The United States downed Puerto Rico 28-4 on Saturday to remain undefeated in the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship in Hong Kong, China. The U.S. is on top of Pool A with a 2-0 record and has two more pool play games before bracket play opens on Wednesday.
Madison Taylor, a Tewaaraton finalist as a sophomore at Northwestern this season, earned Player of the Match honors after piling up nine points on five goals and four assists in three quarters of action on the offensive end of the field. Emma LoPinto, an All-American at Boston College this year, also had another big day with five goals and three assists. LoPinto (9g, 8a) and Taylor (12g, 4a) have combined for 33 points in the first two games.
The U.S. started hot again with a nine-goal outburst in the first quarter, but Puerto Rico, playing against the U.S. for the first time in an international championship, played spirited and strung together three straight goals from Hannah Lewis, Maya Maldonado and Victoria Rankin late in the first half, but USA’s Noel Cumberland scored with just one second left in the first half to stop the momentum. The U.S. then blanked Puerto Rico 8-0 in the third quarter to pull away.
With Maddie Epke and Madi Smith on the draw circle, the U.S. continued to control possession, winning 25 of 33 in the game. Epke finished with a game-high 10 draw controls.
Shea Baker and Lydia Colasante helped lead another strong defensive effort with a pair of caused turnovers each. Shea Dolce made three first half saves and Francesca Argentieri made one save while allowing just one second half goal to close things out.
Cumberland finished wth four goals to help spur the U.S. offense while Brigid Duffy had a hat trick, Kate Levy had two goals and two assists and Haven Dora had three assists.
The U.S. plays China on Sunday at 5 p.m. local time in Hong Kong (5 a.m. Eastern) before an off day on Monday. They will wrap up pool play on Tuesday against Israel.
