BOX SCORE

SPARKS, Md. — More than a year has passed since the 2017 U.S. women’s national team won gold at both the FIL Women’s World Cup and IWGA World Games, but the goal has remained the same.

Inspire the next generation off the field and showcase an on-field product that makes it possible to aim for the 2028 Olympics.

Last summer’s World Games, an Olympic-style event for sports not included in Olympic programming, was lacrosse’s first introduction to that prospect.

But with a new-look roster, featuring 12 gold medalists from the 2017 squad and 15 newcomers, plus a new coaching staff led by Jenny Levy, this weekend’s Team USA Fall Classic marked a new beginning.

“It’s a new era,” said Levy. “Part of what we’re doing is pushing for this 10-year goal of getting to the Olympics. I feel very much that our group will be a big part of that. You think back to soccer when they first got to the Olympics in ’96 and it took them about 10 years to cultivate a base of kids that really tipped the sport over in the United States. The youth of soccer created the Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Julie Foudy phenomenon. We need to do that for lacrosse. We’re exactly where soccer was back in the late 1980s unfortunately, but that’s reality.”

The U.S. women’s soccer team has been a continual point of discussion for the U.S. women’s lacrosse team, which made its debut under Levy competing against reigning NCAA champion James Madison in the Team USA Fall Classic at US Lacrosse headquarters Saturday. Led by five points and 12 draw controls from one of the sport’s biggest names in Taylor Cummings, the three-time Tewaaraton winner out of Maryland, the U.S. prevailed 14-10 in five periods.

“We as players have so much pride in what we do and we want so badly to give [young] girls the opportunity to do what soccer has done,” Cummings said. “Jenny referenced it quite a bit. … We’re hoping it takes us 10 years, so we can introduce it on our home soil in L.A.”

Each member of the U.S. team is playing her own part in the sport’s visibility on and off the field, including defender Megan Douty, who had a busload of her fans drive down from New Jersey thanks to her training company, All Lax LLC.

Douty, Cummings and defender Alice Mercer, all Maryland graduates, were the three “highlight kids” for Levy against the Dukes. Transition play also stood out, including a goal kickstarted by Marie McCool on the clear which led to quick passes from Taylor Cummings to Katie Haus to Kayla Treanor and lastly to Kylie Ohlmiller. The offense, however, scoring 14 goals off 36 shots, needed more time to develop chemistry, which was expected under a new assistant and “creative offensive mind in Joe Spallina,” said Levy.

Yet, in front of one thousand fans, the world champion-national champion dynamic proved to be entertaining.

“I was really impressed with JMU,” Cummings said. “They did not come out fearful or scared. They came out like the defending national champions.”

Teamwork makes the dream work! @USAWLax amazing highlight featuring @tcummings_21, @kschwarzmann7, @unKayTrain_able & @kylieohlmiller on offense. pic.twitter.com/SC7IUv8xfX

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) October 6, 2018

The game saw five ties and three goals scored with less than a minute remaining in a period, including one from Team USA midfielder Emily Garrity Parros, assisted by Treanor, which would’ve been the game-winner if it ended after four quarters.

“We want to show a brand of lacrosse that’s exciting to watch and play,” Levy said. “It’s going to take us a little bit to get there, but we will get there. There’s no doubt in my mind that this group is fun to work with and their IQ, how they play together and their respect for their opponents in the game are off the charts.”

James Madison coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe agreed the timing will come.

“They clearly all know what it takes, they have great vision and they just need time and patience to develop,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “I know they have a great staff and they’ll figure out a way to make them click.”

“The time is right,” Levy added. “I know for everybody the opportunity to walk into a stadium at opening ceremonies in the ’28 Olympics would be a dream come true for so many people, including myself.”