Photo Credit: Di Miller
It’s the final day of the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships, and fans from across the world have been treated to some great lacrosse during the last nine days. As everyone anticipated, Team USA will face Team Canada in the championship game to be played in the stadium at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado at 7:00 p.m. tonight followed by the closing ceremonies at 9:30 p.m.
The only loss Team Canada has is against Team USA on Opening Day, when Team USA won by the score of 10-7. Team Canada went on an amazing winning streak after their first loss, beating every opponent by a wide margin, with the exception of Team Iroquois in their first meeting.
Team USA has dominated every team in the Blue Division, their strength in offense; defense; at the face-off position; and in goal have been the key factors to their success.
Between the two teams they have 10 different players in nine of the Individual Lacrosse Statistics leaders. Here’s how they match up.
Goals Per Game
Team Canada—Ninth Curtis Dickson (Denver Outlaws), 6 GP, 17 G, 2.83 Avg/gm
Team USA—14th Rob Pannell (New York Lizards), 6 GP, 16 G, 2.67 Avg/gm; 17th Paul Rabil (Boston Cannons) 6 GP, 15 G, 2.50 Avg/gm
Assists Per Game
Team USA—Tied for Fifth Rob Pannell, 6 GP, 12, 2.00 Avg/gm
Points Per Game
Team USA—Eighth Rob Pannell, 6 GP, 16 G, 12 A, 28 Pts, 2.67 Avg/gm; 20th Paul Rabil, 6 GP, 15 G, 8 A, 23 Pts,
3.83 Avg/gm
Team Canada—21st Mark Matthews (New York Lizards), 6 GP, 14 G, 8 A, 22 Pts, 3.67 Avg/gm; 26th Curtis Dickson, 6 GP, 17 G, 4 A, 21 Pts, 3.50 Avg/gm; and Tied for 35th Jeremy Noble (Denver Outlaws), 6 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 19 Pts, 3.17 Avg/gm
Game Winning Goals
Team Canada—Tied for Third Curtis Dickson, 6 GP, 2 GWG, .33 Avg/gm
Team USA—Tied for Third Rob Pannell, 6 GP, 2 GWG, .33 Avg/gm
Ground Balls
Team Canada—Seventh Geoff Snider (Charlotte Hounds), 6 GP, 40 GB, 6.67 Avg/gm
Team USA—Ninth Chris Eck (Boston Cannons), 6 GP, 39 GB, .650 Avg/gm; Tenth Greg Gurenlian (New York Lizards),
6 GP, 36 GB, 6.00 Avg/gm
Goals Against Average
Team USA—First Jesse Schwartzman (Denver Outlaws), 6 GP, 259.09 min, 3.70 GAA
Team Canada—Fourth Dillon Ward (Florida Launch), 6 GP, 409.48 min, 4.54 GAA
Save Percentage
Team Canada—Fourth Dillon Ward, 6 GP, 52 Saves, 31 GA, .627 Save%
Team USA—12th Jesse Schwartzman, 6 GP, 18 Saves, 16 GA, .529 Save%
Face-Off Percentage
Team USA—Second Greg Gurenlian, 6 GP, 57 FOW, 10 FOL, .852 FOPCT; Third Chris Eck, 6 GP, 61 FOW, 19 FOL,
.762 FOPCT
Team Canada—Ninth Geoff Snider, 6 GP, 78 FOW, 39 FOL, .667 FOPCT
Both Team USA and Team Canada have some of the best lacrosse players in the world. Team USA has been spectacular, and Team Canada turned it around after their first loss.
So what does Team Canada need to do to keep Team USA from scoring? They will have to defend Rob Pannell, and Paul Rabil; in fact, there isn’t a player on Attack or Midfield that won’t be a threat to score. Jesse Schwartzman will no doubt get the start in the game; he sits Number One with the lowest GAA (3.70) amongst all 38 teams who competed. They will have to win the face-offs against Greg Gurenlian, and Chris Eck (Number Two & Number Three) who have both dominated in every game. To sum it up, Team Canada is going to have to play a tight game; and one of their best games of the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships if they want to beat the reigning World Champions Team USA.
How about Team USA, who do they need to watch out for? The defense needs to keep Curtis Dickson and Mark Matthews away from the net; and Jeremy Noble is also a threat. Team Canada has a strong offense; and great goal-tending in Dillon Ward, but can they overcome the unstoppable Team USA?
I foresee an exciting game; one with a lot of aggressive play; amazing goal-tending; and one that the fans will be talking about for quite some time.
I predict Team USA as the winner of this game, but they will have to earn it as Team Canada is ready to take over the Number One spot and become the FIL World Lacrosse Champions in 2014.
