Loyola women’s lacrosse sophomore Georgia Latch recently chatted with PressBox about playing lacrosse growing up in Australia, her relationship with fellow Aussie Jen Adams and more. The 5-foot-8 attacker scored 38 goals and dished out 38 assists for Loyola in 2022, then posted 12 goals and 7 assists for Australia at the World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship at Towson University in the summer. Latch is a native of Melbourne and graduate of Williamstown High School in Australia.
PressBox: How did you become interested in lacrosse going up in Australia?
Georgia Latch: My dad, [Greg], played when he was younger. I think he started when he was 18. It sort of filtered down to both of my older brothers, [Kyle and Oscar]. They also played and then both represented Victoria. And then when I was about 7 or 8, I actually started playing on the boys’ team with both of them. The club tried to convince me to play girls’ lacrosse as well, even though I wasn’t too keen. I sort of just wanted to stay with my older brothers. So then I started playing with the girls. The rest is history.
PB: What’s it like playing lacrosse in Australia? Any different from here?
GL: It’s a little bit different. In Australia, we do 6v6 on the field, on attack and defense, instead of the 7v7 that you see in college. And then also from a really young age I was playing against people who were 10 to 20 years older than me. The age range was not brought up because when you’re playing in a club, there was no age limit if you were playing for State League or Division 1 or Division 2. You could be 12 playing against someone who’s 35 and has 20 years on you, that sort of thing.
PB: How did Loyola come into the picture for you?
GL: [Greyhounds head coach] Jen Adams was my coach for the Under-19 Australian team, so after that World Cup, I was sort of recruited and she talked to me about coming to Loyola. It was sort of the perfect timing. I was freshly 17, and that was my recruiting year. Jen just talked to me after that. There wasn’t much convincing to be had. I was sort of pretty set on coming to Loyola.
PB: Who were the big influences on your game growing up?
GL: Obviously Jen Adams is such a big influence on my game, and a lot of people can sort of say the same thing all around the globe. But I think someone who helped take my game to the next level was definitely Stacey Morlang. She was another Australian that also came to Loyola before me. She was also another coach that I had for the Under-19. She just pushed me. She told me to be comfortable being uncomfortable. She told me that you have to push yourself to be better and that sort of thing.
PB: What’s your relationship like with Jen Adams?
GL: Jen is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. She brings so much fun. Obviously, you need the good balance between fun and getting the job done, and she has got it down pat. She has perfected the balance. She makes practice so comfortable. It’s just amazing. Our relationship has definitely progressed across the years. She hadn’t spent much time in Australia as I was growing up, but I obviously saw her on TV and everything. But I think coming over, obviously we’ve gotten a lot closer. It’s been really great.
PB: You were an immediate contributor for Loyola last year with 38 goals and 38 assists. Do you think you were more ready to play in college because of your experiences in Australia and in international play?
GL: I think it definitely helped me. As I said before, I had been playing against people that are a lot older than me since I was 12. I wasn’t as big of a shock when I got to a level where people were a lot of physical, who were a lot bigger than me because I knew how to hold my ground and I knew how to play against people who were bigger than me, older than me, that sort of thing. Some people didn’t have that experience and they found it a bit shocking when people would body-check them or if they were a lot taller than them or that sort of thing. I was a little bit more comfortable with that physicality.
PB: What’s your favorite memory at Loyola so far?
GL: There’s a few — definitely the Patriot League final that we won. That was surreal. Obviously that was the first Patriot League championship that I’ve won at Loyola. But then also something that was quite amazing was the second round of the NCAAs where we beat [James Madison] by 10 goals. I think that really gave us the confidence that we can do it. I think all of us were just so excited and so pumped for the next round, where we played BC. We got knocked out, but I think we just felt so amazing about our win against JMU.
PB: You played for Australia in the World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship at Towson University this past summer. What was that experience like, especially since you got to play close to Loyola?
GL: It was honestly such a surreal experience, not just playing the games but having my family being able to come over and sort of see where I’ve been living so far away from home. And also, it was like two worlds colliding. I had my friends and family from home, and then a lot of the Loyola crew also came to support me at the games. They got to meet my family. My family got to meet my Loyola friends. It was honestly so surreal. And then obviously playing in the games, it’s always such an honor to play with Australia across my chest. I never take it for granted. We didn’t exactly get the place medal that we wanted [by finishing in fourth], but the experience is also such a gift.
PB: Do you have a favorite moment from the tournament?
GL: There was a moment where we had I think it was a two-hour-long lightning delay. I think it was before the USA game, the semifinal. We were walking out to the field after being in the locker room for two hours. The speakers started playing “Down Under” by Men at Work. We were also just dancing out on the field and having a really good time. It was caught on video. I look back on that video quite often. It was just such a surreal moment. To take that moment and just think of the people back home and just have such a fun and lighthearted moment, even though that game didn’t go our way, I think that moment was definitely something to remember.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Baltimore?
GL: I’d say the really great food options. I feel like every night at dinner I’m trying not to order any food takeout option. I feel like there are so many different cuisines and secret spots that you can go to.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Loyola?
GL: Definitely the camaraderie. The team, obviously being so far away from home, is like a second family. I’m constantly in this sort of middle ground where when I’m home, I miss everyone back here. When I’m here, I miss everyone at home. They make it really difficult for me when I go back home. They’re honestly such a big, loving family to me.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
GL: [Former attacker Livy Rosenzweig, who’s] now a graduate assistant, I’d say she’s one of my best friends. She honestly helped me so much last year. She talked me through everything. She taught me a lot of what I know now. I honestly can thank her so much for it. I think we just get along so well. She always picks me up when I’m down and that sort of thing.
PB: What advice do you have for younger players in Australia looking to be recruited?
GL: I definitely think you need to get your name out there. You have to email people that you know. [There are] a lot of Australian coaches over here, so I think if you email them, even if you’re not trying to go to their school, they can then connect you to different coaches and help you through that.
PB: What are your goals for after lacrosse?
GL: I definitely want to try to get into a coaching position somewhere in America. If that doesn’t work out, then I guess we’ll see. But I think I don’t want to just leave lacrosse cut-and-dried. I think I definitely want to keep being involved in lacrosse and see where it takes me.
Photo Credit: Larry French