Editor’s note: Longwood women’s lacrosse player Isabella McCullough has wrapped up her trip to Hong Kong this week, sharing about her experience competing with Team Mexico at the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship. This final part covers Days 8 -14, with multiple matches, exploring the area and eventually a trip home. 

On the eighth day, due to weather, our games all got moved up, which meant we had to prepare to play Australia. We got breakfast, did mobility, and then got dressed and ready to play the team from Down Under.

The game was tough. At the half, we held them to seven goals. We played fiercely and together as a team. After our tough loss, we knew it was time to prepare for placement games [Editor’s note: Mexico finished third in Pool C, while Australia won the pool]. We got dinner together and waited to know who we needed to prepare for.

Day 9: Isabella McCullough takes a day off

After the loss, my teammates and I had a day off from games. We woke up, got breakfast, and then headed to practice. Practice was mostly a walkthrough and some competitive games. After practice, we went back to the hotel, got some lunch, and planned out the rest of our day.

My roommate and a few other friends decided to go to the Jade Market, which is filled to the brim with Jade products, both real and fake. You bargain down from the high prices that are initially set. 

We got some jewelry, products and trinkets from the market, and afterwards, we decided to go find a dimsum restaurant. We walked for about 20 minutes to a dimsum restaurant to eat delicious food. Then, we went to a store called Watsons and bought skincare products. After our shopping excursion, we went back to our hotel and prepared to play our next opponent.

Day 10: Ireland

With our first placement game set [Editor’s note: Mexico was playing in the 9-12th placement games], we had the morning to wake up, get dressed, stretch and lock in for our game against Ireland. I went downstairs to get treatment and do some PT, then I spent time with my teammates as we all got lunch before our team meeting and visualization time.

Once we got to the field, we watched Hong Kong and Israel play. I cheered on a fellow Virginia athlete from George Mason. Once it was time, we warmed up and prepared for our most competitive battle yet. 

We fought valiantly against Ireland in a tough back and forth battle, but there always has to be a loser in a tight game like that. We missed a slide, and Ireland slipped one by me with 10 seconds left to seal their victory [14-13]. It was a tough loss, but my teammates uplifted me, and the Irish goalies and team were also so kind and uplifting.

We decided to go to the night market after dinner, where we all got chef hats and hung out with Chef Alex (Chef for short). We got ready for bed, ready to prepare for our final game.

Day 11: Isabella McCullough goes walking

We had practice in the morning, working on competing and our clearing patterns. Goalies were focusing on pushing the ball forward on the field and communicating through the clear. After practice, we got lunch and set our plans for the rest of the day.

My roommate and I decided to hang out for a couple of hours reading, watching TV, and making friendship bracelets. We then decided we wanted Italian food, which took us to a mall. But the place we wanted to go to was closed. We pivoted and decided on a pizza place, which ended up leading us in one giant loop. We walked almost three miles around the island to end up at a Mediterranean Italian restaurant owned by a man from Nepal. Afterwards, we went back to our hotel, got ready for bed and went to sleep.

Day 12: The Haudenosaunee

We had an early morning, with an 8:30 a.m. game meaning we had a 6 a.m. breakfast. We prepared to compete against the Haudenosaunee, the indigenous group competing in the world championship. Our friend (Chef) came with us to support us at the game!

We sang our national anthem and fought valiantly. We had an aggressive comeback in the fourth quarter, but ultimately it fell short by three goals, losing 16-13. Regardless, it was an honor to compete against the original creators of the game. After the game, we had free time for the rest of the day.

My team manager, roommate and I decided to go to a mall to get some boba and more friendship bracelet materials. Afterwards, we all went to a team dinner with all of our families, friends and coaches to celebrate an amazing tournament. Natalie was honored as the “Big Dawg” of the tournament, and our team was recognized for making history, with our best finish to date in any tournament at 12th.

On top of celebrating that, I was honored and recognized by my coaches and teammates for finishing in the top three for goalie save percentage (.480, ranked second). I made 41 saves and allowed 44 goals. Among the top three goalies by save percentage (the other two were the Canadian goalies), I had the most saves. Afterwards, we went to bed, ready to watch the gold medal game the next day.

Day 13: Bronze, Silver, Gold

I woke up around 8 a.m., went to breakfast and PT and began packing and preparing to travel home. During my free time, I made friendship bracelets with Mexico Lacrosse on them to trade with other teams during the closing ceremonies.

I got lunch with my friend Haylen, got dressed for closing ceremonies, and prepared my bag to trade with others.

I  got to see all of my friends during the closing ceremony. We celebrated, traded, took pictures and watched Japan win bronze, Canada win silver, and the USA win gold.

Post game, we went to the hotel, got our bags and went to the night market one last time.

Day 14: Isabella McCullough flies home

We had one last team breakfast, said our goodbyes and made plans for the day. I got to go to Disneyland since my flight left at 10 p.m. that night. I went on my favorite rides, ate snacks and got souvenirs for my friends and family.

I went back to the hotel, got my bags, ate dinner with my coach, trainer, and friend, and then I went to the airport. As I boarded my flight, I looked back at the wonderful time I had with my found family: being one of 19 competing against the rest of the world wearing emerald green.

After a 12-hour flight, I got home, spent some time with my family and prepared to board my flight back to my second home, Longwood.

I’m thankful I met my heroes and made some of my closest friends.

Nos vemos pronto Hong Kong, Vamos México (Isabella McCullough translation: See you soon Hong Kong, Let’s go Mexico). Hola Longwood.