Japan solved Jamaica’s defense late for a 11-5 win in an compelling matchup in the fifth place bracket at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship on Friday afternoon on Jeju Island.
Both teams were coming off defeats in the quarterfinals on Thursday, and Japan had been frustrated by Australia’s bruising defense and tasked with another strong unit in Jamaica, who put together a brilliant first half.
Jamaica limited Japan to just two goals in a tight affair, and grabbed a 3-2 lead seconds before halftime on a strike from Stone Evans.
But Japan’s relentlessness won out with a perfect 4-0 third quarter, with Rentaro Oyuyama tying the game two minutes in and Hirotaka Hattori snapping a nine minute deadlock to give Japan the lead.
Japan rode its momentum and energy from there to run away from Jamaica, leading 11-3 before Jamaica could score again with less than five minutes remaining in a nearly 20 minute goalless stretch posted by Japan’s defense.
Japan outshot Jamaica by eight percentage points, and was buoyed in key positions by goalkeeper Haruto Takai’s eight saves and face-off man Kyle Hata’s 79% win rate.
Japan advanced to the fifth place game, scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Puerto Rico vs. England, with either presenting a tantalizing clash to close the championship.
Jamaica will take on the loser of that game for seventh place at 4 p.m. in what should also be a fierce contest no matter the opponent.
Okuyama came through for Japan with five goals on the day to carry the scoring burden with Hattori addeing three points and Setia Shiratsuka scoring twice.
Stone Evans and Elias Shadeed-McLaughlin both scored twice and MJ Sion made five saves.
Gallery
