Lacrosse standout hoping for spot

Kailah Kempney finds out Wednesday if her summer of lacrosse results in a chance to play on the top women's team in the country.

The Carthage standout and senior-to-be is the only north country athlete and one of four from the central New York area to make it to the second round of cuts for the under-19 U.S. women's World Championships team.

"It's a great experience overall," Kempney said of her three-day ongoing tryout at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. "It's so competitive. Everyone is so good."

Kempney is one of 175 athletes nationwide to make it past the first set of tryouts, which were held regionally in April and May. If she makes the cut Wednesday, she will be one of the final 24, which will again be whittled down to the final 18-player roster next year after a series of training sessions.

Already this summer, she played for the Syracuse Star Riders summer travel team, participated in the Under Armour All-Star game and the Nike Cup, went to the Syracuse University lacrosse camp, and helped the Central New York squad to a fourth-place finish at the Empire State Games.

All this in the hopes that she gets to wear the USA jersey next August at the World Championships in Gottingen, Germany.

"It's like my dream," Kempney said. "Just to get there would be amazing."

An attacker, Kempney doesn't feel she's outclassed, but will have to play her best to make it.

"I just look at all the other girls and it's just like a jab in the stomach," she said. "All of them are amazing athletes. I know I'm good enough to make the team, I just have to put myself out there."

Kempney recorded 75 goals and 38 assists in her junior season, helping Carthage to the state championship game. She has verbally committed to play lacrosse for SU.