The United States is one game away from winning its second women’s lacrosse gold medal in a span of eight days. Again, the U.S. must go through Canada.
The North American rivals will meet Sunday in The World Games final at 2 p.m. (8 a.m. Eastern) in Wroclaw, Poland. It will be a rematch of last Saturday’s FIL World Cup championship game in which the U.S. prevailed 10-5. The gold medal game will be streamed on a slight delay Sunday on the Olympic Channel at 9:45 a.m. Eastern.
“Being the first to do something is getting harder and harder as we keep moving forward,” Team USA coach Ricky Fried said after an 18-5 semifinal victory Saturday over Great Britain. “But we have 15 players who have the opportunity to be in the first-ever World Games final, the first time any team has the possibility to win two gold medals in the same summer and maintaining a world championship status.”
Nine different players scored for the U.S., which again caused fits for Great Britain with its full-field ride. Great Britain committed 22 turnovers after coughing up the ball 33 times in a 14-6 loss to the U.S. in preliminaries Friday.
Alyssa Murray (Syracuse ’14) continued her outstanding World Games performance as the top scorer for the U.S. for the third straight game. She had two goals and two assists to earn MVP honors. Murray, who was an alternate but did not dress for the World Cup, now has 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in three games.
Taylor Cummings (Maryland ’16) and Ally Carey (Vanderbilt ’12) added three goals apiece while also leading the U.S. to a 14-11 advantage on draw controls.
The U.S. (3-0) jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Great Britain (1-2) answered with two straight goals to pull within 5-3 before the U.S. went on an eight-goal run to put the game away.
Canada (3-0) advanced Saturday with a 14-8 victory over Australia, a game in which the Canadians dominated possession thanks to Dana Dobbie (Maryland ’07) and Kaylin Morissette (Louisville ’16), who combined to win 13 draw controls. Dobbie added a goal and three assists. Tessa Chad (Canisius ’19) and Erica Evans (Canisius ’18) led Canada with three goals apiece.
Australia (1-2), competing in The World Games without All-World attacker Hannah Nielsen (Northwestern ’09), will meet Great Britain in the bronze medal game Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. Eastern).
U.S. Goals: Taylor Cummings 3, Ally Carey 3, Katie Schwarzmann 2, Alyssa Murray 2, Brooke Griffin 2, Marie McCool 2, Michelle Tumolo 2, Kelly Rabil 1, Kristen Carr 1.
U.S. Assists: Alyssa Murray 2, Marie McCool 1, Michelle Tumolo 1.
U.S. Goaltending: Gussie Johns (2 saves, 5 GA, 70 mins).
Great Britain Goals: Sophie Whitehead 2, Olivia Wimpenny 1, Alisa Stott 1, Iona Dryden 1.
Great Britain Assists: Olivia Wimpenny 1, Sophie Morrill 2.
Great Britain Goaltending: Emilie Chandler (8 saves, 18 GA, 70 mins).
The World Games Update
Today’s Scores
Saturday, July 22 (Semifinals)
United States 18, Great Britain 5
Canada 14, Australia 8
Upcoming Games
Sunday, July 23
5th place: Japan vs. Poland, 9 a.m. (3 a.m. Eastern)
Bronze: Great Britain vs. Australia, 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. Eastern)
Gold: United States vs. Canada, 2 p.m. (8 a.m. Eastern)