The United States and Canada earned dominant victories in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship semifinals on Friday, July 31.
At Tokyo’s Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, the four-time reigning champion US squad defeated Israel 19-7 in the second semifinal of the day.
Earlier, Canada collected an 18-5 decision over Haudenosaunee.
As a result, world No 1 US will face second-ranked Canada in the lacrosse tournament finale on Sunday night at 7.
Team USA has won nine of the previous 11 editions of the tournament, including the past four. It finished second the other two times, in 1986 and 2005.
Canada was the runner-up to the US in 2013, 2017 and 2022, when Team USA, the tourney host, triumphed 11-8 in the final in Towson, Maryland.
US midfielder Ally Mastroianni expects another intense clash in Sunday’s final.
“Any USA-Canada matchup is going to be a good one. A gold medal’s on the line,” Mastroianni was quoted as saying by USA Lacrosse Magazine’s website. “This is what we dream of. This is why we compete to get to this level and to win that gold medal.”
Israel and Haudenosaunee will meet in the bronze-medal match, starting at 4 PM. Both games will take place at the same venue used for Friday’s semifinals.
Taylor Ignites US in Rout of Israel
Attacker Madison Taylor led the high-powered US offense with five goals on six shots. She scored in the second, third and fourth quarters. Her dynamic performance included the Americans’ final goal of the match.
Eliza Osburn, who gave Team USA a 1-0 lead early in the first quarter, and Emma LoPinto had three goals apiece. Ally Kennedy, Marie McCool, Brigid Duffy, Chloe Humphrey, Izzy Scane and Kenzie Kent also tallied.
Israel’s Jordyn Lipkin delivered back-to-back goals late in the first period, the second of which was a free-position goal, to level the score at 3-3. (Lipkin has a tournament-best 18 goals.)
Israel’s Jordyn Lipkin (center) in action against the United States in the tournament semifinals. (©WORLD LACROSSE)
Kennedy restored the lead for Team USA with 1:33 remaining in the opening stanza, and the four-time reigning champs led the rest of the way.
The US pulled ahead 10-4 by the end of the second quarter. Heading into the final period, Israel trailed 12-6.
The Americans finished with 30 shots on goal to Israel’s 10.
US standout Sydney Scales, a defender, was picked as the Player of the Match.
Israel placed sixth at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in 2017 and 2022. Now it is assured of its best-ever finish in this global tournament.
Balanced Scoring for Canada in Semifinal Triumph
Attacker Kassidy Morris paced Canada with a match-high six goals on Friday.
With 11:37 left in the second quarter, Morris completed her hat trick, giving Canada a 9-1 lead over Haudenosaunee.
Canada’s Kassidy Morris (4) and Aurora Cordingley celebrate a goal against Haudenosaunee in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship semifinals on July 31. (©WORLD LACROSSE)
Aurora Cordingley, who scored the overtime winner against Japan in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, contributed four goals in the semifinal. Teammates Nicole Perroni, Annabel Child, Erica Evans, Madalyn Baxter, Hanna Bodner, Alissa Digiacinto and Raegan Wilson also scored.
Canada finished with a 26-9 advantage in shots on goal.
For Canada, hard-working defender Jordan Dean was named the Player of the Match.
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Author: Ed Odeven
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