Canada picked up a 26-7 victory over Australia on Tuesday night to finish round-robin play undefeated at the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship.
The standings in Group A will see Canada finish first and get a bye into the semifinals. Poland will finish second at 1-1 and Australia will finish at 0-2.
Credit to Australian goaltender Lucas Deshon who faced a barrage of shots. He faced 79 shots and stopped 53 despite the loss.
Late Goals Give Canada Big Lead
Matthew Boas continued his strong tournament as he opened the scoring 11 seconds into the game.
However, Australia pushed back. Oscar Page found the back of the net 4:01 into the first to tie the game 1-1.
Boas struck again 12 seconds later followed by Joshua Goodman at 10:02 as Canada jumped out ahead 3-1.
Australia kept it close when Page scored his second of the game.
Canada regained momentum and went on a five-goal run with two goals from Dagan Carlson, two from Boas, and one from Finn Halladay. Canada led 8-2 with 1:13 left to play.
Australia replied back with a two-goal run of their own with unassisted markers from Dylan Hebig and Austin Butler.
Goodman rounded out the scoring with 14 seconds on the clock to give Canada a 9-4 lead at the first break.
Canada Pulls Away In The Second
Canada added four more goals to start the second quarter. Seth De La Ronde, Boas, and two from Halladay gave Canada a 13-4 advantage late in the quarter.
Australia got on the board with their fifth goal when Gus Ratje scored on the power play with 3:34 left to play.
Canada restored its nine-goal lead on the power play at 1:49 with Goodman scoring. Tyrell Gray rounded out the scoring with 15 seconds left on the clock to give Canada a 15-5 lead at the half.
Third Quarter Action
Canada opened the scoring in the second half off a marker from Halladay. Carlson would add another to make it 17-5.
The run would continue with goals from Joshua Weston, Alexander De La Ronde and Halladay as Canada led 20-5 heading into the final frame.
Canada Finished First in Group A
William Angus found the back of the net for Canada 34 seconds into the fourth quarter on the power play, followed by a marker from Francis Greyson to make it 22-5. Halladay added a shorthanded marker to put Canada ahead by 18.
Page would put in this hat trick goal at 10:18 to get Australia back on the board. About 1:00 later, Matthew Mackintosh scored for Australia’s seventh goal.
Canada stopped the run at 8:15 with Weston putting one by Deshon to make it 24-7.
The Canadians finished off the game with goals from Weston, and Jack Dulong
Make the final 26-7 as Canada finished round-robin play undefeated.
Top Scorers
Canada
Joshua Goodman, 3g 8a
Finn Halladay, 6g 5a
Matthew Boas, 5g 4a
Australia
Oscar Page, 3g
Matthew Mackintosh, 2a
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Shawn Slaght has been a sports reporter across the Canadian prairies for over 10 years and has experience covering everything from junior hockey to World Cup skiing to all levels of lacrosse. He is the Saskatchewan correspondent for All Lacrosse All The Time.
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