Oct. 23, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Former Penn State standouts Jessi Lieb and Michele DeJuliis were among 24 players named to the U.S. training team for the 2009 Federation of International Women's Lacrosse World Cup in Prague next June.

The World Cup, will be held from June 17-27 in the capital of the Czech Republic, is expected to draw a record 16 teams from nations around the world. The U.S. training team was selected from a 48-player pool that competed at the US Lacrosse Stars & Stripes Weekend in Syracuse, N.Y. on Oct. 11-12.

Lieb, a dynamic two-way player, wrapped up a brilliant career in 2008, earning First Team All-ALC honors and First Team IWLCA All-West/Midwest Region accolades for the third consecutive year. The team captain led Penn State in goals (27), assists (9), points (36), free position goals (10), and ground balls (36) in her senior season. Lieb, a three-time Tewaaraton Trophy Preseason Watch List selection, totaled 107 goals, 34 assists, 141 points in 63 career games.

Michele DeJuliis

DeJuliis, a 1998 Penn State grad, finished her collegiate career with her status as one of the greatest players in Nittany Lion women's lacrosse history firmly established. A two-time US Lacrosse All-American and three-time Brine/IWLCA All-American, she ranks prominently in several career statistical categories, including seventh in points (203), eighth in goals (142), and 10th in assists (tie, 61). DeJuliis was inducted into the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008.

The training team will hold a practice weekend in December and will compete along with the remaining 24 players from the player pool during the US Lacrosse Champions Challenge in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., from Jan. 30 - Feb. 1. The final 18 players for the World Cup and six alternates will be selected following that event. U.S. team head coach Sue Heether left open the option of players not selected for the training team to move up to the World Cup team.