Former Longwood University lacrosse standout and current assistant coach Sarah Butler paced the New Zealand National Team with 18 goals in their pursuit for a World Cup title over the past week at the 2017 Federation of Lacrosse (FIL) Rathbone’s Women’s Lacrosse World Cup.

An all-time great when she donned the Lancer blue and white for four seasons, Butler carried that attacking mentality with her to the international stage to lead New Zealand with 18 goals over the seven-game schedule on just 23 shots on goal.

The 2017 World Cup was Butler’s third spell as a member of a New Zealand National Team after competing in the 2011 and 2013 World Cups for the U-19 team.

Butler’s offensive production helped lead New Zealand to a 3-0 record in pool play in this season’s competition before a play-in game against the Haudenosaunee Confederation (a confederation made of nine joined Native American nations) to determine who would compete in the championship bracket among the top eight nations. Butler and New Zealand rode a strong first half performance for a 9-2 victory to ultimately secure the nation’s highest finish in the competition dating back to their first appearance in 2005.