(Edinburgh, Scotland) Canada’s national lacrosse program has now bested the United States in the last two world championships. The first was at the 2014 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship in Denver last July, where Canada defeated a heavily favored USA squad 8-5, and again today in Edinburgh, where Canada’s U19 Women’s team won its first world championship with a 9-8 victory over the USA, again tournament favorites. It turned out to be a day full of upsets as England beat five-time medal winner Australia 10-9 for the bronze and New Zealand bested Japan for 5th place.
Gold Medal Game
Canada 9, United States 8
Canada (7-1) held off a United States rally to win its first FIL U19 Women’s World Lacrosse Championship gold medal. The USA (7-1) earned its second silver medal after winning four straight golds in 1999, 2003, ’07 and ’11. The game was close throughout as the USA jumped to 3-1 lead early off goals by Olivia Ferrucci, Lindsey Ronbeck and Nikki Ortega only to see Canada come right back. Selena Lasota led the way for Canada late in the first scoring goals at 10:39 and a man-up goal at 0:19 to take the lead 5-4 at the break.
Both teams traded four goals each in the second half, and Canada held off a furious USA rally with tenacious defense and some critical saves late to preserve the win and get its first U19 women’s championship hardware.
Player of the Match Selena Lasota led Canada in scoring with three goals and a pair of assists with Holly Lloyd adding three goals and Lydia Sutton a pair. Olivia Ferrucci and Lindsey Ronbeck each had a pair of goals for the USA.
Player of the Match
Selena Lasota, CAN
© DEphoto
Bronze Medal Game
England 10, Australia 9
For the first time in the history of the FIL Women’s U19 World Championship, Australia (4-4) will not finish with at least a Silver medal. In fact, they finished out of the medals in 4th place as England (4-4) upset the Aussies and took the Bronze.
Australia had played in the Gold Medal game in all previous U19 Women’s World Championship events earning the Gold in 1995 and the Silver in ’99, 2003, ’07 and ’11.
England jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game and led at the half 6-3. Then England built its lead to 9-3 early in the second before the Aussies roared back with a furious 6-1 rally to bring it to within one goal, 10-9, with 1:30 left. England held the Aussies scoreless through the final minute and thirty to preserve the win.
Alex Drewe (3G 1A), Liv Wimpenny (3G) and Luci Delaney (2G 1A) led England in scoring. Rebecca Lane (2G 3A), Stephanie Kelly (3G 1A) and Sarah Smith (2G) provided the offense for Australia.
England’s Amelia Miller was Player of the Match.
Player of the Match
Amelia Miller, ENG
© DEphoto
5th Place Game
New Zealand 10, Japan 8
New Zealand (5-3) came back from a 6-3 halftime deficit to tie the game at 8-8 in regulation, then score two in overtime to edge Japan (5-3, 6th) and take 5th place. Ella Ransley scored the game winner in overtime and Gemma Rose added an insurance goal. New Zealand used a balanced attack on offense in the victory (six players netting goals) led by Samantha Hyland (3G), Tegan Edmonds (2G) and Ella Ransley (2G). Saki Sekiguchi (3G 1A) led Japan’s scorers with Kaoru Hirano, Sakura Hashizume, Eri Ichikawa, Asuka Noo and Kyoko Kuwajima each adding a goal.
The Kiwis finished the tournament with two big upset wins over Wales on Thursday and Japan today to earn their highest ranking ever in an FIL U19 Women’s Championship (finishing 10th in 2007 and 11th in 2011).
New Zealand’s Phoebe Bardoul was Player of the Match.
Player of the Match
Phoebe Bardoul, NZL
© DEphoto
Final Standings
|
1
|
 |
Canada (7-1, Gold Medal) |
|
2
|
 |
United States (7-1, Pool A Winner, Silver Medal) |
|
3
|
 |
England (4-4, Bronze Medal) |
|
4
|
 |
Australia (4-4) |
|
5
|
 |
New Zealand (5-3) |
|
6
|
 |
Japan (5-3, Pool C Winner) |
|
7
|
 |
Wales (2-4) |
|
8
|
|
Scotland (4-4, Pool B Winner) |
|
9
|
 |
Germany (6-2) |
|
10
|
 |
Czech Republic (4-4) |
|
11
|
 |
Finland (4-4) |
|
12
|
 |
Colombia (2-6) |
|
13
|
 |
Republic of Korea (2-6) |
|
14
|
|
Israel (0-8) |
See more at www.u19wc2015.co.uk
