BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head men’s lacrosse coach Kevin Cassese will man the sidelines in Denver this Saturday, Sept. 8, when the U.S. National Team faces Canada in the “Duel in Denver.” It will mark the first time the current U.S. staff will coach together as they begin preparation for the 2014 FIL World Championships. United States’ head coach Richie Meade named his assistants in February, which includes Cassese, Dave Pietramala of Johns Hopkins and Jeff Tambroni of Penn State.
“I am incredibly excited to begin this journey towards the 2014 World Championships with head coach Richie Meade and fellow assistant coaches Dave Pietramala and Jeff Tambroni,” said Cassese. “The ‘Duel in Denver’ represents our first evaluation event as a coaching staff and we certainly have a talented group of players to work with and evaluate. It will be fun to renew the USA-Canada lacrosse rivalry; it is one that I’ve been a part of for many years. It doesn’t matter if a medal is awarded or not; any time these two teams get together, it is hotly-contested and ultra-competitive.”
The premier rivalry in international lacrosse, Team USA and Team Canada will face off on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It will mark a rematch of the 2010 FIL World Championship gold-medal game, in which the United States won, 12-10 in Manchester, England. It’s also a preview of the 2014 Championships, hosted by US Lacrosse and also held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park July 10-19, 2014. The U.S. and Canada have met in the championship game in the last four FIL World Championships.
Team USA is headlined by 2010 World Championships MVP and two-time MLL MVP Paul Rabil, who is among 10 returners from the 2010 gold medal-winning squad. Team Canada stars include six-time MLL Defensive Player of the Year Brodie Merrill and two-time league MVP John Grant Jr., also the NLL’s all-time leading scorer as a member of the Colorado Mammoth.
The “Duel in Denver” marks the first time the U.S. and Canada have faced off outside of an international competition since 1999.
General admission tickets for the “Duel in Denver” are available for just $20. A $99 family four-pack option including food and beverage is also available. For tickets, rosters and more information, visit www.uslacrosse.org/duelindenver.
For more information on the 2014 FIL World Championships, visit www.worldlacrosse2014.com.
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