FAIRFAX, Va. – A native of England, George Mason senior Chloe Chan witnessed firsthand the emergence of lacrosse in her home country.

Now, she'll continue to try to contribute to that growth at the highest level. Chan was recently named to England's National Team and will represent Team England this summer during a tour to Australia.

“It is a special moment for everyone,” said Chan, who hails from Manchester, England. “It is what all players look forward to in their career and aspire to become when we are young. It is a real honor to represent my country, especially at the highest level.”

Chan and Team England will spend two weeks in Australia, leaving on May 30. They will participate in the Australian State Championships in Melbourne before playing the Australian National Team in a three-match series from June 9-11.

Chan was one of eight defenders and 29 total players selected to represent Team England. Since she attends college over here in the states, she was not able to return for tryouts. Instead her spot on the team was based off previous international experience.

She first made England's U-19 team when she was just 15. At age 17, she was representing her country at the 2011 U-19 World Championships in Hannover, Germany. For three years, she stayed on the U-19 circuit and competed in the annual Home Internationals, a tournament between England, Scotland and Wales. And this past summer, she won a gold medal with England's National Team at the 2015 Women's Lacrosse European Championships in Czech Republic.

Chan, now 22, began playing lacrosse when she was 12 and attributes her success to her experiences both internationally and in the states. She believes getting on board with the U-19 team early – along with playing for five English lacrosse clubs – helped draw the attention of college coaches in the United States and ultimately brought her to George Mason.

Her growth at Mason – she has played in all 49 games of her career the last three years – and the arrival of head coach Jessy Morgan, who begins her second season at the helm, have only enhanced her development. Thus, thanks to the highly competitive college scene, she has improved her chances to grow internationally.

“I wouldn't have gained my Mason experience unless I played on the U-19 level,” she said. “That was my first steppingstone in the progression in my career. These past two years that Coach Jessy has been here she has been great. She is well known in the lacrosse world and she has taught me more than I can imagine, than I could have ever learned. Since she has got here, everyone has improved. From everyone else improving, naturally you improve, too. I feel like the competition – you can't get this anywhere else. I wouldn't be able to get this kind of competition and practice and coaching if I stayed at home in the UK.”

Chan's venture over into the states has certainly proven beneficial for the Patriots the last three years.
She showed off her versatility and flexibility by switching from midfield to defense at the beginning of last year, boosting the Patriots in a breakthrough year in which they won 10 games, notched their first winning season in seven years and reached the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament for the first time in program history.

In three years, she has made 30 starts, including 16 last year, scored seven goals, dished out five assists, recorded 12 points, 65 draw controls and 26 ground balls.

“Chloe is hands down the most athletic player on our team,” Morgan said. “As her game develops she could have a great impact on the international stage. We are very excited for her and hope to see more Patriots compete internationally.”

Chan hopes this summer will be just another step in climbing the international lacrosse ladder. With her Team England experience, she'll have a legitimate chance at making the team for the 2017 Senior Women's World Cup. And she wouldn't have to go far. The World Cup will be held at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England.

For now, though, Chan is focused on ending her collegiate career in grand fashion. The Patriots open the 2016 season on Feb. 24 at home against Mount St. Mary's, and look to build on last year's successful campaign and contend for A-10 title.

“I just want to perform as best as I can, leave everything on the field and have no regrets when I leave this place,” Chan said. “Because the Australia trip is so close to the end of the season, I want to finish my season strong and use that as momentum to push me through over to Australia and throughout the training leading up to the 2017 World Cup.”