Canada Earns Semi-Final Berth and Top Seed with Victory.
USA faces Ireland in Quarter Finals Thursday.
If you were to look at the stat sheet after the final buzzer, you would see that not only did the USA out shoot Canada 44-40, but also picked up 68 ground balls to Canada’s 57. But unfortunately for USA those numbers were not the ones you go by to decide a winner in the game.
Ryan Benesch (6 G, 1 A), Dhane Smith (3 G, 4 A) led Canada while Chris Corbiel, Zack Greer and Jordan MacIntosh scored two goals each as Canada made a close game at halftime a complete runaway as Canada (3-0) defeated USA (2-2) 18-7. With the victory Canada moves to 20-0 all time in the World Indoor Lacrosse Tournament, but more importantly they secured the top seed in the Blue Division and a berth in the semi-finals.
After opening up to a 3-0 lead in the first six minutes of play, USA only trailed by two at 5-3 after the first quarter. The same score would be echoed in the second as Canada was up 10-6 at the half after USA scored the last two goals and built some momentum. Then the second half started.
Matt Vinc went on lockdown mode and showed why he is a four time winner of Goaltender of the Year in the National Lacrosse League (2010-2011, 2013-2014) and a finalist for the award again this year.
Vino, as he is known throughout the lacrosse world, allowed just one goal in the final 30 minutes as Canada would lock the game away with a four goal run before six minutes ran off the clock, they would also have another four goal run that only took three minutes to accomplish in the final seven minutes of the game.
The one bright spot for USA was Kevin Buchanan. Buchanan scored three times, two of which as he flew threw the air across the crease. When Buchanan takes to the air it seems he can hang for days.
Joe Walters would score twice and single markers by Jeff Ratcliffe and Joe Resetarits would be all the goals USA would score. Casey Powell added six assists.
USA has off Wednesday as they prepare for a quarter-final game against team Ireland on Thursday with a 4:30 pm start at the Onondaga Arena. A win would put them into the semi-finals, setting up a rematch against the Iroquois National team in a rematch from day one. And with Casey Powell in the lineup, anything can happen. But for that to happen, USA must put in a solid 60 minutes against Ireland.
Canada will have off until Friday when they face the winner of Israel/Czech Republic on Thursday.
