When the Hall of Fame Lacrosse Classic folded nearly eight months ago after 13 years in existence, many of those involved with the classic scrambled to put together another event that would comparably showcase the nation's top college seniors in women's lacrosse.
What they came up with was the STX Lacrosse Festival, which will put its best foot forward tomorrow at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field.
The one-day event, sponsored by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Foundation, will begin at 9 a.m. with a series of youth games.
The women's Division III North/South All-Star Game will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the Division I/II Women's All-Star Game at 6 and a U.S. Club Lacrosse Association matchup between Chesapeake-Toyota (7-1) and the 0-7 Maryland LC at 8.
"When the men's teams pulled out of the lacrosse classic, the event fizzled and the women [coaches] decided we wanted this event to fly," said Johns Hopkins coach Janine Tucker, who helped organize the event and will serve as coach of the South team in the Division III all-star game along with Kathy Frick of Goucher College.
"The women's game is growing so much, to not play would be a detriment to the game, especially here in Baltimore."
Kelly Amonte, Maryland's all-time scoring leader, will lead the South All-Stars in the Division I/II game against a North squad led by defenders Joanne Connelly (Penn State) and Kerri Whitaker (Brown).
Francine Brennan of Hopkins, a first-team All-American and the Centennial Conference's Player of the Year, and Courtney Crangi, an All-American from Goucher, will lead the South in the Division III contest.
Among other players with local ties are: Jill St. Clair (Colgate/St. Paul's), Sharon Langhoff (Yale/NDP), Kim Reardon (Loyola College), Suzy Waire (Loyola/Loch Raven), Meg Cortezi (James Madison/NDP), Erika Schaub (Loyola College), Melissa Bristow (William and Mary/Roland Park), Karen MacCrate (Maryland), Liz Downing (Maryland), Joann Binko (Ithaca/Perry Hall), Kristy Miller (St. Mary's), Denise Sarver (Western Maryland/Fallston) and Crissy Fellona (Salisbury/Joppatowne).
Pub Date: 5/31/96
Facts and figures
What: STX Lacrosse Festival
When: Tomorrow
Where: Homewood Field, Johns Hopkins
Schedule of games: Maryland Youth Lacrosse Association 11-12 boys championship, 9 a.m.; MYLA 10-11 girls championship, 10: 30 a.m.; MYLA 13-14 boys championship, noon; MYLA 13-14 girls championship, 1: 30 p.m.; Division III Women's All-Star Game, 4 p.m.; Division I/II Women's All-Star Game, 6 p.m.; Maryland Lacrosse Club vs. Chesapeake-Toyota LC, 8 p.m.
Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for students, free for children 6 and under.
