Two blockbusters deliver on day four of 2026 Nissin Foods World Lacrosse Women’s Championship

Box Score Notes, Highlights and Galleries: CAN-AUS | ENG-SCO | PUR-ARG | JPN-ISR | CZE-PHI

The two marquee matchups on the docket between Canada and Australia and Japan and Israel delivered on expectations on day four of the 2026 Nissin Foods World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo on Monday.

Canada trailed to start the fourth quarter against Australia, but raced away with four goals to clinch the top spot in Pool B and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Israel and Japan were tied after a whirlwind third quarter, but Israel managed the tense fourth expertly in a battle of moments to stun the hosts and claim the top spot in Pool D.

Puerto Rico faced elimination against Argentina in a nervy contest of Pan-American foes, but locked the Argentina attack down and found timely finishing to claim its first win and reach the precipice of the playoffs.

England and the Philippines won comfortably in the other two contests of the day.

Five of the eight spots in the quarterfinal field are essentially locked in: Canada, England, Japan, Israel and the United States.

The final three spots are up for grabs on the final day of pool play on Tuesday, with a win-and-in contest between Ireland and the Haudenosaunee in Pool A highlighting the slate.

The last spot in Pool B will be determined by Australia vs. Germany and Canada vs. Wales, while the last spot in Pool C will be determined by England vs. Argentina and Puerto Rico vs. Scotland.

Box Score (PDF)

Canada and Australia’s pool play encounter lived up to the blockbuster billing, with Australia pushing the defending silver medalists to the brink in a back-and-forth game that Australia led entering the fourth quarter. Georgia Latch fired a free position rocket to give Australia a 10-9 lead with seconds remaining in the third.

Canada’s composed fourth quarter response proved to be the difference in a 4-1 frame. Kassidy Morris tied the game at 10-apiece and then off an Australia turnover, Erica Evans stormed the length of the field to slingshot Canada back into the lead. Canada won the first four draw controls of the quarter thanks to Alissa DiGiacinto and led by three before Australia could claw one back with under two minutes to play.

Australia had a possession down two with 30 seconds left, but the Canada defense held strong to stamp a thriller.

Morris, Evans and Nicole Perroni led Canada with three goals each. DiGiacinto chipped in seven draw controls and was named the player of the match for her clutch fourth quarter in the circle.

Bianca Chevarie contributed in defense with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Latch and Mim Suares-Jury both recorded four points for Australia in the valiant effort, with Australia’s attack overall finishing with a 55% shooting efficiency on the afternoon.

Canada and Australia’s last matchup decided by two goals or fewer was in 2017 in the semifinals of the women’s championship. Australia last defeated Canada in 2009.

With the win, Canada clinched its place in the quarterfinals and a strong hold on the top of Pool B. The Pool B winner is set to play Japan in the last quarterfinal of the day on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Australia will need to beat Germany to clinch its spot in the quarterfinals, and the second place team in Pool B will face Israel.

Box Score (PDF)

England improved to 2-0 and nearly mathematically clinched its playoff spot in the quarterfinals by powering past its neighbor. England outshot Scotland 33-11 and won the draw control battle 22-5 in a complete performance.

Nine different players registered multiple points for England, led by five for Cece Green and four for Emma Savage. Teagan Scott scored a hat trick and was named the player of the match.

England faces Argentina while Scotland faces Puerto Rico on the last day of pool play Tuesday. England is looking to wrap up the top spot in the pool.

Scotland needs a win over Puerto Rico by four goals or more and an England win to advance in second place on goals difference.

For Puerto Rico and Argentina to advance over England, Puerto Rico would have to win and Argentina would have to defeat England by 11 or more goals.

Box Score (PDF)

Puerto Rico outlasted Argentina in a must-win game to stay in striking position of a playoff spot and earn its first win of the championship. Argentina kept pace into the third quarter but for the last 25 minutes of the game, Puerto Rico held the opposing attack to just one goal.

Both teams were even on draw controls and shots, and close on turnovers, but the margin on shooting efficiency – 64% for Puerto Rico and 41% for Argentina – was decisive as the Puerto Rico defense denied enough clean looks at goal.

Hannah Lewis and Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw finished with three goals apiece, and both scored twice in the second half to keep Argentina on the back foot. Sofia Mancino had two goals and contributed all over the field to be named the player of the match.

Puerto Rico will face Scotland in its pool play finale tomorrow while Argentina faces England. Puerto Rico, Scotland and England are all still alive for the final playoff spot in Pool C.

The simplest path for Puerto Rico to advance is with a win and an England win, but a loss to Scotland by three or fewer goals and an England win would also send Puerto Rico through.

If Argentina wins and Puerto Rico loses, then Argentina advances, but if Argentina only wins by one and Puerto Rico wins, the exact scoreline will determine a goals conceded tiebreaker. Argentina needs a two-goal win over England to advance, regardless of the Puerto Rico vs. Scotland result.

Box Score (PDF)

Israel bested Japan on home soil in a nerve-wracking contest behind crucial plays in the fourth quarter to improve to 3-0 and claim the top spot in Pool D. Israel will face the second place team from Pool B.

Japan fell to 2-1 and will take the second spot in the pool, setting the stage for a quarterfinal match with Canada, the defending silver medalist.

Monday night’s contest at Oi Stadium featured wild momentum swings with an early three-goal lead for Japan, followed by a run by Israel to lead by two in the third. Japan took advantage of player-up situations to lead by one, but then Israel answered with two before a Japan equalizer late in the third to cap a madhouse 15 minutes.

On the fifth possession of the final quarter, Israel snapped what had turned into a tense deadlock with a free position shot from Sam Fisher. Japan had a free position shot of its own to tie and just missed wide, and then Israel secured a massive turnover with three minutes to play. Israel was able to earn a free position shot which Jordyn Lipkin confidently dispatched for her fifth point of the evening.

Japan had a chance to mount a late surge with its second free position of the quarter with just over 90 seconds to play, but Julie Krupnick made a save on the bounce to keep Israel’s lead intact.

Krupnick finished with seven saves on 14 shots faced and was named the player of the match. Fisher and Lipkin led the Israel attack and Racheli Levy-Smith turned in her third excellent performance in a row in the circle, winning 13 draw controls and keying a 16-6 edge.

Israel flipped the result from four years ago – a 13-4 win for Japan in the fifth-place game to close the 2022 women’s championship.

Box Score (PDF)

The Philippines claimed its first-ever win at a women’s championship by handling Czechia in a comfortable game. Steph Lazo scored four goals and Abigail Beattie made nine saves on 14 shots faced. Abby Manalang recorded two points, a ground ball and a caused turnover and was named the player of the match.

The Philippines will compete in placement play towards ninth place while Czechia will compete towards 13th place.