World Lacrosse is celebrating five of the best international lacrosse games in 2024 to close out the year.
The United States and Canada both entered the first ever World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship in 2024 as unquestioned contenders, and for most of the tournament, the two teams seemed stuck on a collision course for a potential blockbuster final.
Both squads were full of international star power showcased a different gear from the rest of the field. The two teams breezed through pool play and the playoffs to set the table for a rare spectacle in World Lacrosse history: a gold medal game between two rivals with no precedent to tilt the expectations in either direction.
With both a blank canvas and lofty hopes, the two teams delivered an epic, emotional and tense match that was fitting of the stakes and an elite showcase of the physicality, skill and creativity required in women’s box lacrosse.
The game started as a defensive affair with just one goal in the first 16 minutes, scored by Ally Kennedy. The U.S. kept Canada off the board until the very end of the half when Brooklyn Walker-Welch scored to make it 2-1 heading into the break.
Ingrid Boyum, the American goalkeeper, denied Canada at every angle and distance throughout the half with 25 saves in an inspired effort.
The scoring picked up in the third quarter, and Canada’s attacking connections paid off in the form of a 4-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
What followed next was an unforgettable final frame. The teams exchanged three goals in three minutes as the U.S. tied the game at 5-5.
Canada then went on a 5-on-3 power play, and right when it looked like the United States had killed it off, Erica Evans broke free for a solo run in behind and buried her chance to give Canada a late lead. Less than 20 seconds later, Canada cashed in on all the momentum with a slick screen sequence finished off by Dacia Cordingley to lead 7-5.
With eight minutes left, the United States dug deep for a last-ditch effort in attack. Livy Rosenzweig scored her second goal of the game just 12 seconds after Cordingley’s goal to stabilize the game at 7-6. Then the U.S. received a fortunate bounce on a shot from Riley Ewing that deflected off Canada into the net to tie the game.
The quickly regained foothold was all the United States needed, as Erin Bakes took a feed from Rosenzweig and bounced it into the net to give the United States an 8-7 lead.
Charlotte North seized momentum for good just 30 seconds later with a goal to make it 9-7. Canada tried its best to mount a late run of its own, but the American defense held strong and Ally Kennedy turned a turnover in the final minute into an empty net goal.
Rosenzweig tallied a hat-trick for the United States, and Kennedy and Bakes added two goals apiece. The team tallied seven assists on its 10 goals.
All of Canada’s goals came from different players. Evans headlined the effort with a goal and four assists.
Kennedy would go on to be named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for her all-around impact on the title-winning squad and her two crucial goals in the final.
Both teams landed three players on the World Team – Kennedy, Bakes and Boyum for the United States and Jordan Dean, Evans and Kinna for Canada.
