SAN DIEGO — For the 10th time in the 56-year history of the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, it will come down to Canada and the United States for the gold medal.
The U.S. (6-0) remained unbeaten in San Diego, defeating Australia 11-2 in the semifinals Thursday at Snapdragon Stadium.
Michael Sowers (pictured) and Ryan Conrad each contributed two goals and an assist among eight different scorers. They’ve scored in every game of the tournament, as has midfield mate Charlie Bertrand.
“It’s super special to be able to wear these colors, compete on our home soil and play with these guys,” said Sowers, who is tied for the team lead with 10 goals. “Big one Saturday. We’re fired up.”
Faceoff specialists Trevor Baptiste (8-for-8) and TD Ierlan (7-for-9) tilted the field again for the U.S. They’re up to 83 percent through six games.
Defensively, the U.S. was aggressive and disruptive, causing 11 of Australia’s 14 turnovers. Jack Rowlett had a team-high three caused turnovers and Danny Logan swooped in for five ground balls. Goalie Blaze Riorden made four saves in the second half. As a unit, the U.S. allows just 3.52 goals per game.
For the second straight game, the Americans started slow. They led just 2-1 early in the second quarter before scoring three goals in three minutes. Conrad drew a double team and fed an open Kieran McArdle for a goal, Brennan O’Neill hit a lefty shot on the run from the high wing and Conrad converted a Bertrand feed from the left alley.
It was 6-2 at halftime. Sowers kept the good vibes going in the third quarter, isolating a short stick on the wing, getting underneath the defender and launching himself in front of the goal to score midair at the 4:45 mark. A high bouncer by Connor Kelly and a fortuitous carom off an Australian defenseman’s knee on an errant cross-body shot by Conrad made it 9-2 U.S.
Better ball movement in the fourth quarter led to a pair of goals assisted by Rob Pannell, the Americans’ newly minted all-time scoring leader. He threw a leading pass that Sowers corralled while curling around the goal from behind for an easy dunk and made the extra feed to Matt Rambo on the tail end of a fast break that started with a Riorden save and outlet on the other end of the field.
Canada (5-1) survived a stiff test from the Haudenosaunee earlier in the day, prevailing 12-7. Goalie Dillon Ward made 11 saves and midfielder Dhane Smith had three goals and an assist in the winning effort. Haudenosaunee attackman Austin Staats scored a game-high four goals, including three unanswered in the fourth quarter during a short-lived rally.
“We’re being more aggressive,” Smith said. “We’re all good at playing with speed. That’s the game plan moving forward. We need to put the defense on their heels.”
The North American lacrosse superpowers have been on a collision course since June 21, when the U.S. opened the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship with a 7-5 win over Canada in front of an energetic crowd at Snapdragon Stadium.
They’ve met in the last six gold medal games, with the U.S. prevailing in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2018 and Canada winning in 2006 and 2014.
Five of the games have been decided by three goals or fewer, including the Americans’ 15-14 overtime triumph in 1998 and their 9-8 victory in 2018 clinched on a last-second goal by Tom Schreiber, who returned to the U.S. lineup Thursday after a three-game absence.
2023 WORLD LACROSSE MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal Results (Thursday)
(1) United States def (4) Australia 11-2
(2) Canada def (3) Haudenosaunee 12-7
Bronze Medal Game (Saturday)
(4) Australia vs. (3) Haudenosaunee
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT (ESPNU)
Gold Medal Game (Saturday)
(2) Canada vs. (1) United States
7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (ESPN2)
