BALTIMORE – US Lacrosse has announced that Syracuse freshman midfielder Josh Amidon will be added to the 2008 U.S. Men's Under-19 lacrosse team. Amidon will replace Shamel Bratton at the midfield position and will begin his play with the team during Sunday’s exhibition game against a Long Island All-Star team at Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) High School. Bratton will not be playing with the team this summer due to a family decision, but his brother Rhamel will play.

Amidon, who participated in the tryouts for the team last summer, played in all 18 games for Syracuse’s national championship team this season and had five goals and one assist. One of Syracuse’s top defensive midfielders, Amidon had two-goal games against Villanova and Canisius. Amidon was a US Lacrosse All-American after scoring 55 goals as a senior at Lafayette (N.Y.) High School in 2007.

The U.S. team will play a total of five exhibitions before heading to the International Lacrosse Federation U-19 World Championship from July 3-12 in British Columbia, Canada. After the Cold Spring Harbor exhibition, the U.S. team will play at Bridgewater (N.J.) High School on June 14, at USTC in Downingtown, Pa., on June 21, at Georgetown (Md.) Prep on June 22 and at Mercer Island (Wash.) High School on June 29. The U.S. has won each of the five previous ILF U-19 World Championships conducted, most recently in 2003.

STX Lacrosse is the official exclusive equipment and apparel supplier to the US Lacrosse Men's National Teams Program. Learn more about the company by visiting its Web site at www.stxlacrosse.com.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 250,000 members in 60 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.