The Haudenosaunee escaped a serious challenge from Puerto Rico with a 13-12 win in the quarterfinals at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship on Thursday in Seogwipo, Korea.
Both offenses were at their flashy best in the morning on Jeju Island in another back-and-forth thriller in front of impassioned crowds from both sides.
Puerto Rico tied the game at 8-8 in the third quarter, but the Haudenosaunee took over the game with smart execution to find open shots, leading 12-9 halfway through the fourth. Yet, Puerto Rico would not give up and mounted multiple comeback attempts, cutting the lead to 12-11 with three minutes to play.
The Haudenosaunee attack stayed in rhythm and Noah Snyder restored a two-goal lead a minute later, but Puerto Rico answered, again, with a goal to cut it to one with 40 seconds remaining.
Puerto Rico then won the ensuing face-off, but before it could set up its offense to go for the tie, the Haudenosaunee came up with a crucial stick check to win the ball back and seal the dramatic victory.
We stan Noah Snyder 🤩
— World Lacrosse (@WorldLacrosse) August 21, 2025
Bucks the contact and delivers the decisive blow for the Haudenosaunee against Puerto Rico.#WLMU20C x #Jeju2025 pic.twitter.com/DTN4cvpBgB
The Haudenosaunee’s defense of their bronze medal streak had got off to a slow start, but Thursday’s hard-fought win, the team’s first in Korea, guaranteed a return to a medal game and a spot in a semifinal, set for Friday at 7 p.m. against the United States.
Puerto Rico had been one of the most impressive teams of the tournament with a high-flying attack, and acquitted itself well against a legendary program. Puerto Rico will continue in placement play towards fifth place and look to improve on its eighth-place debut in 2022 with a matchup against England at 7:10 pm. on Friday.
The Haudenosaunee won the possession battle on the day, especially taking control of the game late in the third quarter as tension mounted, and outshot Puerto Rico 48-36 and 28-14 on shots on goal. The Haudenosaunee forced 21 turnovers and committed just 10, with the stop in the final 30 seconds emblematic of the defensive effort.
Puerto Rico’s attack proved its pedigree with an incredible shooting performance, scoring 12 of its 14 shots on goal. Puerto Rico goalkeeper Connor Dobson kept his team in the game with 14 saves.
The Haudenosaunee cast of attackers did enough to outpace Puerto Rico with strength in numbers, as four players had multiple goals and another two added multiple assists. Marcus Thundercloud recorded a hat trick, while Chace Cogan, Daylin John and Hunter Thompson also got to three points each.
Nick Testa, the most prolific attacker so far in the tournament, maintained his production with two goals and three assists for Puerto Rico. Joseph Rafferty also had five points and Lorenzo Varona scored another hat trick.
Puerto Rico will play on Friday at 7:10 p.m.
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