition of success, coming off two straight gold medal performances, the team continues to appreciate the past while focusing on the present.

“I don’t necessarily like the word defending champions,” Fried said. “It’s still the U.S., but it’s a different team. It’s these players’ opportunity to win the 2017 World Cup.”

As Wills has said throughout the four-year process to get to today, it’s about attacking for gold, not defending a title.

“The opening ceremonies will make it feel real for everyone,” Wills said. “There are a lot of people who have never been here before, so it will validate all of the hard work. This is a big stage. This is as high as you can get. I think they should have a certain amount of pride with how hard they worked and what they put in to get here.

“Now it’s just time to play.”

World Cup Sights and Sounds 

 

The sisters checked in @surreysportpark , decorated the hallway & already took our new flat profile pic @mariemccool4

A post shared by A L E X A U S T (@alexaust_) on

 

on site and can't wait to get started! #BUSA

A post shared by Sarah Bullard (@sbulldawg) on

 

It's time... #worldcup2017 #somethingbigger #usawlax @uslacrosse @rwlc17

A post shared by robertshaw6 (@robertshaw6) on

 

One more until the games begin #BUSA : @robertshaw6

A post shared by Megan (@megdouty5) on

 

First look at the game pitch for the FIL World Cup! #BUSA #usawlax

A post shared by Devon Wills (@devon3wills) on