Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/14/13
From US Lacrosse
In what was the highest-scoring game between the two nations in World Cup history, the U.S. Women’s National Team rode a late first-half surge to defeat Australia 18-9, in Oshawa, Canada.
The win keeps the U.S. atop Pool A with a record of 3-0 at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Cup.
Australia raced out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Lyndsey Paton and Hannah Nielsen (Northwestern University), but was quickly countered by the U.S. with back-to-back goals from Lindsey Munday (Northwestern University) and Katrina Dowd (Northwestern University). After trading two goals each, Dowd found Katie Rowan (Syracuse University) on the fast break to give Team USA a 5-4 lead that it would not relinquish.
Rowan goal spurred a seven-goal U.S. run over 13:35 that was keyed by three assists from Munday, the team’s captain, and a dominating stretch of possession. Team USA entered the half with an 11-5 lead, outshooting Australia 22-6 in the game’s first 30 minutes. Australia would get no closer as the U.S. pulled away for a nine-goal win.
Munday (1 g, 4a) was named player of the match, while Dowd led all scorers with six goals and one assist. Sarah Bullard (Duke University) chipped in with three goals, all on free-position shots, and teammates Rowan and Kristin Igoe (Boston College) added two goals and one assist each. The game’s combined 27 goals broke the previous high of 22 in a 14-8 U.S. victory over Australia in the 2001 World Cup final.
Team USA will next face host Canada (3-0) on Tuesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. ET. The winner of that contest will earn the number one overall seed in the championship bracket, which begins Wednesday, July 17. The U.S. owns a perfect 8-0 mark against Canada in World Cup play, and most recently earned a 17-6 exhibition win over Canada on May 25 at the US Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament in Bethlehem, Pa.
Federation of International Lacrosse Women’s World Cup
USA 11 7 – 18
AUS 5 4 – 9
Goals: USA – Dowd 6, Bullard 3, Igoe 2, Rowan 2, Albrecht 1, Carey 1, Etrasco 1, Munday 1, Schwarzmann 1; AUS – Nielsen 3, Sullivan 2, L. Paton 2, Mollison 1, Cursaro 1.
Assists: USA – Munday 4, Dowd 1, Igoe 1, Schwarzmann 1; AUS – LaMonica 1, Morton 1, Sullivan 1, Wickens 1.
Saves: USA – Huether 5, Wills 0; AUS – Hinkes 8, McSolvin 3.
Remaining Pool Play Schedule
July 16 – vs. Canada – 8 p.m. ET – #USAvsCAN
For more information on the U.S. Women’s National Team, including news, schedules, scores and live stream links, visit uslacrosse.org/uswomen. Follow the team on Facebook at fb.com/uslacrosse, get live game updates on Twitter at @uslacrosse and use #USAWLAX.
