Photo Credit: Di Miller
It’s Day Three of the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, in Commerce City, Colorado. Team USA who were the World Champions in the 2010 FIL games, will face-off against Team Australia who placed third in 2010. Both teams were victorious in their opening games, USA defeated Canada 10-7; and Australia took their game against Japan into triple over-time with Australia winning the contest 14-13. The two will see each other on the fields Saturday July 12 at 5:00 p.m.
So, how do these two teams match up? Team USA decisively controlled its game against Team Canada for two quarters in their meeting on opening night July 11; and Team Australia played probably the best game so far in the FIL this year. Team Australia started training for the games in June after they arrived in Colorado to acclimate themselves to the higher altitudes. They also participated in the Vail Lacrosse Shoot Out the beginning of July. In each of the ten times the games have occurred, they have never placed below third. It is obvious that they want to walk away the FIL World Lacrosse Champs in 2014.
However, Team USA has the best of the best on its roster including Paul Rabil (Boston Cannons); Jesse Schwartzman (Denver Outlaws); Kevin Leveille (Rochester Rattlers); Chris Eck (Boston Cannons); and Ned Crotty (New York Lizards) to name a few. All of the players on Team USA have played at the professional level whether it was in the NLL or MLL, some playing both leagues. They have league leading scorers; one of the best goalies in the league; and after watching them against Team Canada, it’s apparent that although they are from different teams within professional lacrosse, it hasn’t affected their ability to control the ball well.
In the first game of the FIL, Team USA had three players score two goals; and another four who each scored one. On face-offs, USA dominated by winning 12 of 21; Schwartzman had 7 saves on 14 shots, a .500 Save%; and 25 GB.
In the Team Australia versus Team Japan, Australia had nine different players scoring: Nigel Morton 3—G, 1 A; James Lawerson—2 G; William Pickett—2 G; Nathan Stiglich—1 G, 1 A; and Luke Keesling, Sam Bullock, Callum Robinson (an NCAA DIII first-team All-American for Stevenson playing for the Aussie’s for the first time), and Stephen Mortimer all with one goal apiece. They had 39 SOG; 12 saves; 33 GB; and 19 TO. Australia would have four different players taking the face-offs, their strongest were Luke Keesling 7-13 FOW; and Callum Robinson 3-5 FOW.
The teams should match up fairly well in their game today, but Team USA has the upper-hand with extremely strong attack-lines; quick mid-fielders; aggressive defenseman; and two of the best goalies in the USA.
Australia needs to keep in check Paul Rabil, Kevin Buchanan and Rob Pannell. Since they have four different players taking face-offs against Team USA (Chris Eck and Greg Gurenlian) it will be imperative for them to win the face-offs, and keep the ball away from Team USA.
Team USA must watch out for Nathan Stiglich, Nigel Morton and Benjamin Newman.
With a running clock, and no shot clock, the teams can control the ball to their advantage. Whoever is up in the fourth quarter, and can control the ball for those last few minutes of the game, will most definitely come up with the win.
