Keenan, Turri and Team USA to Begin Competition Friday

DURHAM, N.C.-In just three days Duke sophomores Kyle Keenan and Kyle Turri will make their debut in the 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) U-19 World Championship in Turku, Finland. The Blue Devils duo will represent the United States as it looks to earn its seventh world championship.

Keenan and Turri recently completed their rookie campaigns with the Blue Devils in 2012. Turri follows in his brother, Justin's, footsteps after he was a member of the U-19 squad in 2008. They are two of the 10 players representing the ACC for the U.S. squad. Virginia has four representatives, North Carolina three and Maryland one.

"It's really cool to be a member of this team," Keenan said. "It's an honor and a privilege and I'm really excited to play. I still can't believe I am a part of it."

This is the first time since 1999 that the event has been held outside of North America and Keenan and Turri are looking forward to experiencing a different culture.

"I've never been abroad before so I can't wait to go," Keenan said. "The language is confusing and is so different from English, but I've heard the beaches over there are really cool. It will be neat to see what Finland is all about."

Keenan and Turri will be joined by Duke assistant equipment manager Jay Bissette. Bissette has worked with the Duke men's lacrosse team for the past three seasons at Duke.

The United States makes its tournament debut Friday, July 13 against Australia at 12 p.m. EST. Games against Canada and England follow the next two days, respectively. Group play concludes, July 17 against Iroquois Nationals at 6 a.m. EST.

Elimination play begins July 19 with the winner of those two semifinal games advancing to the gold medal game July 21.

All games will be streamed live: http://www.ustream.tv/lacrosse throughout the tournament. Fan also can follow the U.S. squad and Keenan and Turri from all of the U.S. Lacrosse links below.