Cassese, Team USA to play exhibition at Lehigh
5/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In preparation for the U.S. Men’s Lacrosse team’s World Championship games in Manchester, England later this summer, Lehigh University will host an exhibition game between the U.S. Team, featuring Mountain Hawks head coach Kevin Cassese, and the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association (PLA) All-Stars on Friday, June 18th at 8:00 PM on Frank Banko ’41 Field, which is located at the Ulrich Sports Complex on Lehigh’s campus. The game will be one of three exhibitions that Team USA will take part in before heading to England for the World Championship.
The U.S. Team features a number of players from the Philly area, including Lehigh’s own Kevin Cassese, as well as Brian Dougherty (Episcopal Academy), Kyle Sweeney (Springfield-Delco), D.J. Driscoll (Malvern Prep), Alex Smith (University of Delaware) and Drew Westervelt (Philadelphia Wings).
This opportunity brings special meaning to Cassese. “Hosting the U.S. National Team exhibition will be a tremendous reward for the players, coaches, and volunteers who are working so hard to put Lehigh Valley Lacrosse on the map,” he explained. “This game will be a special occasion for me personally and especially for my family. They have traveled all over the country and the world to watch me play lacrosse and finally I get a chance to give them a home game literally right in their backyard.”
Lehigh University was chosen as the site thanks in part to the growing popularity of youth and high school lacrosse in the Lehigh Valley, as well as the Lehigh Laxfest tournament being held at Lehigh June 19-20. The PLA is also excited to showcase Cassese for his role as a Team USA player and head coach of a well-respected staff that has worked hard to organize this event.
Although the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association may be the only U.S. Lacrosse chapter holding an exhibition game, this will not be the first time the PLA and Team USA have met, as the PLA has beaten Team USA twice in exhibition games (1998, 2002).
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased by visiting the link above.
Story written by Kelly Fowler
