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23 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 1,2019 insidehalton.comVISIT US ONLINE @BADBOY.CA! KINGSTON GRAND OPENING! AUGUST 15! OVER 100 YEARS OF MATTRESS EXPERIENCE 100 YEARS OF MA WITHWITHWITHWITH 55" KD55X750FANDROID OS 55" 4K HDR SMART #114269 · 4HDMI · 3USB SAVE $300 $798 WE DELIVER TO COTTAGE COUNTRY! 1276 Cornwall Road, Unit C, Oakville Ontario, L6J 7W5 T: 905-845-0767 • F: 905-845-5552 • www.haxelllaw.com • lawyers@haxelllaw.com Personal Professional Service at Competitive Rates Buying? Selling? Re Call us for a quote at 905-845-0767 ext. 223Jameson Glas GOLDGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOLDLDGOLDLDLDLDLDLD 905-845-0767 ext. 223Jameson Glas When Annabel Child got an invitation to the try- outs for the Canadian team that will defend the world title at the Women's World Under-19 Lacrosse Cham- pionships, she was one step closer to something she al- ways hoped to achieve. "Every young athlete, that's what you want to do, play for your country," she said. "It's always a goal, a dream in the back of your mind." But it soon became one that Child thought might pass her by. Just weeks be- fore the first tryout, shefore the first tryout, shef broke her ankle playing in a tournament. While the Canadian squad continued to trim its roster after each tryout, Child could only watch from the sidelines. By thefrom the sidelines. By thef time the final evaluation camp rolled around in June, Child was ready to return but didn't know if she'd have enough time to make an impression on the coaching staff. "I thought I'd lost my op- portunity," said the Oak- ville Lady Hawks midfield- er. "All the others already had two tryouts, so I was a little nervous going in." Despite the late start, her Oakville coach, Lexi Doherty, felt Child just had to rely on the skills she demonstrated on a regular basis with the Lady Hawks. "She's very fast and she's also very strong," Do- herty said. "She's able to drive through three or four players. She's also good on ground balls and a very ac- curate passer." In the end, the Canadian coaching staff felt those at- tributes would help the team go after a second straight gold medal after winning the title for the first time in 2015. first time in 2015. f Child has been develop- ing those skills since tak- ing up the sport when she was six, starting in box la- crosse before moving over to field lacrosse. She imme- diately fell in love with the game and started planning her future around it. She recently found the goal sheet she made for her hockey team when she was in Grade 7. "My goal was to play la- crosse at Harvard." That will soon become a reality. Having just fin- ished Grade 11 at The Hill Academy, Child has al- ready committed to Har- vard for 2020. She won't have to wait as long for her other la- crosse goal. Canada opens the world under-19 champi- onship Aug. 2 in Peterbor- ough with a game against England. Despite the host Canada being the reigning champs, the United States, which held the title from 1999 until being dethroned in 2015, will still be the fa- vourite. "It's such an honour to represent your country in a sport you love," Child said. "There's definitely some pressure. You want to live up to what the previ- ous team did. It was really exciting what they were able to do as underdogs. To see them win it, it gives us hope and some drive." COMMUNITY CHILDHOOD DREAMS COMING TRUE HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Annabel Child had two major goals in lacrosse, play for her country and play at Harvard. She'll realize the first this week at the Women's World Under-19 Lacrosse Championships, and the second in the fall of 2020. Oakville Lady Hawks photo It's such an honour to represent your country in a sport you love. - Annabel Child, U19 lacrosse player for Team Canada