July 14, 2006

LONDON, Ontario--Powered by the Powell brothers, the U.S. men's national team overcame a spate of penalties and an early deficit to defeat Australia, 20-8, in its 2006 International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championships opener Friday at TD Waterhouse Stadium.

 

Ryan Powell (two goals, five assists), Mike Powell (4g, 2a) and captain Casey Powell (3g, 1a) combined for 17 points in the win, while starting goalie Trevor Tierney kept Team USA alive early with eight first-half saves.

 

Australia (0-1) grabbed the lead early, as the U.S. was slapped with five first-quarter penalties by virtue of more-tightly called international rules. Two Brendan Mundorf goals had the Australians ahead, 2-1. After the teams traded goals to start the second quarter, Australia's Daniel Stiglich soared high for a rebound and stuffed it past Tierney for a 4-2 lead with 14:01 remaining in the second quarter.

 

But Casey Powell was on point just 41 seconds later, quick-sticking a Joe Walters feed on the crease. That sparked an 8-1 U.S. run to close the half with the Americans ahead, 10-5. When Mike Powell took Ryan Powell's offering and slipped it past Australian goalie Warren Brown by faking three times for the goal that made it 8-5, the brothers bumped chests, and the emotion on the U.S. sideline was evident.

 

"We got a little scared. It's good," said U.S. team defenseman John Gagliardi. "You can't just come out and romp people, right?"

 

The U.S. had just two penalties the rest of the game.

 

"They're used to checking to dislodge the ball in the professional game," U.S. head coach John Desko said of his players, 21 of whom have been on Major League Lacrosse rosters this season. "You can't check like that when you're playing internationally. These guys did a good job adjusting to the rules you're going to see in the international game."

 

Jay Jalbert, who was penalized twice in the first quarter for slashing, said Team USA had to test its limits.

 

"I thought it'd be similar to the calls I watched during the U.S.-Canada final in 2002 and I never saw more brutal slashes in my life," said Jalbert, who recovered and scored two goals. "Everyone got that one penalty out of their system. Right now it seems they're going to call it pretty ticky-tack. I hope they keep it like that, as long as they're consistent."

 

Team USA continued its impressive offensive outburst into the third quarter, building a 17-6 lead on a 6-1 run that included two extra-man goals of its own, culminating with Kyle Sweeney going coast-to-coast for one of two longpole scores in the game (Australia's John Tokarua had the other).

 

Scott Urick scored three goals for the U.S., while Walters -- the youngest player on the team -- finished with two goals and three assists. The Americans held a 17-14 advantage in faceoffs, with many violations both ways. Doug Shanahan won 8-of-9 faceoffs to go with two goals and an assist.

 

Mundorf (2g) and Wes Green (2g, 1a) were Australia's leading contributors.

 

"Even though we got popped in the end," said Australian Darren Nicholas, "we kind of showed them we could play."

 

Team USA (1-0) plays England at 10 a.m. Saturday in the second of its five round-robin games.

 

Box Score

 

USA 20, Australia 8

 

                                    1          2          3          4          F

 

Australia (0-1)              2          3          1          2          8

USA (1-0)                     1          9          7          3          20

 

Goals - A: Green 2, Mundorf 2, N. Stiglich, D. Stiglich, Tokarua, Delfs; US: M. Powell 4, C. Powell 3, Urick 3, R. Powell 2, Jalbert 2, Walters 2, Shanahan 2, Sweeney, Harrison.

 

Assists - A: Nicholas, Green, Delfs; US: R. Powell 5, Walters 3, M. Powell 2, Boyle 2,

Colsey, Striebel, C. Powell, Shanahan.

 

Shots - A 37, US 44. Saves - A (N/A), US 10 (Tierney 8, Garrity 2). Faceoffs - A 14, US 17. Ground Balls - A 24, US 25.