WROCLAW, Poland – Team USA’s All-World goalie Devon Wills pulls goggles over her head, picks up a field stick and steps to the 12-meter. With the ball in her stick, she squares up with three-time Tewaaraton winner and All-American Maryland midfielder Taylor Cummings, drives hard to the right and fires a shot into the back of the net just two steps into the 8-meter. She then jogs jubilantly to the back of the line, ready for another look to goal.
#USAWLAX goalie @devon3wills does it all. @MTumolo35: "Look at Devon out there. She's a goalie but she's a phenomenal athlete" @LaxSportsNet pic.twitter.com/838wyL7hjs
— Megan Schneider (@mschneider713) July 26, 2017
Wills has been known for bringing a new style of play for goalkeepers to the women’s game, being one of the first to use her athleticism to play not only inside the crease, but outside as well in double teams and on the ride.
But today’s performance showcased that athletic ability to a tee, as the U.S. women’s national team embarks on a new journey at the IWGA World Games, which features new rules.
Instead of 12, only 10 players per team are allowed on the field at a time and just two stay back behind the restraining line for offensive and defensive sets. While three players per team will be on the draw, which is also different from the World Cup, Team USA will field just two attackers, two defenders, five midfielders and a goalie.
That means players may shift as needed to accommodate the new format. Wills will likely fill the role of both a field player and goalie, while attacker Michelle Tumolo will join Ally Carey and Kelly Rabil in the Grit midfield line. Defenders will also rotate between defense and midfield.
“Look at Devon out there. She’s a goalie, but she’s a phenomenal athlete,” Tumolo said after watching Wills’ field play. “It’s pretty awesome that we have people who are just athletic and can play in any role that they’re put in.”
It’s a mindset that coach Ricky Fried said his team embodies, being willing to step up, play outside their comfort zone mentally, while also prominently displaying their skill sets in a different way.
“It’s going to be fun to try something different,” said defender Megan Douty, who last ran the midfield in high school. “It may not be comfortable, but we’re totally game for this opportunity and we’re just going to do our best.”
From Fried’s understanding, as the Federation of International Lacrosse looks to lift lacrosse into the Olympics one day, the rule changes were made to create continuity between men’s and women’s lacrosse. Among other rules changes are a slightly smaller field size, a 35-minute running clock for two halves and no mandatory stick check after goals.
While winning another gold medal is the goal for Team USA, Wills said this event is about more than just winning and losing.
“It’s an honor to be here, especially because it is all about the sport at this point and pushing it to the next level,” Wills said. “That unifies all the countries and what we’re trying to do. “
Six countries – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Poland and the United States – will be competing for a medal come Sunday, but have joined together with one mission in mind – “to put the best product on the field, so that we give our sport the best opportunity to move in a direction toward the Olympic Games,” according to Fried.
“This is, in some ways, more important than the World Cup because this is an opportunity for this group to present to the Olympic committee women’s lacrosse,” Fried said. “It’s not just about this team. It’s not just about the U.S. It’s about the sport now, putting our best foot forward to make sure that when the international Olympic committee sees what this has to offer, they’re really excited about it and these players become the pioneers in getting lacrosse into the Olympics.”
WORLD GAMES SCHEDULE
All times local. Wroclaw, Poland, is six hours ahead of Eastern time.
Thursday, July 27
8:15 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
10 a.m. – USA vs. Poland
1 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Japan
4 p.m. – Canada vs. Australia
Friday, July 28
10 a.m. – USA vs. Great Britain
1 p.m. – Poland vs. Australia
4 p.m. – Canada vs. Japan
Saturday, July 29
10 a.m. – Semifinal (No. 1 vs. No. 4)*
1 p.m. – Semifinal (No. 2 vs. No. 3)*
Sunday, July 30
9 a.m. – No. 5 vs. No. 6
11:30 a.m. – Bronze Medal Game
2 p.m. – Gold Medal Game*
4 p.m. – Medal Ceremony