Australia shifted into an uncatchable second-half gear to pull away from the Haudenosaunee for a 13-7 victory in the bronze medal game at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship on Sunday morning on Jeju Island in Korea.
Australia claimed its first medal in the Men’s U20 Championship since 2003 and snapped the Haudenosaunee’s streak of three consecutive bronzes in the event, with two of those coming at the expense of the Aussies in 2016 and 2022. With the bronze, Australia increased its total medal count to five in 10 editions total of the championship.
Sunday’s game was a thrilling back-and-forth encounter in the first half, with the Haudenosaunee leading 4-1, and Australia answering to lead 6-5 before a 6-6 halftime score.
But the second half was all Australia, backed by a resolute defensive effort to shut out its opponent until the final minute of the fourth quarter and an offensive head of steam to reel off seven consecutive goals.
Leading 10-6 in the fourth quarter, the Hudson Robb strike for Australia felt like final push over the line, barring the Haudenosaunee from stealing any momentum for themselves.
More than two decades in the making, Aussies say g'day to the podium once again 🐊🇦🇺#WLMU20C x #Jeju2025 pic.twitter.com/rGGV43JJxL
— World Lacrosse (@WorldLacrosse) August 24, 2025
The shots and faceoffs were even on the day, but Australia’s defense forced the Haudenosaunee into six more turnovers, and the Australian attackers nearly doubled the Haudenosaunee in shooting percentage on a spectacular shooting day.
Tristan Ghosh spearheaded the Australian attacking effort with four goals, stepping up in a big way after previously recording only two assists and no goals in Australia’s last five games.
Tristan Ghosh was a man on a mission 🔥
— World Lacrosse (@WorldLacrosse) August 24, 2025
Four goals in the bronze medal game helps lift Australia to the podium for the first time in 22 years 🇦🇺#WLMU20C x #Jeju2025 pic.twitter.com/daMV1LcEAm
John Stubbs, Hudson Robb and Jack Cooper all submitted two-goal performances and Jake Mannix added two assists.
Goalkeeper Ethan Jaffe also played a big role in slowing the Haudenosaunee with 11 saves on 18 shots faced for a 61% save percentage,
Six players scored for the Haudenosaunee with Tehokwirathe Barreiro scoring twice. Goalkeeper Ryder Johnson made seven saves.
The win completed a sweep in Korea of the Haudenosaunee for Australia, after taking the first meeting between in pool play 15-14 in overtime. In 2022, Australia defeated the Haudenosaunee in pool play before falling in the bronze medal game but previously had not beat the Haudenosaunee in any men’s field contest since 2006.
Through six games, Robb led Australia with 13 points on 11 goals and two assists. Ethan Jaffe made 55 saves total to rank fifth among all goalkeepers, with a 53% save percentage against tough opposition.
Defender Luke Michalik landed on the World Team for his standout effort in leading the Australian defense and frequently tracking opposing teams’ best attackers.
Johnson finished third total among all goalkeepers with 65 saves. Chace Cogan and James Whitehorse led the team with 11 points each.
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