ADAMS TWP — Kellen Fletcher was sure she had squandered her opportunity.

When the Mars junior midfielder left the lacrosse field after a long and grueling tryout for the U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament team several weeks ago, she was profoundly disappointed.

“I wasn't too hopeful, honestly,” Fletcher said. “I was not very confident with how I played. They said, 'We'll let you know later in the week,' and they never did, so I was like, 'Well, I guess I didn't make it.'”

But then, out of the blue, an email popped into her inbox.

Fletcher opened it and couldn't believe the words she was reading.

She had, in fact, been one of just 22 players selected for the team.

“I screamed,” Fletcher said, laughing. “I screamed because I was so shocked. I mean, I didn't want to be discouraging to myself, but at the same time, I was like, 'Wow. This is crazy.'”

Fletcher had shown enough to make the U.S. National Tournament, which will be held in Baltimore May 29-30.

There she and her team will square off against other regional teams from across the country.

The tryout consisted of more than three hours of drills followed by an hour-long scrimmage.

Fletcher said she did not perform well during the drills.

“I think I'm just more of a game-player and scrimmage player than a drill player,” Fletcher said. “During the scrimmage, I thought I played well.”

Well enough to make the prestigious team.

Fletcher starred for Mars as a freshman, leading the team in scoring.

Last year, Fletcher was primed for another strong season, but the campaign was scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic.

Fletcher returned this year with a new role.

Facilitator.

And as a different player.

Her freshman season seemed like a lifetime ago to Fletcher.

“It's weird going from being a freshman on the team, the underdogs, and then this year expecting to be a top dog,” Fletcher said. “You're in charge of everything (at midfield). I think that was the biggest transition this season.”

Fletcher was selected as one of the team captains, which is still surreal to her.

“It's so weird because I still feel like a freshman sometimes,” she said.

Fletcher has excelled in her new responsibilities.

Her goals are down, but her impact for the 12-1 Planets is just as high.

Mars is blessed with a plethora of scoring threats, led by sophomore Charlotte Stampers.

“Most teams have like two or three very good shooters, but I feel like we have six or seven, and that's crazy to be,” Fletcher said. “Every single game it seems like six different girls are scoring at least.”

Fletcher's goals are down, but her impact for the Planets is just as high.

Fletcher is getting every one of those shooters involved. She's also played solid defense and improved her ground ball game.

She's more of a well-rounded player.

Ironically, the area where Fletcher is struggling the most is shooting.

“After practice and before practice, I like to just take a couple of shots on goal all by myself,” Fletcher said. “This year I was focusing a lot on helping other people, getting assists for all of our great shooters. I almost didn't focus on myself. I don't want it to come across as selfish, but now I've been working really hard on getting my shot back so it can be there when we need it.”

Fletcher, who has already committed to play in college at Division I Akron, is looking forward to Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore to see how she stacks up on a national level.

“I don't want to say I've looked up to some of the girls, because they're the same age as me, but I've been impressed with them and I finally get to play with them,” Fletcher said. “It's just so exciting.”