Japan outlasted England in the quarterfinals, 12-6, in Hong Kong, China to advance to the semifinals for the first time at the women’s U20 championship.
Japan is making its eighth appearance at the women’s U20 championship dating back to 1995 and will improve on its previous best finish of fifth place, accomplished in 2007 and 2019. Across all World Lacrosse championships, Japan has finished fourth or better just once, at the men’s championship in 2010 in Manchester.
“A women’s team in Japan has never finished above fifth place, so winning in the quarterfinals was our first biggest goal,” said Japanese midfielder Riho Kasai. “Winning as a team was such a great feeling. Our energy comes from us always sharing the same goal of getting a medal and that shared goal keeps us together.”
Japan will face the winner of the last quarterfinal between Canada and Italy on Thursday at 7 p.m. HKT.
England and Japan had met three days earlier in pool play with England racing out to an early lead and Japan coming back with a second half surge.
Wednesday’s contest at Hong Kong Football Club Stadium followed a similar script, with England scoring the first two goals thanks to Annie Mather.
Japan answered with three goals of its own to close out the quarter, with two from Haruke Takeuchi. Japan fired off six shots in the first quarter and were denied four times by England goalkeeper Kennedy Buntrock, who made a litany of impressive saves.
Buntock delivered again with three saves in the second quarter, and despite a discrepancy in the possession time, England hung around and tied the game at 3-3 almost seven minutes into the period.
Japan and England traded goals again in a tense finish to the half. Both teams’ defenses were locked into the tactical battle, but Japan’s attackers found dodging angles slightly more frequently, making Buntrock’s heroics key to preserving the scoreline. But on loose balls and rebounds, Japan was able to extend possessions and wear the England defense down.
That work paid off in the third quarter, when Japan ripped the game open with a crucial 4-1 run. The swing was keyed by Kasai’s energy on draw controls, which Japan won five to one in the frame.
England responded with a goal to cut the lead to 8-6 less than a minute into the fourth quarter. With a chance for the momentum to turn, Kasai and company secured a crucial loose ball that Megan Kitagawa fired home minutes later that felt decisive.
It proved to be, as Japan held England scoreless and shotless the rest of the quarter with sustained sequences of possession en route to the 12-6 scoreline.
“England played its heart out and it was a really tough game, but I’m so proud of my team,” said Kasai.
Negai Nakazawa earned player of the match honors for Japan with two goals and an assist, but it was an egalitarian display from the Japanese attack with four players scoring two goals – Hinako Ono, Miri Akiyama, Nakazawa and Takeuchi – and another four players adding one goal each.
Nakazawa added two crucial caused turnovers and ground balls. Kasai finished with a 14 of 20 win rate on draws.
Buntrock finished with nine saves for England and Mather finished with three goals.
England returns to action on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. against the loser of Canada vs. Italy.
