June 11, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - U.S. Lacrosse announced Wednesday the 40 players who have qualified for the 2010 U.S. men's national training team following a three-day tryout at Bryant University. Among those making the cut are four players with Patriot League ties. Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese, former Army standout Adam Fullerton and recent Colgate alumni Brandon Corp and Chris Eck are among the 40 players selected.

All 40 players, tabbed by a 14-member player selection committee, advance with an opportunity to compete in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship in Manchester, England from July 10-24, 2010. Team USA will compete in three training weekends during the fall of 2009. After those three weekends, the roster will be cut to the FIL-mandated size of 23 players for the world championship.

"I want to commend our selection committee in the professionalism and unbelievable insight. It was a very difficult task to get from 84 to 40. Speaking for the coaching staff, I couldn't be more pleased with the 40 we selected," said Team USA head coach Mike Pressler. "We have a heck of a group with our 40 now, and that's our team going into the fall of '09."

There were 84 invitees at tryouts, down from 120 in years past, who competed in two sessions of two games apiece Monday and Tuesday prior to a final session Wednesday morning.

"Getting it down to 84 made the games more competitive. There were very few games decided by more than a couple of goals," said Larry Quinn, chair of the player selection committee. "The coaching staff has a really tough decision of getting to the final 23, but it helps to see how they play together."