Check out some of the top moments from the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in San Diego
Jamaica stuns Italy in first round of playoffs
Jamaica recorded the first seeded upset of the playoffs on day seven of the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship over Italy, 7-6.
Both teams were undefeated pool winners, but Jamaica was seeded 10th, while Italy was seventh with the second-ranked offense in the field entering the contest.
Jamaica went on to finish in eighth place, the highest a male sports team has ever finished in a world championship in Jamaican history.
The first all-female officiating crew in the Men’s Championship
The United States captures back-to-back gold medals
The United States defeated Canada, 10-7, to win the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship at Snapdragon Stadium in front of home support on July 1.
The title was the United States 11th overall in the competition, its third on home soil, and first back-to-back championship since 2002.
Collegiate Phenom Brennan O’Neill takes home the MVP
O’Neill was one of the leaders on the championship-winning United States squad with 19, coming on 14 goals and five assists. He delivered five goals in the gold medal game when it counted most to sink Canada.
Rady Children’s Hospital former patient meets USA players
Hong Kong, China posts best-ever finish
Hong Kong, China held off the Netherlands to take home a 10-7 win on the final day of the tournament, good for 13th place in the championship, its best ever finish and an improvement of 14 spots from the 2018 championship.
The highlight of Hong Kong’s run came on the final day of pool play, when the team dramatically claimed the final playoff spot with a win over Mexico.
Hong Kong, China knew it had to win by six or more, and raced out to an early lead with an inspired first half. Hong Kong got the result it needed seconds into the fourth quarter, taking a 9-3 lead with Logan Ip’s fifth goal of the day.
Hong Kong benefitted from a few penalties and took an 11-4 lead on a goal from Evan Mok-Lamme, giving itself a one-goal cushion. But Mexico would not go away quietly and ripped off a three goal run in four minutes to cut the lead to 11-7, effectively leaving Hong Kong two goals away with less than five minutes to play.
Wesley Wong got one goal back, and then with just over two minutes to play, Liam Ferris scored the cathartic goal to restore the six-goal lead at 13-7.
From the recap of Hong Kong, China’s win over Mexico
Japan puts the tournament on notice with a dominant pool play campaign
Day two features three dramatic finishes
The second day of the championship, and first full day of action, was a heart-pounding slate of action with three games coming down to the wire.
Latvia edged Peru in a 7-6 thriller in the first game of Pool F. Peru led 6-5 with under two minutes to play, but Latvia tied the game and went on to win with a goal from Kaspars Rudzinskis with 6 seconds left to play.
Wales survived a stiff challenge from Denmark in a 7-6 overtime win, clinched with an outstanding goal from Andrew Gresham.
Scotland staved off a Mexico comeback with a game-winning goal in the last 10 seconds to win 9-8 in Pool E action in front of a raucous crowd at Rady Field.
The Haudenosaunee dazzle in opening game
The Haudenosaunee impressed debut at the championship against England at USD Torero Stadium on Thursday, winning 18-5.
It was tied for the most goals by a team in a game in the tournament at the time, but it was also done in style, with one highlight finish after another.
Germany ends campaign with overtime win
Germany defeated Ireland in overtime, 8-7, to claim a dramatic win in the 11th place game and finish its championship on a high note.
