USA Meets Israel in World Lacrosse Men's Championship Quarterfinals

SAN DIEGO — The defending world champion and top-seeded United States will play Israel in the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship quarterfinals Wednesday at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. The game is at 10 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Pacific and will be televised nationally on ESPNU/ESPN+. 

The U.S. has been off since Sunday, earning a first-round bye thanks to its 4-0 finish in Pool A. Attackmen Rob Pannell and Kieran McArdle lead the team with 12 points apiece, while Trevor Baptiste (29-for-39) and TD Ierlan (32-for-37) have combined to win 80 percent of faceoffs.

Defenseman Jesse Bernhardt anchors a unit that has allowed just four goals per game with a team-high seven caused turnovers.

Pannell and Bernhardt are playing in their third world championship for the U.S. team. Pannell is up to 65 points in his international career, two shy of the U.S. record held by Mark Millon.

Israel (5-0) also is undefeated, winning all four of its Pool C games and then holding off Ireland 6-5 in a first-round playoff Tuesday at San Diego State University.

Tied at 1 at halftime, Israel broke open the game with four unanswered goals in the third quarter but needed goalie Drew Morris to make his 10th save with 17 seconds left after Ireland rallied late.

The United States is 70-4 all-time in world championship competition and has won the gold medal 10 times dating back to 1967. The winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal will play either Australia or England in the semifinals Thursday.

WORLD LACROSSE MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

First-Round Results (Tuesday)

(3) Haudenosaunee def (14) Hong Kong 13-3 

(4) Australia def (13) Netherlands 18-7

(5) England def (12) Puerto Rico 7-6 (OT)

(6) Japan def (11) Germany 9-4 

(10) Jamaica def (7) Italy 7-6

(8) Israel def (9) Ireland 6-5

Quarterfinal Schedule (Wednesday)

(5) England vs. (4) Australia – 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (ESPN+)

(6) Japan vs. (3) Haudenosaunee – 4 p.m./1 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

(10) Jamaica vs. (2) Canada – 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

(8) Israel vs. (1) USA – 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT (ESPNU/ESPN+)