USF lacrosse commit Natalie Eastwood sat in her parents house in Ellicott City, Maryland.

She’s just finishing up her senior year of high school at Glenelg Country School. Most students her age are focusing on college decisions. Eastwood’s path is a bit different. 

A few weeks earlier, she was selected for the Australian women’s lacrosse roster. 

On Jan. 13, Eastwood was selected to play in the World Lacrosse 2024 Women’s U20 championship in August.  

Eastwood – a Maryland native – chose to represent Australia, an homage to her father’s home country.

“It’s been kind of a bonding experience for us,” she said. “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to represent his country.” 

Eastwood said her father traveled with her to Australia during try-outs – a process that also required her to gain dual citizenship. 

“Lacrosse isn’t as big in Australia, but he grew up playing a lot of sports and he always found an interest in helping me train and get to this point,” she said. 

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Eastwood is going to be competing on one of the world’s biggest stages for her sport – but that isn’t the only milestone she will undertake. 

She will soon also take the field with USF women’s lacrosse as the program begins its inaugural season next spring. 

Eastwood was announced as part of the second signing class for USF women’s lacrosse in November.

“[McCord] promised they wouldn’t be my coach for just four years, that it would be a lifelong commitment,” Eastwood said. 

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That commitment could already be paying off. Eastwood said that USF helped her initially reach out to Team Australia. 

“They’ve pushed me, they’ve helped me,” she said. “I have all these connections that they’re helping me get.”

Bulls coach Mindy McCord – who was an eight-time conference coach of the year at Jacksonville – first met Eastwood when she was a sophomore at Glenelg Country School. 

What was just a talented goalie has now turned into the future of the program. 

“She’s a phenomenal leader,” McCord said. “She’s the player that calls teammates and checks in on them and organizes events. She wants everyone to always be high performing and is always super appreciative and excited.” 

Eastwood – still a senior in high school – has not yet begun her lacrosse career at USF. That didn’t stop her from already developing a close bond with her coach.

“She’s pretty much been like a second mom to everyone in the class, and I know everyone who’s down there right now feels the same way,” she said about McCord. 

Maryland is arguably the hotbed of lacrosse in America – in fact, it’s recognized as the state sport.  It’s rapidly growing in Florida, with Florida State also adding a varsity women’s lacrosse program in 2025. 

Eastwood said she’s honored to help grow the sport. Her vision is to take women’s lacrosse to new heights while at USF. 

“Being able to start a new program and build a legacy, that’s pretty special,” Eastwood said. 

The 2024 World Lacrosse U20 Championship will take place in Hong Kong from August 13-15.