Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/13/11
From Press Releases
The United States held off a spirited challenge from Australia to claim a 14-11 victory and its fourth straight U-19 world championship today at the Federation of International finals at Hannover, Germany.
The USA squad, getting a strong effort at center from All-World pick Taylor Trimble (Episcopal Academy), closed a perfect 8-0 in the tourney despite a major challenge from an Aussie team that it whipped, 20-7, just four days earlier.
USA has played Australia in each of the five title games since the tourney began in 1995. In that year, Australia edged the USA, 5-4, at Haverford College. Since then team USA has defeated Australia handily – until today when the Aussies led for much of the early-going until the US rallied from deficits of 6-3 and 7-5.
“It’s just incredible,” said Trimble, the team captain. “We had every reason to freak out. We had never been in that position before, but we were poised, and it resulted in a victory.
“Turning around with the world cup and seeing everyone’s faces was just so great.”
Team USA also featured goalie Allie Murray (Downingtown East), who played in every game except the final.
“Just saying those words – World Champions! You can’t even get your mind around it and what that feels like,” U.S. head coach Krystin Porcella said. “The excitement of being in the world championship was so close, and I think it got to us a bit in the beginning. We were nervous, but we were able to find ourselves.”
Attackers Cortney Fortunato and Covie Stanwick led the Americans with three goals each. Midfielder Tatum Coffey (2g) won player of the match for her tough play between the lines on the fiercely contested draws.
Australia opened the scoring on a crease roll by attacker Sarah Lowe (3g, 1a), and the two teams traded goals until the U.S. went up 3-2 on an unassisted tally from Mikeala Rix.
Then Australia, led by Danielle Mollison (5g), went on a four-goal run to make it 6-3. Australian goalie Elizabeth Hinkes (8 saves) was a standout in the cage, frustrating the powerful American offense.
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Rix stopped the Australian run with another unassisted goal, and Kelly McPartland (1g) scored on a free position to cut the deficit to 6-5. Mollison added another goal on an assist from Lowe, but Brigid Smith scored on a free position and Stanwick beat Hinkes on a bounce shot to make the score 7-7 at the half.
In the second half, the Americans began to take control behind a pressure defense and strong goaltending from Kelsey Duryea (seven of nine saves in second half). The US took a 12-8 lead and then 14-10, but Australia continued to press until the final whistle.
Box Score: USA 14, Australia 11
USA
Goals: Stanwick 3, Fortunato 3, Cook 2, Rix 2, Coffey 1, McPartland 1, Smith 1, Treanor 1
Assists: Acton 1, Coffey 1, Fortunato 1
Saves: Duryea (9 saves, 11GA)
Draw Controls: 11-27
AUSTRALIA
Goals: Mollison 5, Lowe 3, D. Justice Allen 2, Pickett 1
Assists: Bowland Curtis 1, D. Justice Allen 1, Lowe 1
Saves: Hinkes (8 saves, 14 GA)
Draw Controls: 16-27
FIL U19 All-World Team
A Cortney Fortunato USA
A Erin McMunn USA
A Danielle Mollison AUS
M Darcy Justice Allen AUS
M Taylor Landry CAN
M Kaylin Morisette CAN
M Mikaela Rix USA
M Taylor Trimble USA
D Stephanie McNamara AUS
D Caleigh Sindall USA
D Ruby Smith ENG
G Katie Donohue CAN
Final Top 7
1. USA
2. Australia
3. Canada
4. England
5. Wales
6. Scotland
7. Japan
All U-19 champions
1995: Australia 5, USA 4 (Haverford, Pa.)
1999: USA 15, Australia 8 (Perth, Australia)
2003: USA 21, Australia 8 (Towson, Md.)
2007: USA 18, Australia 3 (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)
2011: USA 14, Australia 11 (Hannover, Germany)
Below are Team USA’s game-by-game results for the 2011 tourney:
Aug. 4: USA 19, Japan 5
Aug. 5: USA 13, Canada 6
Aug. 6: USA 15, Haudenosaunee 3
Aug. 7: USA 16, England 5
Aug. 9: USA 20, Australia 7
Aug. 10: USA 13, Scotland 1 (quarterfinal)
Aug. 12: USA 19, England 5 (semifinal)
Aug. 13: USA 14, Australia 11 (final)
