U19 World Championships - Starz and Finals Recaps
Seattle Starz in U-18 Youth The games in Coquitlam this week were not exclusively U-19. There was also a U-18 andU-15 tournament occurring simultaneously. The Seattle Starz participated in the U-18 Youth Tournament that consisted of Canadian select teams, Australian select and teams from Oregon. The Starz squad itself was a mix of multiple Starz players that made up the team. Though they were somewhat shorthanded they were able to place third in the tournament and bring home Bronze medals.
Each player played his heart out in the scorching heat against tough competition. The team finished with a 4-2 record. They represented Washington state lacrosse and brought home the medals to show for it. Three of the players were honored with All-Tournament Team selection- Caldwell Rorhbach (Midfield/ Garfield), Dugan McDermont (Defense, Bainbridge) and Simon Hudson (Goalie/Garfield).
Bronze Medal- England vs. Iroquois Nationals The Bronze medal game was played between the fighting Team England and the storied Iroquois Nationals. Both teams came from hard losses against USA and Canada. Now they were playing for pride and to take home the Bronze Medal from the tournament. The English fans came dressed and singing much like a soccer match, while the Iroquois fans brought drums and flags.
Both teams exchange goals for the first quarter with the English playing tough defense for the majority of the time as the Iroquois win most of the face offs and offensive possession. As they played into the second quarter the Iroquois found some momentum and begin a run of goals that put them ahead 14-5 to end the first half of play.
As the second half of play ensued the pace of the game remained the same like the first half. The tough defense of the English could not stop the run and gun offense of the Iroquois. The Iroquois generated multiple shots that put pressure on the English defense. The game ended with the Iroquois winning the bronze medal. They were led by the Thompson brothers, Lyle (Midfield) and Miles (Attack) who registered a hat trick a piece. For the English they were lead by Zach Guy (Attack) and despite the score phenomenal goal play by Anthony Hayes.
After the game assistant coach Iroquois David Guill had a few words.
Walax: What contributed most to your victory today?
DG: I would say that these boys hung together stayed close and played hard. Team work was essentially to making it this far the tournament.
Walax: What was the biggest story line for this team this year?
DG: I would say that it would be rising over adversity as a team. Throughout this team’s conception there were many injuries that guys went though and had to play through. In this tournament after the first game against USA, they beat us up pretty good and a lot of our middies had to switch to long pole.
Walax: What do you hope the players take away from this experience?
DG: That the can achieve. Head, heart and hustle has been the motto of this team.
Gold Medal- USA vs. Canada Once again the match-up for the U-19 Gold Medal was between USA and Canada. Both teams looking to take home the gold. The USA has not lost a single game in is appearance in the U-19s, but played an overtime game against Canada earlier in the tournament. The stands were filled with fans for both teams. It seemed like a few more of the international teams were rooting for the USA.
From the first face off both team came out hitting with intensity you could feel in the stands. Both team’s exchanged goals in the first quarter with the USA coming on top, but Canada chasing them closely. The USA’s face off specialist Matt Dolente (JHU) a familiar name in the tournament and from the NW All Star game won the majority of draws giving his team offensive possession. The USA’s offense was captained by Craig Dowd (Attack/Georgetown) and Tim Donovan (Midfield/JHU). Dowd initiated the majority of the offensive sets even taking it to the goal himself a few times. In another impressive move, Tim Donovan swim dodges lefty from up top then pegs the top right on Canadian goalie Remington Steele.
The USA’s strategy for this game was the face off domination and the long possession time. The Canadian defense could not answer the speedy attack and powerful midfielders who were scoring off every long possession.
On the USA defensive end it was the great goalie play of Adam Ghitelman (UVA) who would communicate very precisely and clearly to his tough and physical defense. The Canadian offense appeared uncomfortable in their offensive sets as the rarely passed and shot inside like they were normally known for. The USA defense kept shots outside for much of the contest.
In perhaps the game sealer for the USA, goalie Adam Ghitelman gets a slashing penalty and is replaced by back up goalie Tyler Fiorito (Princeton). As the EMO ensues a Canadian creaseman finds himself with a feed and shoots it point blank at Fiorito who somehow blocks it as he falls to the ground. The ball deflects out where a Canadian wingman picks it up and rips another shot, Fiorito, on the ground raises his stick in the air and blocks the shots sending USA’s bench and fans into a frenzy.
The game winds down, USA burns the clock out to win the game 19-13 and still remain the undefeated 6-time U-19 gold medal winner. USA players rush the field in celebration with American flags. Great play by Canada who was unable to put it together on offense. Players of the game had to be face-off specialist Matt Dolente, attackman Craig Dowd and goalie Adam Ghitelman.
In a final word from this tournament though many teams were represented in this tournament, USA was the dominant team. There is parity growing around the world with England taking 4th place. Teams are represented in countries as far as Korea and Finland and as small as Bermuda. Lacrosse is growing Europe as well, where the Men’s World Tournament will be held in Manchester, England in 2010. Despite the growth however, lacrosse is still the North American sport as evident by the medal winners- Iroquois Nationals (Bronze), Canada (Silver) and USA (Gold).