DETROIT (10/21/2014) -- Twice the phone has rang and twice the message has been positive for freshmen Jordyn Beam and Lauren Webley of the University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team. Now all they can do is play the waiting game hoping to hear back from Team Canada.
 
Both Titans – who are roommates here at UDM – recently came back from the second stage of tryouts for the U-19 Team Canada squad that will compete at the 2015 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Under-19 World Championship in Scotland next summer.
 
"It is just amazing that we have this opportunity to go out there and tryout and be a part of this," said Webley. "You really only have one chance to be a part of the U-19 team and just having a chance to represent your country and wear the uniform is such an honor."
 
The Titans began the journey to represent their country back in July as they were two of just 60 players selected to receive a tryout for the U-19 Canadian National Team. The selection was a prize itself as it came after a formal application and a lot of scouting by the U-19 staff.
 
"I remember my mom asking me if I wanted to tryout and I was like, 'mom I don't know, there are so many good players, I don't know if I have a chance,'" said Beam. "She actually applied for me. I didn't know what to expect going there back in July and it has been a lot of hard work, but definitely a lot of fun as well."
 
The original tryout dubbed Top 60 took place during a 10-day period in Buffalo and Syracuse. It was an intense tryout with everyone looking to make their mark as both Titans are looking to make it on the defensive side of the field.
 
"The level of competition is amazing," said Beam. "One day, we practiced what an opening ceremony was like and we didn't have music so we all sang 'O Canada' and that was cool and you realize, you are doing this for your country."
 
From there it was the waiting game for the next step and that came on Oct. 10-13 as 30 players advanced to the second tryouts, which took place at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.  It was a tough, competitive four-day stretch, which saw practices, intra-squad scrimmages, fitness tests and four games in the Canisius Fall Tournament.
 
"It was a cool experience just to say you were invited and to be top 30. That is saying you are one of the top 30 players in the country so that is an honor in itself," added Webley.
 
Now it is all about waiting and seeing if they get that call back within 3-5 weeks for the final tryouts scheduled for January. No one knows how many people will be invited back as the U-19 team will have to make its cuts down to 18 for the official roster at that time, but either way, these Titans know that they have been privileged enough to get this far.
 
"We might get a call back that says you have a spot on the team, or you are cut or you will have to come back for the next tryout. Right now, its just all up in the air," said Beam. "There are a lot of good players and a lot of tough cuts that have to be made. I never thought I would have the opportunity to play for Team Canada so the entire experience has been exciting."
 
"I started playing lacrosse just a few years ago so I never thought that I would be here playing at Detroit and trying out for Team Canada," said Webley. "Obviously, I will be disappointed if I don't make it and if both of us don't make it, but this is the National Team and it is so competitive. Not everyone has this opportunity and we are just so fortunate that we are still alive for a spot."
 
The Under-19 World Championship will be staged at the historic University of Edinburgh, where the Peffermill Sports Complex is recognized as one of the finest lacrosse facilities on the continent. The 27-acre spread will feature eight playing pitches, facilitating the needs of a 16-team tournament. The complex has hosted a number of prominent international tournaments, including the 2011 Golden Oldies World Hockey tournament, the Touch Rugby World Cup of 2011, and the 2009 Archery EuroNations competition. Peffermill is an accredited pre-Olympic facility.
 
The University of Edinburgh was a founding member of Lacrosse Scotland and is recognized as one of the United Kingdom's leading sports universities.