Good morning. Here's the latest from the lacrosse world:

1. Team USA is semifinal bound.

The U.S. is two wins away from its fourth straight world championship. After only leading 4-2 at the end of a rain-soaked first quarter, the offense got to work, outscoring the Japanese 14-1 the rest of the way for an 18-3 win.

Kayla Treanor tallied four goals on five shots and added two assists. Charlotte North finished with a hat trick and two assists, while Sam Apuzzo scored three times and dished one helper.  

The Americans have not lost in the world championship since 2009, a streak of 28 games. They’ll face Australia tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The U.S. beat Australia 16-5 on Sunday.

2. England, Australia and Canada also secured spots in the semifinals.

It’ll be an all-Pool A affair. Former Maryland star Megan Whittle and former Princeton standout Olivia Hompe combined for nine points in England’s 13-5 rout of Israel

Haudenosaunee stunned Scotland on Tuesday but couldn’t do the same against Australia. Hannah Nielsen’s five-point performance carried the Aussies to a 17-3 victory.

The Canadians downed the Czech Republic, 15-7, behind hat tricks from Erica Evans and Hannah Morris.

Scotland, the lone Pool A team not in the quarterfinals, bounced back with a 9-8 win over Ireland in the consolation bracket.

Catch up on everything in our daily wrap from the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship.

3. Italy and Norway staged a thriller in the platinum bracket

In the final game Wednesday, Italy beat Norway on Stephanie Colson’s game-winner with 97 seconds left in overtime. Italy joined the Netherlands, China and Latvia in the platinum bracket’s semifinal round.  

In the consolation round, Argentina made history by netting its first world championship win, 15-3 over Colombia.

4. More coaching changes in college lacrosse.

Mercer men’s lacrosse coach Chad Surman told players he is stepping down as head coach, according to a report from Ty Xanders of Inside Lacrosse. Mercer finished 5-10 overall and 2-3 in the SoCon in 2022. The athletic department has not confirmed his departure.

Colleen McCaffrey has been named the new women’s lacrosse coach at George Washington, the athletic department announced Wednesday. McCaffrey was most recently the associate head coach at Bryant, where she helped lead the Bears to a regular-season title.

Jake Bernhardt is returning to Maryland, where he was a two-time captain, as offensive coordinator.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• World Lacrosse Sixes debuts Friday at Alabama’s PNC Field in Birmingham.

• The Syracuse lacrosse community and police are coming together to build positive relationships, writes Vanessa Rizzitano of CNY Central.

• Troy Nunes breaks down the Syracuse players participating in the world championship.

• There’s a new stick on the market, and it’s turning the game on its head. Lacrosse All Stars takes a look at the controversial Gait D.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Charlotte North took a feed from Taylor Cummings and literally made a splash.

THE PASS
THE SHOT
THE SPLASH

Do your thing @SportsCenter. @charlotteocho8 is coming for #SCTop10. pic.twitter.com/E7ENNEZVbz

— U.S. Women's National Team (@USAWLax) July 7, 2022

Lizzie Colson found time to host a yard sale.

YARD SALEEEEE. @LizzieColson making them sticks FLY. Get it girl. pic.twitter.com/Bc2fLpAtgi

— U.S. Women's National Team (@USAWLax) July 7, 2022

Haudenosaunee may have lost, but Miya Scanlan won the Internet with this pretty goal.
 

Miya Scanlan are you KIDDING!?

Someone call @SportsCenter because we think we found you one of Wednesday's Top Plays #SCTop10

h/t @WorldLax2022//ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/SdTxftG192

— HAUDENOSAUNEE NATIONALS LACROSSE (@HAU_Nationals) July 6, 2022

WHAT’S ON TAP

We’ll have full coverage of the semifinal round of the world championship.