Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. The U.S. men’s team used a decisive third quarter to defeat the Iroquois Nationals, 17-9, in the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship opener for both teams at Netanya Stadium in Israel.

Trailing 3-0 early and 7-5 at the half against a team that arrived at its Netanya, Israel, hotel just six hours before faceoff, Rob Pannell and Ryan Brown scored two goals apiece in a 5-0 run to start the third quarter and give Team USA the lead for good. Pannell, this event’s Most Outstanding Attackman in 2014, picked up where he left off, leading the U.S. with seven points (3G, 4A).

How about this start? @USAMLax scores FIVE STRAIGHT to take a 10-7 lead in the 3Q. pic.twitter.com/FwA6lPdfHj

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 12, 2018

Brown added four goals. Trevor Baptiste won 17 of 19 faceoffs, and the Americans assisted on 13 of their 17 goals (box score).

Shortly before the game, the U.S. team announced attackman Matt Danowski and goalie John Galloway as its captains.

Team USA (1-0) has Friday off and will face Australia at 7:30 a.m. Eastern in a game broadcast live on ESPNU. The Australians open FIL play at 11 a.m. ET today against Blue Division newcomer Scotland.

2. The Women’s Professional Lacrosse League championship game will pit top-seeded Baltimore against second-seeded New England at 5 p.m. ET Saturday in Sparks, Md.

The Baltimore Brave defeated the New York Fight, 14-10, to finish off the league’s semifinal doubleheader Thursday at West Chester University in suburban Philadelphia. Marie McCool led Baltimore with four goals, offsetting a hat trick by the Fight’s Taylor Cummings.

The New England Command held off the Upstate Pride, 11-10, in a first semifinal that was close throughout. The Command won the final draw with 1:10 to play and got the ball to attacker Kara Mupo on the sideline. A Pride double team eventually produced a turnover, but Danielle Spencer’s shot to tie the game bounced left of the goal just prior to the final horn.

The WPLL is offering multiple ticket options to the final at Tierney Field on the campus of US Lacrosse.

3. Dominican College named Daniel Steigert its interim men’s lacrosse coach for the 2019 season.

Steigert, previously an assistant coach at the Division III school, replaces Marcelo Sandoval, who resigned in June after four years at the helm. Steigert played four years for the Chargers and was a team captain during his senior season of 2013.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Inside Lacrosse published a recap of Team USA’s 17-9 win over the Iroquois Nationals and a blog from ESPN analyst Quint Kessenich on same.

• Lacrosse All Stars speculated about the pressure to perform well for the U.S., Australia and host Israel.

• The Baltimore Sun highlighted some lesser-known players that followed family history to suit up for other nations in the FIL World Championship.

• WJLA.com in Washington, D.C., reported on the support Robinson Secondary School (Va.) students and community members are giving to the family of Conner McGowan, a 17-year-old student and lacrosse player at the school killed Tuesday in an automobile accident. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Team USA’s Michael Ehrhardt separated Iroquois National Lyle Thompson from the ball in terrific fashion during yesterday’s 17-9 win.

 

Still can’t get over this #YARDSALE from Michael Ehrhardt on @lyle4thompson. . @usa_mlax comes back from down at halftime to beat @iroquoisnatslax 17-9 in its opening game. Full recap and gallery coming soon.

A post shared by US Lacrosse Magazine (@uslacrossemag) on Jul 12, 2018 at 1:59pm PDT

WHAT’S ON TAP

• Twenty years ago in the Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s World Championship, the U.S. and Canada met for the gold medal in a game many call the sport’s best ever. We’ll have a history of that, as told by some of the players.

• As mentioned, Team USA is off today, but we’ll have more international stories from the FIL World Championship.

• Rise and shine Saturday for the U.S.-Australia game at 7:30 a.m. Eastern on ESPNU. If you miss it, it will re-air at 4 p.m. ET on the same network (Team USA’s ESPN schedule). If you’ll be in the Baltimore/D.C. area, hop up to Sparks, Md., for the WPLL championship game at 5 p.m. (ticket info).

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