UNICO National Congratulates Six Italian American Women Selected for the Italian National Team in Women's Lacrosse

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Jun 01, 2015, 08:45 ET

FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- UNICO National, and its President Rick D'Arminio, are proud to announce and congratulate six Italian American women who made the Italian National Team in Women's Lacrosse and will be competing in the European Championships this August - Alexa Cambi (Boston University), Kerrin Maurer (Duke University), Cate Soccodato (Our Lady of Mercy Academy High School/Marquette University Commit), Daniela Kelly (University of Virginia), Anna Maria Carabini (St. Mary's College), and Brooke Kiley (University of Pennsylvania). (Bios at unico.org)

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The first part of the selection process occurred in Italy, where players from across the country traveled to Rome for tryouts. Through their efforts, these women formed the foundation of the first ever Italian National Team for women's lacrosse, pioneering the sport in Italy.

Simultaneously in the US, hundreds of current and former students from the greatest athletic and academic universities in the country, all of Italian descent, attended tryouts last summer, with the hopes of representing Italy and competing against power lacrosse countries in Europe. Those selected will be participating, not only to help strengthen the existing Italian team, but to help develop lacrosse in the land of their ancestors.

"On behalf of UNICO members, and Italian Americans across the country, I express our congratulations to these incredible young women," D'Arminio wrote. "It is very gratifying to see these stellar athletes achieve something most can only dream of - to represent the country of your ancestors in a sport you love."

In June 2014, the Italian Lacrosse Federation named University of Massachusetts's women's lacrosse head coach Angela McMahon as head coach of the first-ever Italian national team, which will compete against 16 other European countries in the 2015 European Championships in Prague. Justin Serpone, McMahon's husband and men's soccer coach at Amherst College, will serve as co-head coach.

"I look forward to watching the "Azzurri" women compete against England, Germany, Austria, and other European countries", D'Arminio said. "I applaud their commitment to excellence and wonderful representation of what it means to be a confident, strong Italian American woman. They are not only world class athletes, but also fine students and professionals, who succeed on and off the field. These are the women the world should think of when Italian Americans are mentioned."

The European Championships for 2015 is the largest international competition in women's lacrosse ever held in Europe. Seventeen national teams, all from Europe, will be going to the Czech Republic to compete in the first-ever independently held women's lacrosse European championships. All games can be watched at http://www.ec15lax.com/.

To help support Italian Americans in sporting scholarships, including lacrosse, contact Andre' DiMino, Executive Director of UNICO 973-808-0035 – unico.org.

UNICO National, founded in 1922, the nation's largest Italian American service organization has local chapters throughout the U.S. Its volunteer members support charitable, educational, and community service while celebrating Italian heritage and combating negative stereotyping.