UTICA, N.Y. — The United States scored the final five goals of the game, overcoming a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit to beat Canada, 10-7, in the inaugural World Lacrosse Women’s Championship.
With the score tied 5-5 in the fourth quarter, the U.S was hit with two penalties, giving Canada a 5-3 advantage. U.S. goalie Ingrid Boyum made three saves during the 5-on-3, but Canada scored just after the penalties ended when Erica Evans scored on a breakaway after picking up a long ground ball that was flicked out of the U.S. zone. Dacid Cordingley scored just 19 seconds later to give Canada a 7-5 lead with 8:10 remaining in the game.
“We had to really push, there was a decision they had to make,” said U.S. head coach Ginny Capicchioni. “They were talking to each other. When we came back, it was the way it’s always been I can’t tell you how proud I am of this team.”
The U.S. answered almost right away. Livy Rosenzweig, one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA lacrosse history, buried her third goal of the fourth quarter just 15 seconds later to get the U.S. back within one goal
“I think we were able to move the ball a lot better, we were able to swing it through X and that’s where in field lacrosse I’m pretty comfortable,” Rosenzweig said. “When I was back there, I was able to calm down a little bit and see what was going on back there and read the plays. Our chemistry and ball movement was so much better in that fourth quarter.”
One of the pivotal plays of the game came with 5:42 to play. Erin Bakes passed the ball in front of the crease, but it was deflected by Canada’s Rachel Lepine. The ball hit off the back of Canada goalie Kayla Konda into the game to tie things up.
Less than a minute later, Bakes ripped one home from Rosenzweig and then Charlotte North gave the U.S. a two-goal lead at the 4:17 mark.
Boyum then made three clutch saves in the final 3:30 of the game and Ally Kennedy scored the punctuating goal on an empty-netter with 55 seconds left.
Boyum was phenomenal in goal, frequently turning away 1-on-none Canada opportunities in the game. She finished with 43 saves.
“We climbed a mountain to get here and we climbed a mountain in that game,” Boyum said. “It was a battle the whole way, all 60 minutes. I’m just so proud of this team effort to pull it out.”
This was the first time the U.S. ever fielded a women's box team and they embraced the pioneering spirt, calling themselves Team One. Most of the players picked up box lacrosse within the last 18 months.
Rosenzweig paced the U.S. offense with three goals and two assists, Bakes had two goals and an assist, Kennedy had two goals and Ally Mastroianni had a goal and two assists.
Evans had a goal and four assists for Canada and Kondo made 35 saves.
This was the ninth consecutive women’s world championship matching up Canada and the United States between World Lacrosse events (senior and U19/U20) and The World Games. The last time anyone else played in a championship game was in 2011 when the U.S. defeated Australia to win the U19 world championship in Hannover, Germany.
