Italy claimed the gold medal at the first ever edition of the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Division II with the performance of the tournament to upend Mexico, 11-4, in a stark reversal of Mexico’s win in pool play, behind an inspired defensive effort.
Mexico
4
Italy
11
Gold Medal
Box Score
Italy shut down Mexico in the gold medal game, 11-4, with a special defensive performance to hold an attack that had averaged 10.8 goals per game previously to just four. Italy also earned revenge for Mexico’s 9-6 win in pool play, and halted Mexico’s six-game unbeaten run.
Even with Italy’s defense, Mexico’s resiliency clawed the game to within one at 5-4 in the closing minutes of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter, however, was Italy’s time to shift into another gear and race away with the win. Italy scored a key free position shot from Anna Rivetti to halt the run and restore a two-goal lead, and then the floodgates opened with five goals in the final seven minutes to put an emphatic stamp on proceedings.
Four different players scored two or more goals for Italy: Mia van der Steen, Marianna Salvatori, Anna Rivetti and Elise Fawcett. Stephanie Colson added a goal and an assist and was instrumental all over the field in thwarting Mexico, earning herself player of the gold medal match.
Fawcett ended as the tournament’s top scorer with 13 goals and 13 assists, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship. Colson and Fawcett were both named to the All-Tournament Team, as well as Gabrielle Chiapetta in defense.
Mexico landed three players on the All-Tournament Team: Alexa Lang in goal, Sophia Lima in attack and Natalie Yorba in defense. Lang made 11 saves in the championship game and kept Italy at bay until its closing surge.
Lima finished as Mexico’s top attacker with 16 points and turned in an outstanding nine-point performance in Mexico’s semifinal win over Korea.
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