June 30, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Former Nittany Lion women's lacrosse standout Michele DeJuliis captained the U.S. team that captured the gold medal at the 2009 FIL World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic last weekend. Team USA defeated Australia, 8-7, in the title game, avenging a loss to the Aussies at the 2005 World Cup.
The championship was Team USA's sixth overall in the eight-year history of the World Cup. The Americans went undefeated for the tournament, defeating England (17-8, 20-3) and Australia twice (10-9, 8-7), Canada (11-4), Japan (26-12), and Ireland (22-5) en route to the title.
DeJuliis, a midfielder, played in her first World Cup after spending the last 15 years in the U.S. national teams program. Seeing action in all seven games, she totaled five goals, four assists, one draw control, and one caused turnover.
A 1998 Penn State graduate, DeJuliis had one of the most prolific careers in the storied history of Nittany Lion women's lacrosse. 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.
Another former Nittany Lion, Jessi Lieb, a three-time First Team All-ALC honors and First Team IWLCA All-West/Midwest Region honoree, served as an alternate on Team USA. Incoming freshman Katie Guy helped Team Canada capture the bronze medal while Patty Kloidt, a three-time letterwinner in the early 90s, served as an assistant coach on the Canadian squad. Another past Penn State great, Jen Johnson (1996-99), led Team Ireland, which finished in fifth place, in assists with 16. Sue Sofarnos, head coach of the silver medal Australian team, is the mother of 2010 recruit, Hayley Sofarnos.