EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon senior Alicia Burkhart was named to the 49-member player pool that will represent the U.S. Lacrosse women’s national teams in 2008-09. The announcement came last Sunday after three days of tryouts concluded at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The player pool will be divided into Elite and Developmental teams following U.S. Lacrosse’s Stars and Stripes weekend Oct., 10-13. All players are eligible to represent Team USA at the 2009 IFWLA World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic, with the final 18-player roster expected to be announced following the U.S. Lacrosse Champions Challenge in January 2009.

“What a great honor for Alicia as she continues to put Oregon lacrosse on the map, now at an international level,” Oregon lacrosse head coach Jen Larsen said. “This experience will take her game to new heights as she continues to lead our program in that same direction. We are so proud that she is an Oregon Duck and now a U.S. team athlete.”

Burkhart is the first U.S. national team member from the University of Oregon, which launched its Division I program in 2005.

The defender is also the only student-athlete representing the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in the player pool.

One of four team captains named for the upcoming 2009 season at Oregon, Burkhart was named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association West/Midwest all-region team second team following the 2008 season. It was the second honor for her during her time with the Ducks.

The Eldersburg, Md., native, is also a two-time MPSF all-conference selection (2007 & 2008), and a two-time MPSF all-tournament selection (2007 & 2008).

Burkhart helped Oregon to a program record 13 victories in 2008, starting all 20 games, and finishing second on the team with 35 ground balls, while also winning 26 draw controls (third on the team) and causing 16 turnovers. With three seasons under her belt, Burkhart’s mark of 88 draw controls ranks second all-time. She has also totaled 112 ground balls (third all-time) and caused 57 turnovers (third all-time).