Women's U20 Field

Player Profile: Ainsley Thurston - Competing with a Champion Attitude

Ainsley Thurston is not slowing down as the U19 World Championships in August steadily approaches. As a current midfielder for Team Canada, Ainsley is looking forward to defending the gold medal in Peterborough against the best competition across the world.

In 2015, the previous Canadian U19 team claimed the World Championship title. Ainsley and her teammates are up for the challenge to secure the gold once again for Canada.  

"I love how fast paced the sport is, as well as I love how competitive it is," Ainsley enthused.

This passion for the intensity for lacrosse began at an early age when Ainsley first played the sport. In her sixth year of elementary school Ainsley was asked by her younger sister's coach, Natalie Clark, to play as a guest on their team during a tournament.

From there on, Ainsley's career in lacrosse continued to grow with a variety of different awards and achievements as an athlete starting in 2014 when she made the Brine National Team and the JV Lacrosse MVP award.

The 18-year-old field lacrosse athlete was also recognized as the Honourable Mention Player of the Week on multiple occasions, was named to the 2017 Summer Genesis Tournament All Star Team and the Under Armour All Tournament Team, has been continuously recognized as a Rising Star, and is mentioned in many different watchlists ranging from her junior to senior years.

Ainsley said the highlight of her career so far was winning the state championships last year with her high school field team, Lake Highland Preparatory. The year before, Ainsley's team was the 2018 runner up. By the time she graduated, Ainsley was her high school's all-time leading scorer and held the most overall points in women's field lacrosse.

Starting this August, Ainsley will be taking her accomplishments to the next level while representing Team Canada in Peterborough.

"Making this team is an incredible honour and opportunity for me and my family. I wouldn't trade it for the world," Ainsley said.

She and 17 other girls who were announced on the final roster for the U19 Women's World Field Championships on July 2, 2019 were selected after three evaluation camps over the past year. All of these young women have grown close during the selection process.

"Even though we're from all over, I feel as though we get along really well," Ainsley said, talking about the level of team dynamics she experienced at the U19 camps. "It feels like we're all one big family who all have the same goal."

Heading into her freshman year at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Ainsley is looking to model her style of play in the World Cup and at Duke University after her favourite lacrosse player, Danielle Spencer.  It is because of Danielle's fierce competitive nature and ability to hold a demanding presence on the field that Ainsley enjoys watching her the most.

Maintaining a competitive attitude that leaves behind no regrets is a focus for Ainsley as she prepares to play in the World Cup and her post-secondary education. She is also focused on creating an impact during these next steps.

"By the end of my career, I want to be able to play in my last lacrosse game and know I gave it everything I had and I'm leaving behind a good legacy."

About the Canadian Lacrosse Association     

Founded in 1867, the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. The CLA's mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. The CLA oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). The CLA is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - New Balance Athletics, Warrior Sports, NormaTec Recovery Systems, Canadian Red Cross, Westjet, RockTape, OPRO and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation. For more information on Canadian Lacrosse Association and the sport of lacrosse, visit our website at www.lacrosse.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more information, please contact:
 

Victoria Klassen

Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Canadian Lacrosse Association
Phone: 613-260-2028 ext. 302
Email: victoria@lacrosse.ca