Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. What a weekend. The U.S. national team added two more wins to its FIL World Championship slate on Saturday and Sunday, moving to 3-0 with victories over Australia (a blowout) and Canada (a thrilling one-goal affair).
Let’s start with the most recent win — an 11-10 battle against international rival Canada. In what could be a preview for the July 21 final, Paul Rabil’s goal with just over a minute left proved to be the game-winner for the U.S. Rabil’s roll dodge tripped up Canada midfielder Tyson Bell, creating space for him to rifle home the winner.
PAUL RABIL GIVES @USAMLax THE LEAD!
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 15, 2018
He keeps his footing, spins and fires it home to make it 11-10 with just over a minute left. pic.twitter.com/I6ccbqBG6t
The U.S. won the ensuing faceoff, but Canada asked for a stick check on faceoff man Greg Gurenlian — one that came back as an illegal stick. That meant Canada played the remainder of the game man-up. However, Joe Fletcher forced a vital turnover and goalie John Galloway picked up the ground ball to seal the win.
.@USAMLax SURVIVES.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 15, 2018
U.S. defense forces a turnover after @CanadaLacrosse calls for a stick check and refs find an illegal stick. 11-10 final. Who wants another round of this? pic.twitter.com/4mjPg0HCRh
Rabil finished the game with a team-high four points on a goal and three assists. Ryan Brown also contributed a hat trick in the win.
It was an exciting matchup, but maybe not one that reached the level of the 1998 world championship final. Read an oral history of that game.
In Saturday’s matchup with Australia, the U.S. jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, en route to a 19-1 victory. Early was an understatement, as Kevin Unterstein scored just 17 seconds into the game.
Wake up, we have some @USAMLax coming at you! Kevin Unterstein wakes everyone up with a laser just seconds into the game. #USAMLAX leads @laxaus 1-0. pic.twitter.com/SxChmAEtq2
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 14, 2018
Team USA pushed the lead to 5-0 early in the first half, and Brown fueled a seven-goal effort in the second quarter to make it 12-0 at half. Australia’s lone goal came in the third quarter from the stick of Nigel Morton.
In what was a routine win, the U.S. national team lost goalie Jack Kelly, who suffered a non-contact injury in the second half. Kelly did not dress for the game against Canada.
Stay tuned for more from Israel this week.
2. Katrina Dowd resigned from her post as Oregon women’s lacrosse head coach on Friday, citing the interest “in pursuing other opportunities.” U.S. national team gold medalist Becca Block will take over as interim coach.
Dowd, the former North Carolina assistant and U.S. national team member, spent two seasons at the helm of the Oregon program, putting together an 18-17 record. She's been spending the summer on the roster for the UWLX’s Long Island Sound.
She was hired as the second head coach in Oregon history in June of 2016.
3. Israel is off to a strong start as the host team in the FIL World Championship. Sitting at 2-0 so far in the competition, Israel leads the Red Division.
In its opening game on Thursday, Israel used two five-goal runs to down tournament debutant Jamaica 11-3. It followed that up with a 19-2 blowout of Russia on Saturday. Zachary Pall had the highlight performance, with five goals in the victory over Russia.
4. The WPLL capped its inaugural season with a bang — a last-minute thriller between the Baltimore Brave and New England Command on Tierney Field at US Lacrosse Headquarters on Saturday night.
Former North Carolina star Aly Messinger scored the game-winning goal with 19.5 seconds left to give the Command the 12-11 victory and seal the WPLL championship over the previously undefeated Brave.
WHAT A GAME. @NE_Command gets the turnovers and Aly Messinger scores the game-winner with 19.5 seconds left to seal the @prowomenslax title. pic.twitter.com/8XusM559AH
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 14, 2018
The championship was the culmination of months of work from founder Michelle DeJuliis, Commissioner Jen Adams and others to launch the second women’s professional league.
5. The Iroquois Nationals are in Israel and playing for a spot on the podium. But the team’s fate was in jeopardy last week, as it was delayed in the airport in Toronto attempting to fly to Israel.
Israeli officials wanted Canada to vouch for the players, who refuse to travel on American or Canadian passports because they say it undermines their sovereignty. However, the FIL, along with names like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and San Diego Seals owner Joseph Tsai stepped in to assist the Iroquois Nationals.
The lobbying worked, as the team boarded two separate flights to Tel Aviv and made it in time to face Team USA on Thursday night.
