BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania – Kelly Collier, a junior at Newtown High School, recently participated in the 70th annual United States Lacrosse Women’s Division National Tournament at Lehigh University.

The tournament features two divisions of different levels of the game – high school and club – and the pools in those divisions boast all stars from across the country. The high school division has evolved into a tremendous recruiting opportunity for players and coaches and for some players it is their first exposure to come of the nation’s top college coaches.

Collier is the first local player to be selected to play in this tournament. Players must be nominated by their coach (Sara Strait provided the honor for Collier), who has to adhere to skill level criteria set forth by the U.S. Lacrosse High School Coaches Council.

After participating in two grueling tryout sessions, Collier was named to the Lower New England team – consisting of players from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – which was among the three dozens teams from all over the United States gathered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Memorial Day weekend.

Lower New England went 2-3 over the weekend with wins over North Central and Upper New England. Collier started in all five games and while leading the team in grounds balls she also registered eight assists from the midfield position.