Photo Credit: Di Miller
Day Four of the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships were underway. The weather from the past two days was yet again going to play a factor in whether or not the afternoon and evening games would be delayed. Luckily for Team USA and Team Japan, they were able to begin play prior to severe storms yet again affecting the evening games. Team USA entered the field proudly carrying the “Stars & Stripes” screaming “USA”. The fans were excited to see their team on the field for another action-packed game of lacrosse where the best of the best from the USA would compete. Team Japan who was admitted into the FIL in 1990, with their first appearance in 1997, finishing fourth in 2010 were hoping to be the first team in the games to defeat Team USA. Team USA was coming into this game undefeated, while Team Japan was 0-2. It was evident that Japan desperately wanted the win, but it wasn’t in the cards for them. Final Score USA 21-Japan 3.
In the first quarter of play, Team USA would put seven goals on the board with Japan scoring none. USA would get goals from Kevin Leveille (Rochester Rattlers); Brendan Mundorf (Chesapeake Bayhawks); David Lawson (Rochester Rattlers); Kevin Buchanan (Boston Cannons) 2 G; Ned Crotty (New York Lizards); and Rob Pannell (New York Lizards). Team Japan would be shut out. Final score at the end of the first quarter USA 7, Japan 0.
Heading into the second quarter, Team USA would dominate yet again. Garrett Thul (Florida Launch); Leveille; Paul Rabil (Boston Cannons); Mundorf; Max Siebald (New York Lizards); and Marcus Holman (Ohio Machine) would all score. The only point put on the board by Team Japan would come from Yuji Tadahira with .59 seconds left in the half. Team USA was still up 13-1.
Team USA dominated another quarter yet again, and would see Thul (2 G); Lawson; Leveille; and Crotty (2 G) all score. Team Japan would be shut-out for the second time in the game. Score at the end of the third, Team USA up 19-1.
By the time the fourth quarter began, you could see the frustration on Team Japan and their play would become more aggressive. Team USA would see goals by Mundorf; and Crotty. Team Japan would get their final two goals of the game when Ryu Matsushita would score on man-up; and Wataru Tsugu would score the final goal of the game with only 10 seconds remaining on the clock.
Team USA would see four players with hat-tricks: Ned Crotty 4 G, 1 A; Brendan Mundorf 3 G, 2 A; Garrett Thul 3 G; and Kevin Leveille 3 G. They would also dominate on face-offs with Chris Eck (Boston Cannons) going 13-15 FOW (.867%); and Greg Gurenlian going 10-11 FOW (.909%). Team Japan’s only face-off wins would come from face-off violations.
Team Stats
Team USA—21 G, 14 A, 46 Shots, 33 GB, 15 TO, 3 CT, 23-26 FOW
Team Japan—3 G, 2 A, 22 Shots, 22 GB, 15 TO, 4 CT, 3-26 FOW
MVP’s of the game go to Team USA’s Ned Crotty 4 G, 1A; and Brendan Mundorf 3 G, 2 A.
On Monday July 14, Team Japan (0-3) will go head-to-head against Team Canada (2-1) at 2:00 p.m. Team USA meets up to face Team England (0-3) at 5:00 p.m. Both games will be played on Field 10.
