WORLD CUP


he girl raised three fingers and softly repeated the word. “Three? Three?” she asked. “Number three?”


Her friend lurked a step behind her, even shyer but also determined to brave language barriers and nerves to get the autograph. Even if they didn’t know Devon Wills’ face, they knew the U.S. goalie was special, and they wanted her signature on their Kansai Lacrosse pinnies to take home to Japan. The two teenagers found Team USA in the stands during the Australia- Canada game in the round robin phase of the 2013 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women’s World Cup in Oshawa, Ontario. The game turned out to be a nailbiter of historic proportions — the host Canadians won 13-12 on a last-minute goal by Crysti Foote, giving the team its first win over the Australians in FIL competition — and it was a crowd pleaser too. The 2,300-seat stadium was packed with fans.


But the two girls wound their way to the top rows of the stands and used Wills’ jersey number to track her down in the row of women in Team USA gear. They hardly were alone in their idolatry. Many of those among the record 19 teams in Oshawa regarded the U.S. players as demigoddesses, perhaps none more highly regarded than Wills, whose speed and willingness to play outside the crease earned her All-World recognition. “Nobody does what she does,” U.S. coach Ricky Fried said.


And whom did the Japanese autograph seekers find under the helmet? A tall, chatty woman with a wide smile who peppered them with questions about how they were enjoying the youth festival. The conversation didn’t go much past names and comments on the weather due to the lack of a common language, but everyone spoke lacrosse.


“It is like kids on Christmas morning,” Team Germany assistant Anna Sody said.


36 LACROSSE MAGAZINE September 2013>> A Publication of US Lacrosse


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