The United States looks to continue its impressive run in the FIL World Lacrosse Championships when it faces Australia on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The U.S. has been dominant, especially over its last three games, outscoring opponents by a combined 59-9 highlighted by its most recent 18-5 win over the high-powered Iroquois Nationals. Australia gave the United States one of its tougher games, falling 16-7 in each team’s second game of pool play. Australia defeated Israel 9-8 to advance to the semifinals while the U.S. earned a bye after winning the Blue Division.
Down 4-3 to Israel after the first half of Wednesday’s quarterfinal, Australia responded by holding a 4-2 third-quarter advantage which proved to be the difference. Marty Hyde led a balanced offensive attack with two goals while Tom Vickery was a difference maker in goal, making 12 saves while allowing just four goals in just over 62 minutes. Australia struggled at the faceoff X, winning just 4-of-20; the squad won just 6-of-23 vs. the United States in the first meeting.
In that first showdown, Australia came out strongly, tying the score at two more than halfway into the first quarter. Team USA used a 4-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, but Australia wouldn’t go away and pulled within 8-5 early in the third stanza. The Red, White and Blue responded by outscoring Australia 9-1 the rest of the way for the runaway victory.
Matt Diver posted a hat trick to lead Australia’s offense while David Lawson and Paul Rabil each had four goals to lead the U.S.
The United States is riding high after perhaps its most impressive game of the tournament. Rob Pannell scored seven goals to lead his squad to a dominant 18-5 victory over the Iroquois, in a game that was expected to be competitive.
The U.S. scored the game’s first 11 goals and held the Iroquois scoreless until the third quarter. Team USA allowed just 14 shots, seven in each half, due in part to the dominance of faceoff men Chris Eck and Greg Gurenlian who finished a combined 17-of-24 and have won 80 percent of their draws in this tournament.
The winner of Thursday’s semifinal will face the winner of Canada and Iroquois in Saturday’s World Championship Game at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The U.S. is vying for a 10th world championship in 12 all-time tournaments. The United States has finished first or second in all 11 previous tournaments.
