Virginia Women's Lacrosse to Face Team USA

The Virginia women's lacrosse team will take on Team USA (senior team) on January 29-30 in the sixth annual Champion® Challenge will take place Jan. 29 - 30, 2011 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., organized by US Lacrosse. Virginia, together with the Notre Dame men's team, the University of Maryland women's team, the University of Jacksonville (Fla.) women's team and the Rollins (Fla.) College women's team, will join the U.S. men's national lacrosse team and the U.S. women's national senior and U19 teams in a star-studded weekend event.

Virginia will face Team USA (white) on Saturday, January 29 at 5:00 p.m. and Team USA (blue) on Sunday, January 30 at 11:00 a.m. The games will not be televised, though the U.S. men's national team vs. Notre Dame will air Sunday, Jan. 30 at 10 p.m. and the U.S. women's national team vs. Maryland will air Monday, Jan. 31 at 12 a.m.

Virginia finished last season with a 14-6 record and ranked sixth in the polls after losing to North Carolina in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Among those returning for the Cavaliers is senior All-American Liz Downs.

Third team IWLCA All-American defender Downs ranked fourth on the team last season with 28 ground balls and third with 17 caused turnovers. She was also named All-ACC and has started every game of her career.

Earlier this season, at a Fall Ball scrimmage at Penn, head coach Julie Myers praised both Downs and junior midfielder Julie Gardner.

"Liz Downs was outstanding, and she's adjusting to a leadership role, and Julie Gardner showed great hands, great stick work and an ability to help at both ends of the field."

Adult one-day general admission tickets can be purchased for $14.50, while youth tickets start at $10.00. Tickets will be sold at the event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports lacrosse ticket gate.

US Lacrosse is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse, and is the parent organization of the U.S. men's and women's national lacrosse teams. Warrior Lacrosse is the official exclusive equipment and apparel supplier to the U.S. men's national teams program. deBeer Lacrosse is the official exclusive equipment supplier to the U.S. women's national teams program.

More information about the event can be found on US Lacrosse's website..

Schedule of Clinics & Games  (subject to change)
Saturday, January 29
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. • U.S. women’s national team clinic (pre-registration required)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. • U.S. men’s national team clinic  (pre-registration required)
4:30 p.m. • U.S. women's U-19 team vs. Rollins College
5:00 p.m. • U.S. women's senior team (white) vs. University of Virginia
7:00 p.m. • U.S. women's U-19 team vs. Jacksonville University

Sunday, January 30
11:00 a.m. • U.S. women’s senior team (white) vs. University of Maryland (ESPNU)
11:00 a.m. • U.S. women’s senior team (blue) vs. University of Virginia
1:30 p.m.  • U.S. women’s senior team (blue) vs. University of Maryland 
1:30 p.m. • U.S. men’s national team vs. Notre Dame   (ESPNU)