Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The U.S. continued its torrid run through the World Lacrosse Women’s U19 World Championship, advancing to the championship game with a 21-6 win over Australia in the semifinals Thursday at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.
Team USA will meet defending world champion and tournament host Canada in a gold medal rematch Saturday at 3 p.m. ET (Lax Sports Network/Olympic Channel).
The unbeaten Americans have outscored their six opponents 115-17, averaging 19.17 goals while allowing 2.83 per game.
2. Canada survived a stiff test from England in the second semifinal Thursday, finishing with a five-goal flurry in the fourth quarter to turn a 7-5 deficit into a 10-7 victory.
For the second straight time, Canada and the U.S. will play for the gold medal, with England and Australia meeting in the bronze-medal game. Canada upset the U.S. 9-8 in the 2015 world championship to end a string of four straight championships for the U.S.
3. Mark Matthews has had a difficult time latching onto a Major League Lacrosse team for an extended period of time, but he feels right at home in his second stint with the Atlanta Blaze.
4. Blaze Riorden and Jack Concannon are enjoying their coming-out parties with the Premier Lacrosse League’s Chaos and Atlas, respectively. Neither had an opportunity to start as professionals, but now they’re considered among the best goalies in the PLL.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The U.S. U19 team might be reaping the benefits of college-experienced players, but a trio of high schoolers also are making their mark.
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A 6-foot-2, 280-pound goalie backstops a team of American players competing in the International Indoor Junior Lacrosse World Championships in Mississauga, Ontario.
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At the behest of Paul Rabil, a UDC lacrosse player frequently travels to and from Haiti to train with and teach the emerging Haitian national team.
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The IMLCA and NLL announced a strategic partnership Thursday, with the NLL hosting an indoor pro night at the IMLCA Convention and the IMLCA assisting the NLL with its combines that target graduating college players.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Matt Rambo and Colin Heacock are taking the PLL-MLL feud to the kitchen.
Best club team ever? Team 91’s 2020 team, featuring national player of the year and U.S. U19 training team member Brennan O’Neill, deepened its stake to that claim with another tournament championship, this time at the Lake Placid Summit Classic.
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Saturday will be a good day to post up and watch lacrosse. It starts with the U19 bronze and gold medal games, continues with a PLL doubleheader in San Jose and also includes three MLL games. Visit the TV/streaming page for times and links.
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