With home field advantage, three West Shore teens are hoping for a clean sweep at the Female National Lacrosse Championships at Bear Mountain Arena, July 29 to Aug. 2.

Elle Hamilton, 13, of Langford was the only Island girl selected to play for the bantam Team B.C.

Two midget players from the West Shore have earned a spot on the roster for the midget B.C. team. Kat Gosselin, 16, of Colwood is in her second year of midget and this will be the last time she has an opportunity to play for the elite team. Her teammate, Talia Mavin, 15, is in her first year of midget and still could play one more year.

Hamilton and Gosselin have both played for Team B.C. in the past and say returning to the competition is exciting.

B次元官网网址淣ow I know the experience and the the intensity of it,B次元官网网址� Gosselin said, explaining she will be better prepared this time around.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament means a little more to the girls since itB次元官网网址檚 being held on the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淎ll of our families and friends can come out and support the team,B次元官网网址� Gosselin said.

B次元官网网址淚 am determined to fill that stadium,B次元官网网址� said Mavin, whoB次元官网网址檚 from Langford. There is no charge for spectators.

Another interesting difference for all three players is that they will be on an all-girls team. For years, theyB次元官网网址檝e played on primarily male teams.

That experience will help with one aspect of their game as the national competition is full contact. While the boys play full contact, most female lacrosse teams donB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been hitting since we were in novice,B次元官网网址� Mavin said.

Tryouts for Team B.C. were held the last weekend in May. About 60 players across the province battled it out in the box to earn one of the 20 coveted spots. The competition for the midget team was a little less steep with 38 players vying for the prize.

The teams have been training in Vancouver on weekends heading into this weekendB次元官网网址檚 competition.

charla@goldstreamgazette.com