The U.S. again repeated at the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship with a 10-7 victory Saturday over Canada in front of a crowd of 15,112 at Snapdragon Stadium.
The team claimed gold in back-to-back fashion for the first time since 2002 to conclude a tournament that drew more than 82,000 fans to 107 games over 11 days of competition.
World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said, “Congratulations to the United States, and all of the participating teams on an incredibly competitive and compelling world championship. People around the globe consumed this event at record levels, showing us truly how far the sport has come.”
Brennan O’Neill, the only collegiate player on the U.S. team, had five goals, including one in the third quarter to break a 4-4 tie, and another with just over two minutes to play to give his team a late cushion.
He earned the tournament MVP award with 15 goals and and five assists in the national team’s games, in which they went a perfect 7-0.
“I feel good,” O’Neill said. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing right now than winning the gold medal with my boys. There’s no words to describe it and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Michael Sowers added two goals Saturday, while U.S. goalkeeper Blaze Riorden made eight saves.
The silver medal went to Canada, and the bronze to the Haudenosaunee, which again frustrated Australia, winning 11-6. The Haudenosaunee have won bronze in the last three men’s championships, and each time at Australia’s expense.
Completing the top 10 for the tourney: Australia, Japan, England, Israel, Jamaica, Italy and Puerto Rico.
Joining O’Neill as tournament award winners were Riorden, as best goalkeeper, Austin Staats, from the Haudenosaunee, as best attacker, and teammate Jacob Piseno, as best defender.
