Three Beaches Lacrosse players named to Team Ontario’s U13 squad

By JESSICA SHACKLETON

Three Beaches Lacrosse players will get to represent their province as members of Team Ontario after earning spots on the U13 squad.

It’s a big honour for Maelle MacPherson, Sadie McCurdy, and Sophie Villamizar.

Team Ontario tryouts are open to players from across the province. At tryout camps this spring, potential players worked on stickwork, passing, shooting, and defending drills before ending each round with a scrimmage to see how they played a real game.

“The tryout process was a lot of fun. Each tryout, we did a few drills and played scrimmages. After each tryout round, they let you know if you moved on to the next stage. There were three rounds of tryouts in total,” McCurdy told Beach Metro Community News recently.

Team Ontario Head Coach Sara Pekosta called each successful player on the phone, a smooth process for MacPherson and McCurdy.

“I found out that I made Team Ontario when the coach called me. She said, ‘Congratulations! You made the team.’ I was really excited and proud because I had worked really hard during the tryouts,” said MacPherson.

“I really wanted to make the team because I’d tried out for two years before as a double minor and minor, as my sister was on the team before and I saw how much fun she had.”

Playing for Team Ontario runs in the family for Villamizar and MacPherson, as their older sisters Neiva and Madeleine also represented the province at the U13 level a few years ago. Madeleine MacPherson is part of this year’s U15 squad. 

Villamizar’s experience finding out she had a spot on the provincial team was a bit of a rollercoaster. She said she wasn’t really paying attention when the coaches explained how they would let players know the results at the last tryout.

“I was so tired from the tryout and found it hard to concentrate at the end, so I had no idea when I was supposed to get the call. A couple of nights later, I was watching TV when my grandma told me someone from Team Ontario wanted to speak with me on the phone. Since I wasn’t listening at the tryout, I thought that maybe if they call you, that means you didn’t make the team, so I was really nervous when I got the call,” she said.

“The head coach for Team Ontario was on the other end of the line. I said that I was scared that I did not make the team. She told me not to worry because I made the team. I was so surprised and excited.”

The U13 girls field lacrosse team is one of 15 Team Ontario groups that compete in different events. U13 is also the first age group that players can compete with Team Ontario.

“I’m most excited about going to away tournaments, like Florida, and getting to play with teammates from other teams that I usually compete against during the regular season,” said McCurdy.

Practices and scrimmages are helpful for honing skills and learning new ones, but the local players said the best part of the sport is game time. 

“My favourite part about lacrosse is playing games. I like playing against different teams I don’t normally play against, including in the U.S. It’s exciting to be able to practice and play with new my teammates, including from other clubs,” said MacPherson.

Villamizer said that playing lacrosse gives her a feeling like no other.

“My favourite thing about lacrosse is that it makes you feel free and alive. If you’re sad or had a bad day and you play lacrosse, you feel whole again,” she said. “Another of my favourite things about lacrosse is that if you are angry or frustrated about something, you could use that emotion to help you strive on the field. You can turn those feelings into energy.”

Lacrosse is Canada’s official summer sport and has a history beyond the country’s origin. According to Lacrosse Canada, it originated as a sacred sport played by First Nations in North America for spiritual, ceremonial, and diplomatic purposes.

“Today, the game continues to thrive in communities across the country, with players of all ages participating in Box, Men’s Field, and Women’s Field Lacrosse. The sport remains a powerful symbol of Indigenous heritage, cultural connection, and national pride, bridging Canada’s past with its present and future through sport,” said Lacrosse Canada’s website.

As the largest provincial lacrosse organization in Canada, the Ontario Lacrosse Association has more than 33,000 players, coaches, officials, trainers, and volunteers.

As part of Team Ontario, MacPherson, McCurdy, and Villamizer will be playing alongside teammates from across the province who share a love of the game.

Beaches Lacrosse continues to grow in numbers and popularity with players taking part in the sport at numerous levels and categories. For more information on the club, please visit https://beacheslacrosse.com/

To keep up with Team Ontario Lacrosse, check out their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/teamontariolacrosse/?hl=en