The favored U.S. lacrosse team will try to stay ahead of its closest pursuer, Canada, today in divisional play at the world championships in London, Ontario. Both teams are undefeated in their opening games at the University of Western Ontario.
Canada beat Japan 18-7 on Friday and defeated the Iroquois Nationals 12-8 on Saturday. The U.S. beat Australia 20-8 and England 25-5.
Through 44 tournament matches, the U.S. has lost only once: to Canada in 1978.
“We know to take it one game at a time,” said U.S. goaltender Trevor Tierney, who held England scoreless in the second half, facing only two shots. “Each of us has that pressure – we don’t want to be the first to lose since 1978. I remember that with the 2002 team. It is the most pressure I’ve felt in lacrosse.”
The U.S. offense is led by the Powell brothers: Mikey, Ryan and Casey. In two games, they’ve combined for 29 points. Colorado Mammoth player Jay Jalbert has scored four goals for the U.S.
Canada’s offense is led by John Grant Jr. with seven goals and six assists and Gary Gait with five goals and two assists.
Gait, coach of the National Lacrosse League champion Mammoth, retired from the arena game of the NLL 15 months ago. At 39 he can still play the field game but is restricted to the offensive zone as an attackman rather than roaming the entire field as he did as a midfielder.
While the prospect of stopping close-range shots set up by the deceptive moves of Gait and Grant and high-speed shots from a distance by Gavin Prout and Jeff Zywicki appear daunting, Tierney is prepared.
“It’s very challenging,” he said. “But it is not something I’ve never seen before.”
And while the focus is on today’s matchup, Tierney is enjoying the 21-nation event.
“It is cool to see how the game is spreading around the world,” he said. “There are kids playing lacrosse in Hong Kong, Japan and Italy. That’s cool to see and it makes you realize how lucky you are to represent your country. Being part of this is really special.”
