BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, USA – Canada and the United States both improved to 2-0 with decisive wins in preliminary play on the second day of the women’s lacrosse tournament at The World Games 2022.
Both teams have clinched a spot in the semifinals on Friday as the top seeds in their groups. The final day of preliminary play on Thursday will feature two matchups to decide the other two semifinalists: Japan vs. Australia at 10:30 a.m. CT and Israel vs. Great Britain at 2 p.m. CT.
Great Britain picked up its first win in Birmingham, an 11-10 overtime thriller over the Haudenosaunee in game one. The Haudenosaunee went on a three-goal second half run to lead 9-6 in the fourth quarter, but the Brits stormed back with four clutch goals to take a 10-9 lead with two minutes left. Ivy Santana tied the game back up as time expired in a dramatic finish to regulation.
After five possessions in overtime, Laura Merrifield finally gave Great Britain the win. She finished with four points on two goals and two assists while Olivia Wimpenny led the team with five goals on five shots.
Miya Scanlan followed up her seven-goal outing yesterday with another five goals in game two for the Haudenosaunee. Both goalkeepers were impressive with Katie Greenwood making 10 saves on 19 shots for Great Britain and Paige Crandall saving 11 of her 22 shots faced for the Haudenosaunee.
Australia rebounded in the second game of the day to double up the Czech Republic in a 16-8 win. The Czechs fought back to within two in the third quarter, but Australia scored seven of the game’s last eight goals. Theo Kwas scored five for Australia and Cassidy Dorster was right behind her with four goals. Georgia Latch recorded four assists, the most of any athlete in the women’s competition.
Anna Ničová made a tournament-high 17 saves for the Czech Republic, and Markéta Malinovská registered three goals and three assists.
Canada responded to a tied game against Israel at halftime with a 6-1 third quarter to coast to a 14-6 win. Megan Kinna spearheaded the offense with five goals, but three Canada players – Emily Boissonneault, Nicole Perroni and Annabel Child – balanced the scoresheet with three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Lauren Spence tied the tournament-high for save percentage (.667) with 12 saves on 18 shots on goal.
Lindsey McKone notched two goals and an assist for Israel, and goalkeeper Julie Krupnick made 13 saves.
The United States wrapped up the day by pouncing on Japan early with an 8-1 first quarter that it rode out to 16-10 win. The offense was evenly spread out for the USA as five athletes contributed three or more points: Kasey Choma, Belle Smith, Ellie Masera and Caitlyn Wurzburger. Goalkeeper Madison Doucette recorded a save percentage above 50% for the second straight game with 13 saves on 23 shots faced.
Miho Tomimori and Negai Nakazawa led Japan’s offense with four and three points.
July 13 Results
Great Britain 11, Haudenosaunee 10 (OT)
Australia 16, Czech Republic 8
Israel 6, Canada 14
Japan 10, United States 16
July 14 Schedule
10:30 a.m. // Japan vs. Australia
12 p.m. // Canada vs. Haudenosaunee
2 p.m. // Israel vs Great Britain
3:30 p.m. // United States vs. Czech Republic
A full schedule, standings and live statistics are available at TWG2022.com/results.
