The Baltimore area has long been a hotbed for girls lacrosse and to many, the hottest of hotbeds. The latest roster for the United States women’s lacrosse World Cup team certainly supports that claim.

Of the 18 women selected, one third played high school lacrosse in the metro area. All were high school and college All-Americans.

Michele DeJuliis, a former All-Metro Player of the Year, is the senior member of the group. A 1993 graduate of Loch Raven, she went on to Penn State and is already a member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Maryvale graduate Katie Chrest is another former Player of the Year, and continues to play with her close friend and fellow Maryvale and Duke graduate Megan Huether, one of two goalies on the team.

Acacia Walker went on from Annapolis to play for Maryland. Two of the Marylanders are still in college. Caitlyn McFadden, from Notre Dame Prep, is a junior at Maryland and Amber Falcone, from Winters Mill, is a senior at North Carolina.

They will try to help the U.S. take the title back from defending champ Australia when they play in the 2009 Federation of International Lacrosse World Cup, June 17-27 in the Czech Republic. The team will be in action this weekend, along with many of the top college teams, at the popular South of the Border Tournament, host by Duke and North Carolina.