Almost since she started playing lacrosse in third grade, Tice Burke dreamed about playing internationally. She never expected that dream to come true so soon.
The St. Paul's senior was one of six Baltimore-area girls selected for the United States team that will compete in the first Leader/International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations Under-19 World Championship at Haverford College near Philadelphia in August.
"I was trying not to get my hopes up, but I was very hopeful," said Burke, one of only 16 girls who survived last weekend's team trials at Roland Park.
"It was really tough. The competition was just amazing. I didn't play well Saturday, but I was fortunate to make the first cut, so I could come back Sunday and redeem myself."
The final 16 players include three others from the Association of Independent Schools -- Seton Keough's Katie Loovis, Garrison Forest's Jacque Weitzel and Roland Park's Melissa Coyne -- as well as two from Anne Arundel County -- South River's Megan Riley and Severna Park's Jennie Voishan.
No other area of the country landed more girls on the team than Baltimore.
"Obviously that says something," said Burke.
"I don't know if it says we're better, but the girls around here started playing a lot earlier and lacrosse has been a big thing here for a longer amount of time."
Nine players on the team or among the three alternates are Maryland residents including Amity Wall from Stone Ridge in Bethesda; alternate Gray MacNair from Episcopal in Chevy Chase; and Emily Fenwick, who attends St. George's in Rhode Island but lives in Baltimore.
Seven Pennsylvania girls made the team while New England and Long Island also are represented.
This summer, the players will attend several training sessions, including the United States Women's Lacrosse Association's developmental camp before they take on the world beginning Aug. 6.
They open with Australia followed by matches with Wales, England, Scotland, Japan and Canada. The championship game will be played at 2 p.m. Aug. 12.
"It'll be a great experience," said Coyne, a sophomore goalie. "For the juniors, there might be some pressure, because there will be a lot of college coaches there, but I'm just going to go out and do the best I can. I'm not going to try to impress everyone. It'll be a really fun experience."
Just to try out for the Under-19 team players had to be nominated by their USWLA regions.
The South region also sent Lizzy Bennett, Roland Park; Summer Downing, Friends; and Kim Allen, Loch Raven; while the Chesapeake region sent Erin McGinnis and Dani Vissers, Mount Hebron; Amy Brew and Stephy Samaras, Annapolis; Michelle Dillow and Lisa Martin, North County; and Joyce Wu, Severn.
