RVC Native Heads to Finland on U.S. U19 National Lax Team

Rockville Centre's Matt Kavanagh will play for the U.S. national team this week in Finland for the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Under-19 World Championships.

Kavanagh graduated from Chaminade in 2011 and is a student at the University of Notre Dame.

According to LaxMagazine.com, the U.S. is 36-0 all-time in international play since the U19 World Championships were sanctioned in 1988. The U.S. has won gold medals at all six world championships.

The U19 team defeated the Long Island All-Stars 12-4 back on June 16 before suffering a 15-14 loss to the Eastern Pennsylvania All-Stars on June 23. The U.S. defeated the New Jersey All-Stars  9-4 on July 1.

Defenseman Stephen Jahelka, goalie Zach Oliveri and midfielder Rob Zoppo were voted captains by their teammates on Saturday at training camp at Bryant University in Rhode Island.

The 12 countries participating in the world championships are Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Iroquois, Korea, Netherlands, Scotland, the United States and Wales.

The U.S. team will kick off their tournament against Australia on July 13 at 7 p.m. (12 p.m. EST). They will then play Canada on July 14 at 7 p.m., England on July 15 at 7 p.m. and the Iroquois Nationals on July 17 at 1 p.m. (6 a.m. EST).