(Photo Courtesy of USA Lacrosse)
Round one went to the USA on Wednesday night as the Americans topped Canada 7-5 to open pool play of the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, Calif.
It was a slugfest between two rivals that ended with a scuffle at midfield as the final buzzer sounded. It was also the likely first of two matches between the two squads as they are likely to meet in the gold medal game for the seventh consecutive games and 11th time in history.
Here are three takeaways from that opening win for Team USA:
1. Brennan O’Neill Can Be The Piece The USA Needs
In his debut with Team USA, the Duke Blue Devils star and reigning Tewaaraton Award winner made sure to leave no doubt about his selection as the only college player to the final roster. O’Neill led USA with a hat trick off just four shots. O’Neill’s third goal of the day was likely the prettiest as he grabbed the feed from Tom Schreiber and fired home a textbook overhand step down shot.
2. The Baptiste-Ierlan Faceof Duo is Killer!
There is no shot clock like in college or the PLL. Thus, the faceoff dot can play a more important role in many instances in international play as possession is everything. It was the play at the dot from Trevor Baptiste and TD Ierlan that allowed USA to turn a 3-2 deficit early into a commanding 7-4 led at the end of the third quarter. The duo went 13-for-16 (81%) at the faceoff dot to dominate the contest.
3. Defense, Defense, Defense
After what was a sloppier first half of play, things were all knotted at 4-4. That score from Clarke Petterson late in the second frame, however, would be the last Canada would see until Josh Byrne broke the dry spell with 20 seconds remaining on a man-up score. Anchored by Blaze Riordan in cage, the USA defense held Canada off the board for nearly the entire second half of play and to just two goals in the final 45 minutes of play.
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