Japan and Australia overcome fierce upset bids on day three of Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship

Box Score Notes, Highlights and Galleries: USA-HAU | TPE-IRL | SCO-ARG | PHI-JPN | CZE-ISR | GER-CAN | AUS-WAL

The United States, Japan and Israel all clinched playoff spots by improving to 2-0 on day three of the Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo on Sunday.

The United States and Israel submitted comprehensive performances, but Japan was forced to rally deep into the fourth quarter and use the home crowd to its advantage to break a resolute effort from the Philippines.

Australia also needed a response in its first game of the tournament after an early challenge from Wales, but upped its physicality to slow down the Welsh attack in the second half.

Argentina turned heads in its first game of the championship, downing a Scotland team that finished 10th in the 2022 edition of the championship in an entertaining shootout.

Ireland pulled away from Chinese Taipei after a close first half, and Canada got off the mark in its first game with a resounding shutout against Germany.

Five games await on Monday in a highly entertaining slate, featuring Canada and Australia’s top-four ranked blockbuster, a Japan and Israel clash of undefeated teams, and a must-win game for Puerto Rico against an Argentina side surpassing early expectations.

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Box Score (PDF)

The United States soared to a 2-0 start at the championship with another dominant performance, clinching a playoff spot with a guaranteed top-two finish in Pool A. The Haudenosaunee moved to 1-1 and will face Ireland on Tuesday evening in a critical match.

The United States’ defense and ball control were excellent as usual, as the team allowed just 14 shots total and committed eight turnovers compared to 15 for the Haudenosaunee. The first half was a perfect frame for the United States, which led 13-0 with nine different goal scorers after 30 minutes.

By the end, 10 players recorded multi-point efforts for the United States in the win, with seven notching three or more. Chloe Humphrey and Marie McCool led the bunch with three goals and two assists each.

Shea Dolce saved all three shots she faced and was named the player of the match.

Box Score (PDF)

Ireland’s third-quarter surge made the difference in a spirited contest with Chinese Taipei. Ireland improved to 1-1 and will face Haudenosaunee on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the playoffs.

The two teams were neck and neck at halftime at 5-5, but Ireland put up a 5-1 frame in the third, including a two-goal stretch in one minute to break a 6-6 tie. Ireland led by as many as seven late before Chinese Taipei fought back for the final three goals of the game.

The draw was a significant Ireland advantage thanks to the efforts of Riley Peterson, who won 19 and helped Ireland go 21 of 26 on the day, earning player of the match honors in the process. Ireland was able to outshoot Chinese Taipei by 12, and its star attackers did the rest. Ava Ryan totaled four goals and an assist while Brigid Welch scored four.

Box Score (PDF)

Argentina knocked off the tenth ranked team in the world to open its campaign at the championship with a statement. Argentina finished in 26th in 2022, and after qualifying for the 16-team event, kept its momentum rolling by outgunning Scotland in a high-scoring affair.

Scotland led by two late in the third in a seesaw game delayed by lightning. Argentina closed the third with a goal to cut it to one before unloading four goals in six minutes to stun Scotland and take a three-goal lead in the fourth.

Both teams took care of the ball and were efficient in front of net, putting the result in the hands of the star attackers late. Hannah Whiteley powered Scotland with six goals and an assist, but in the end Argentina’s Gretta White stepped up with five goals and an assist including three in the decisive fourth quarter as well as two draw controls in the frame. Sam Geiersbach contributed with five key goals and was named the player of the match.

Keating Gullott made five saves on nine shots faced for Argentina.

Box Score (PDF)

Japan staged a rousing second-half rally to survive a dangerous upset bid by the Philippines, who led 6-3 at halftime. Behind a fervent home crowd, Japan methodically inched back into the game, taking the lead with six minutes to play and then adding one more for insurance in a perfect 3-0 fourth quarter.

Japan’s turned up the pressure on the Philippines in the second half, allowing just three shots in the third quarter and none in the fourth after allowing 12 in the first half. Runa Fujita made three saves, including two in quick succession when the Philippines were up two that were instrumental to Japan’s comeback, and she went on to be named the player of the match.

Japan dominated possession in the second half and found six goals from six different goal scorers, with Kokoro Nakazawa tying the game at 7-7 on an assist from her sister Negai to cap a sweeping transition movement. Hikari Takano scored what wound up as the game winner. Kokoro Nakazawa finished with a team-high four points on two goals and two assists.

With the win, Japan advances to the quarterfinals, and will face Israel in its pool play finale with a spot for the top of Pool D and quarterfinal seeding on the line.

Box Score (PDF)

Israel improved to 2-0 and clinched a playoff spot with another superb all-around performance. Israel will face Japan in the finale of pool play to determine the top spot in Pool D.

Israel’s ball control superiority started on the draw, where Racheli Levy-Smith racked up 20 controls en route to a 24-8 team advantage. Israel outshot Czechia 35-14 and allowed just 10 shots on goal.

Eight different players recorded multi-point outings for Israel, and Jordyn Lipkin continued her hot start as one of the most prolific attackers in Tokyo with seven points on five goals and two assists. Lipkin leads all players in the field with 12 points.

Shay Lee Maudi added two goals, and at age 15, is one of the youngest goal scorers in the history of the championship, which has a minimum age requirement of 15 to compete. Maudi was named the player of the match.

Box Score (PDF)

Canada pitched a shutout to launch its medal defense at the women’s championship with a win after weather delayed its debut until the evening of day three.

Canada won 24 of 27 draw controls and allowed just three shots all night in a suffocating performance. The attack took 35 shots and with 23 goals, Canada’s shooting efficiency finished at 66%.

Aurora Cordingley enjoyed the best single-game output of the championship so far, amassing 11 points on six goals and five assists. With just one game under her belt, Cordingley ranks second in the tournament in points.

Seven additional players for Canada also registered multi-point outings. Alissa DiGiacinto recorded 12 draw controls and Jordan Dean added 11 herself.

Canada faces Australia on Monday at 12:30 p.m. in a blockbuster meeting between two of the top four ranked teams in the world.

Box Score (PDF)

Australia dug deep in its first match of the championship to outlast Wales in a physical battle. Coming off an overtime win on day two, Wales was firing on all cylinders to start and raced out to a 3-0 lead, spending most of the first half ahead. Australia slowly found its footing, and tied the game 10 seconds before halftime on a momentum-saving goal from Nelly Mollison.

Australia wrested control back of the game with two goals in the third, while finally silencing the Wales attack. Australia extended its lead to four and while Wales finally clawed two goals back in the last 10 seconds of the game, the Aussie defense allowed just one goal in the other 29 minutes and 50 seconds of the second half.

Nellie Mollison broke out for Australia in her senior debut with five goals on five shots, three ground balls and two caused turnovers, and she was named the player of the match. Goalkeepers Elizabeth Hinkes and Natalie Eastwood combined for five saves.

Sophy Coombes-Roberts recorded four goals in defeat for Wales.