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U.S., Canada to Meet for FIL World Championship

by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | Game Blog

Brendan Mundorf (#2) and Paul Rabil, Team USA's top two scorers, celebrate after connecting for a goal during a 20-5 victory for the U.S. over Japan in the FIL World Championship semifinals. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com

* McClay Becomes Father, Bears Flag

MANCHESTER, England -- For the fourth straight time and the seventh time in the last 32 years, the U.S. men’s national team will meet rival Canada with a world championship on the line.

Team USA advanced to Saturday’s gold medal match with a 20-5 victory Thursday over Japan in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship semifinals at the University of Manchester. Canada, the defending world champ, defeated Australia, 15-6, in the other semifinal, setting up another showdown between the North American neighbors.

The final Saturday will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 11 a.m. Eastern (4 p.m. local time.)

The U.S. got there by defeating upstart Japan for the second time in three days. Midfielder Paul Rabil had four goals and an assist to lead all scorers. Midfielder Kyle Dixon and attackman Drew Westervelt added three goals apiece, as 12 different players scored for Team USA.

Mike Leveille added a goal and three assists.

Rabil got the U.S. going with two goals in the first four minutes, and the game unraveled quickly. Team USA jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, during which goalie Brian Dougherty made three saves.

Japan did not get on the board until a goal by Yusuke Sahoda with 2:35 left in the first quarter.

Team USA blanked Japan in the second quarter to build a 14-1 lead and had its largest lead of the game -- 17 goals -- when long stick midfielder Kyle Sweeney scored 41 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Japan responded with three straight goals, including two by Wataru Tsugu, and got hot goalkeeping late from Tomohide Sasaki, who finished with seven saves.

U.S. faceoff specialist Alex Smith went 8-of-14 and scored a fast-break goal during the first-quarter run.

FIL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – SEMIFINALS

Team USA 20, Japan 5

USA – 8 – 6 – 4 – 2… 20
JAP – 1 – 0 – 1 – 3… 5

Goals: USA – Rabil 4, Dixon 3, Westervelt 3, Mundorf 2, Boyle, Leveille, Powell, Schiller, Seibald, Smith, Sweeney, Zash; JAP – Tsugu 2, Mizuta, Sahoda, Sekine.

Assists: USA – Leveille 3, Rabil, Seibald; JAP - Motoshita.

Saves: USA – Fullerton 6, Dougherty 3; JAP – Sasaki 7, Shinohara 4.

Faceoffs: USA – 13-of-27 (Smith 8-of-14, Peyser 5-of-12, Cassese 0-of-1); JAP – 14-of-27.

OTHER RESULTS

Canada 15, Australia 6

Geoff Snider, the MVP of the 2006 world championships, won 10 of 14 faceoffs, scored three goals and dished an assist to lead defending gold medalist Canada over Australia, 15-6, in the FIL World Championship semifinals. The Canadians will meet the U.S. in the championship game Saturday. Australia will play Japan, a team that upset it in the round robin, for the bronze.

England 23, Scotland 9

Host England avoided being bumped from the Blue Division in the 2014 world games with a convincing victory over upstart Scotland, the "Old Enemy." Lewis Ratcliff scored seven goals for the English, who will meet Germany in the 5th/6th-place match Saturday.

Korea 15, Argentina 5

Nine different Korean players scored in this game, led by Park Wonjae’s hat trick.

Denmark 9, France 7

French keeper Bryan Lejeune made 14 saves, but a pair of late goals from Martin Baardsgaard and Lund Janus Stig gave Denmark the win.

Hong Kong 15, Switzerland 8

Hong Kong got a 10-1 lead in the first half to secure the win.

Bermuda 8, Latvia 7

Bermudan goalie Stephen Velotti put up an astonishing 26 saves, including 10 in the first quarter, to help the Rock to a comeback victory. DJ Johnston (3g) had the game-winner.

Austria 10, Norway 4

Klaus Hauer led the Austrians with a hat trick.

Slovakia 10, Italy 4

The Italian defense had no answer for David Washo, who put up 5g in Slovakia’s win.

Germany 14, Netherlands 1

Germany throttled the Dutch, despite a 24-save performance from Teddy van Opstal, who started in place of injured goalie Grant Zimmerman. Gregory Lazarus led the way with 5g.

Poland 15, Spain 11

Christian Dzwilewski made 13 saves to keep the Polish team on top.

Czech Republic 13, New Zealand 8

New Zealand struck first, but the Czechs then went on a seven-goal run that put the game out of reach.

Sweden 9, Wales 5

After a grinding first half that ended in a 3-3 tie, the Swedes broke out with a five goal run to secure the win. Sten Jernudd and Kevin Powers each had a hat trick for Sweden.

Ireland 17, Finland 6

Seven players scored for Eire in this runaway win, led by Matt Walsh (6g, 3a).