USA Women Roll Past Ireland into World Box Semifinals

UTICA, N.Y. — Erin Bakes set the early tone and the U.S. offense never slowed down in a 30-1 victory over Ireland in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship at the Utica University Nexus Center.

• Box Score

Bakes scored the first two goals of the game and finished with 11 points, the most for any U.S. player in the tournament. Bakes had six goals and five assists. Emily Hawryschuk and Melissa Sconone each had six goals and Taylor VanThof had two goals and six assists.

Ten different players scored goals in the game and the U.S. had assists on 25 of its 30 goals in the contest.

Madison Doucette got the start in goal and picked up the victory after making six saves and allowing just one goal. Ingrid Boyum closed out the game in the second half by making 10 saves and shutting out Ireland over the final 30 minutes.

Thursday’s game was just the second time the two countries had ever met in an international championship in women’s lacrosse. The U.S. senior field team beat Ireland 22-5 in the Czech Republic on the way to the World Cup title in 2009.

The U.S. now sets its sights on Australia for Friday’s semifinal game (2:30 p.m. on ESPN+) as the tournament reaches the closing stages.

“It definitely feels surreal in the sense that we’ve put so much time and effort into where we are and we’re working to get better,” said Kayla Wood, one of the team’s assistant captains. “It’s great to see the progress and that our hard work is really paying off.”

Wood, a defender who also scored a goal in the game, is loving the experience and the chance to focus on lacrosse and her teammates over the last week and a half.

“We have so many laughs together, so many smiles together and just like a whole lot of fun,” Wood said. “Yesterday we all went to get ice cream together. It’s all about appreciating those little moments together because it’s only a 10-day period. There’s no guarantees that we make it all the way to the end, so we’re really cherishing each and every moment that we get together.

Australia is one of the U.S. team’s oldest rivals in women’s lacrosse. The two countries have met in World Lacrosse championship games 11 times — at the senior and U19 levels in field lacrosse — over the years. Australia defeated England 19-12 in a quarterfinal on Thursday behind six goals each from Kate Hooper and Charlotte Whinnen, two of the leading scorers in the tournament.

“Obviously we’re going to have those butterflies, but it’s going to be butterflies of excitement and joy and gratitude,” Wood said. “I think every time we step out on the floor together, it’s a lot of that. We play with a ton of gratitude and appreciation of not only the game itself, but just being with each other.”