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Chevarie ready to lead Canada's under-19 lacrosse team

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Brantford’s Bianca Chevarie will have only one goal when she suits up for Canada at the Women’s Lacrosse Under-19 World Championship in Peterborough.

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“A personal goal isn’t something I really have,” the former Assumption College student said of her expectation at the Aug. 1-10 tournament.

“Our coaches talk a lot about team stuff so it’s more of a team goal and that’s to come out with a gold medal.”

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In search of that gold, Chevarie should play a big role after being named a team captain. Part of the reason she is a captain has to do with her experience playing at the international level as a member of the Canadian senior women’s team that competed at the 2017 world championship.

Chevarie was the youngest member of the senior team, which won silver.

“It was tough for me a little bit,” she said of playing on the senior team with some members twice her age.

“The girls were great,” she said. “They incorporated me as much as possible and I learned so much from them.”

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She said she feels “more comfortable” playing on the under-19 team with players her age.

“I grew up with a lot of them, I’m especially in my element now,” she said.

“I’m more in a leadership role rather than the rookie role I had last time.”

Chevarie said about 80 girls were invited to try out for the under-19 team. Following the last tryout at the end of June at Syracuse University, 18 players and two alternates were selected to be on the team.

She was thrilled to be make the team.

“It was super exciting to make it especially because a lot of the girls who have made it are girls I’ve known for a long time and played with,” said the 18-year-old daughter of Don and Anita.

“We’re super close and we know that, working together and working hard, we have a really good shot at winning the world championship.”

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Chevarie said that the U.S., Australia and England will be three of the top teams but Canada will have the biggest target on its back since winning the last championship four years ago.

Canada opens the tournament on Friday with an 8 p.m. game against England. It plays the Australia on Saturday at 5 p.m. and the United States on Sunday at 8 p.m.

All three games will be played at Trent University.

Following the world championship, Chevarie will get ready to head to Syracuse University on scholarship to play for the lacrosse team while studying neuroscience.

Chevarie said Syracuse has a good chance to win a national championship this season.

She recently attended a camp at Syracuse with other freshmen.

“We got to hang out and our coaches brought us around the campus to see our apartments,” said Chevarie, a midfielder who completed her high school education by going to Everest Academy in Toronto.

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“I’m super excited.

“Obviously, I hope to play but I know that I can’t just walk in there and expect to. I’ve got to work hard and show my coaches I should be playing even though I’m just a first year.”

Chevarie has looked at lacrosse possibilities after university, including the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League, which started this year in the U.S.

“I think I would totally look at doing something like that,” she said.

“Being able to still play after college and grow the game more would be an amazing experience.”

Visit 2019u19wclax.wpcomstaging.com for scores and schedules at the under-19 world championship.

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