The United States of America won their first ever IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship Gold Medal on Saturday night.
The Americans downed Canada on their home floor 10-7 to knock down the defending champions.
It is the best result for the Americans at the tournament regardless of the outcome. The US had previously won three straight bronze medals.
Jackson Curtis had a huge game for the US facing 43 shots while Canadian goaltender Shane Friesen faced 60 shots.
USA Takes First Quarter Lead
The United States got off to a quick start as they blanked Canada 3-0 in the first quarter.
Ryan Colsey opened the scoring at 10:59 before Tate Watts would give USA a 2-0 lead.
Marco Firmender rounded out the scoring for the US with 6:58 on the clock. American goaltender Jackson Curtis stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first frame.
Canada Makes A Comeback
No lead is safe in lacrosse as Canada came back to tie up the game in the second quarter. Matthew Boas got Canada on the board 1:51 into the second.
Finn Hallady would then find the back of the net at 9:21 to make it a one-goal game. On the power play, Joshua Goodman beat Curtis to tie it up with 7:03 to play in the half.
Josiah Degrasse rounded out the scoring 29 seconds later as the Americans held a 4-3 lead at the half.
USA Holds On To The Lead
The US extended their lead 2:24 into the third quarter off a quick stick in front by Colsey.
Canada got it right back just over 1:00 later was Alexander De La Ronde let a sidearm shot go that found the back of the net.
Riley Strub would make the USA’s lead to two-goal with a long shot on the power play at 3:03. Nearly 30 seconds later Spencer Vandenberg’s bouncer went in to give the US a 7-4 lead heading into the final quarter.
USA Wins Gold Medal
The Americans extended their lead 23 seconds into the fourth quarter on a two-man advantage. Colsey dove across the crease to find the back of the net for his hat trick goal.
Canada got back on the board on transition at 13:25. Bennet Frey was left all along in front and scored to make it 8-5.
On an odd man rush, Kale Grehan let a shot go at 12:08 to bring Canada back within two.
The US came right back less than 20 seconds later off a goal from Cooper DeMallie to give the Americans a 9-6 advantage.
Canada kept coming. At the 10:44 mark, Matthew Boas long shot counted in the back-and-forth battle.
With 42.8 seconds left, Degrasse found the back of the net for the Americans to give them the gold medal 10-7.
Top Scorers
Canada
Matthew Boas, 2g 1a
Aidan Carr, 3a
Alexander De La Ronde, 1g 2a
United States
Ryan Colsey, 3g 2a
Riley Strub, 1g 2a
Nate Senez, 3a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 9pm (ET) on eopsports.com
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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