Hannah Helps Lead U.S. Men's Box to Milestone Victory

UTICA, N.Y. — In each of the first five men’s box world championships, the United States has finished in third place. Ahead of them each time has been Canada, winners of the five previous championships, and the Haudenosaunee.

The U.S. had never beaten either country in a box world championship – in pool play or bracket play. That changed on Friday night as the U.S. jumped out early and then pulled away for a 16-9 victory the Haudenosaunee in its first pool play game at the 2024 World Lacrosse Men’s Box Championship at the Adirondack Bank Center.

But there was no raucous celebration on the floor or in the locker room after the game. Everyone involved knows this was just one step towards a bigger goal.

“It’s pool play, it’s one game,” said head coach Regy Thorpe. “Our guys are pretty level-headed and we had some things go our way.”

“It’s a long tournament, so you don’t want to get too high on it,” said Jack Hannah, whose first-half hat trick helped power the U.S. “They’re going to come back the next time we run into them ready to go. That’s a really good team over there.”

More than the result, the game was a testament to the continued improvement of box lacrosse in the United States in recent years. Thorpe was the head coach for the U.S. at the 2019 world championship and while the U.S. was highly-competitive in two games against the Haudenosaunee, it combined for just 17 goals in those games. Only once in the previous world championships had the U.S. scored more than 10 goals against either Canada or the Haudenosaunee.

The offense putting up 16 goals was a major milestone, and it came from a variety of sources that illustrate how Thorpe and his staff put this team together.

Hannah grew up in Ohio and played with USBOXLA while also starring in field lacrosse. He played collegiately at Denver, where Canadian coaching guru Matt Brown ran the offense. Since moving to the National Lacrosse League, he’s thrived, finishing second on Las Vegas in scoring his first two seasons.

He’s grateful for the coaching influence he’s had – from Mark Lynch in Ohio to Brown and Shaydon Santos with USBOXLA – and the opportunity to learn more about the box game.

“I feel like I keep getting better every time I play,” Hannah said. “It’s a very fun game to play. It’s intense. You’re riding on high adrenaline the entire game and I love that. That’s probably my favorite part about it.”

Hannah was on the training team for the 2023 U.S. men’s team in the field championship, but did not make the final roster. That makes this opportunity all the more special.

“It’s been a dream since I was a kid to wear the U.S. jersey,” Hannah said. “You look up at all those guys over the years. Obviously, I was heartbroken when the outdoor team didn’t work out, but there were a heck of a lot of really good players trying out for that team. You can’t hang your head on it too long. Honestly you can’t really overlook the opportunity to put USA across your chest and that’s a super-cool opportunity for me.”

He wasted little time making his presence felt in his first world championship game wearing that USA jersey. He ripped home an outside shot just 14 seconds into the game.

HIGH HEAT FROM JACK HANNAH. 🔥

USA on the board 1-0. pic.twitter.com/N2l8YwHMJg

— U.S. Men's National Team (@USAMLax) September 21, 2024

Hannah's Las Vegas teammate, Charlie Bertrand, is another young American finding success in the NLL. Bertrand scored two goals early and finished with a hat trick.

The U.S. team’s veterans also stepped up. Joe Resetarits and Blaze Riorden are each playing in their third world championship with the U.S. team. Riorden had a pair of goals, including a key power play goal to open the second half to help the U.S. keep control, and Resetarits helped run everything, finishing with a goal and four assists.

The youngest players also made an impact. C.J. Kirst and Joey Spallina are the only two collegiate players on the team, but they looked comfortable on the big stage. Both have played summer lacrosse in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League, gaining valuable experience.

Spallina finished with a team-high four goals, three of them coming in the second half and none bigger than a bomb from outside the restraining line after the Haudenosaunee had pulled to within 12-9 early in the fourth quarter.

Now he's just showing off 😅

Joey Spallina with goal #3 to give USA a 13-9 lead. pic.twitter.com/cr117oDbWw

— U.S. Men's National Team (@USAMLax) September 21, 2024

“He shows up at big moments,” Thorpe said. “That was a big goal to put us up four. The Haudenosaunee were coming back on us and we were on our heels a little bit. Certainly, they’ve got some firepower, so it was good a little cushion goal there.”

Kirst, playing with his older brother Connor on the U.S. team, followed up Spallina’s goal with another outside tally and the U.S. then brought home its historic victory.

And while the offense got much of the attention, goalie Gowah Abrams also rose to the occasion after a slow start, finishing the game with 40 saves to back a strong defensive effort. Twenty-three of Abrams' saves came in the second half.

“He let a couple in early that I thought he should have had, but he’s played against this team and had a good world games in 2019, so we trust him out there,” Thorpe said. “Drew Hutchinson has also been doing a great job. I’m sure we’ll see both of them in this tournament, but Gowah kind of settled in when we gave him some better looks instead of right on top of the crease and he got in a little bit of groove. He made timely saves.”

The U.S. will have an off day on Saturday before playing England on Sunday afternoon. It will give them a little time to savor a milestone moment, even if it’s just one step in the process.

“I’m really proud of the guys’ effort,” Thorpe said. “It’s a stepping stone for U.S. lacrosse. It’s a testament for all of the hard work these guys have put in, the organization has put in and the coaches have put in the last five years. It’s been a lot of work in progress and it’s nice to see a result.”