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Team USA Squeaks by Canada, 13-12
7/17/2006 11:17:06 AM | Men's Lacrosse
by Matt DaSilva - U.S. Lacrosse
LONDON, Ontario-- Jay Jalbert scored with three seconds remaining to lift the U.S. men's national team to a dramatic 13-12 victory on Sunday, July 16 against rival Canada before an announced crowd of 6,321 at TD Waterhouse Stadium. With the win, its 35th straight in the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship, Team USA took over first place in the traditionally more competitive Blue Division.
Jalbert's goal came just 14.3 seconds after John Grant Jr.'s apparent go-ahead goal was waved off by a crease violation. Kyle Harrison threw an outlet to streaking Matt Striebel, who passed on a shot and found Jalbert open as he ran from the box. Jalbert popped an underhand shot from just inside the restraining line that skipped low behind Canadian goalie Chris Sanderson (14 saves).
"I was yelling at [Striebel] running out of the box," said Jalbert, who subbed in on the fly. "He told me afterward he heard me the whole time."
"It was just a crazy game," said U.S. team head coach John Desko.
Jalbert's goal ended in dramatic fashion a game that was marred by penalties and stoppages. Game length was two hours, 45 minutes. There were 22 penalties between the teams in a game that featured 11 ties and eight lead changes. No team led by more than two goals.
Jalbert led the U.S. (3-0) with three goals, followed by Joe Walters (2g, 1a) and Kyle Harrison (2g, 1a). Grant finished with a game-high six points on four goals and two assists for Canada (2-1). Also for Canada, Jeff Zywicki had a game-high five goals, while Geoff Snider won 21 of 27 faceoffs, including all nine in the fourth quarter.
After Grant put the Canadians on the board early, the U.S. responded with three straight goals, capped by Jalbert with 7:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Canada responded with a three-goal run of its own, with Grant going behind the back to put the Canadians back ahead, 4-3, at the 3:07 mark.
The second quarter saw an all-Powell attack (Powell brothers Casey, Mike and Ryan on the same line) for the first time in these games. It was also the game's longest quarter, entailing 12 penalties, nine of which were called on Canada. Team USA took advantage on its first extra man opportunity, with Casey Powell (1g, 2a) lining up and hitting the top right corner to tie the game four minutes into the quarter. Ryan Powell then scored on a draw-and-dump from Mike Powell to put the Americans back up, 5-4.
After Grant tied it, Scott Urick -- who celebrated his 29th birthday Sunday -- took advantage of another extra-man opportunity, and the U.S. led 6-5 with 8:34 remaining.
Grant, however, scored twice more in the final three minutes of the first half to spot Canada a 7-6 advantage.
Team USA's youngest players then took over. First, Harrison finished a behind-the-back crease feed from Casey Powell to tie it. Then Walters connected from Ryan Boyle on a give-and-go to put the U.S. back ahead, 8-7, with 11:57 remaining in the third quarter.
A subsequent Roy Colsey slash gave Canada one of its six extra-man opportunities, and the Canadians converted, with Grant feeding Shawn Williams (1g, 3a) to tie it again.
Striebel, in a bit of foreshadowing, ran the transition and ripped a shot in from 15 yards out on a delayed penalty that put the U.S. ahead again, 9-8, with 2:46 left in the third quarter. A scuffle between the teams ended the quarter, however no penalties were assessed and the score remained unchanged into the fourth quarter.
Snider changed that quickly, swiping the opening faceoff and feeding Gavin Prout, who dished to Zywicki on the crease for a fast-break goal that tied it at 9-9 just 16 seconds into the quarter. One minute, 33 seconds later, Zywicki again scored in an unsettled situation, giving Canada its first lead in the second half.
Harrison brought the U.S. back in athletic fashion, switching hands three times and putting a high shot past Sanderson, yielding yet another tie with 15:56 remaining, 10-10. Team USA then regained the lead when Mike Powell skipped a low-to-high shot off the turf to make it 11-10 at the 10:08 mark.
Zywicki (at 8:36) and Jalbert (at 3:54) traded goals, the U.S. still leading with less than two minutes remaining. A Doug Shanahan penalty put Canada man-up. Team USA goalie Chris Garrity (five saves), who split time with Trevor Tierney (six saves), stopped Grant low on the doorstep. But Colin Doyle scooped the ball on a quick end-line whistle and went unmarked, scoring to tie the game once more, 12-12, with 1:37 left.
After Snider won the ensuing faceoff, Canada settled for what it thought was a final possession. Canadian head coach Frank Nielsen called timeout with 29.5 seconds remaining. With John Gagliardi guarding, Grant rolled inside and scored the apparent go-ahead goal from the ground. But officials ruled that Grant's shoulder was in the crease when he scored, so the goal was waved, and Team USA took the ball in transition, ending in Jalbert's game-winning goal.
Team USA will take on the Iroquois on Monday, July 17 at 4:00 p.m.
United States 13, Canada 12
Line Score 1 2 3 4 F
U.S. 3 3 3 4 -- 13
Canada 4 3 1 4 -- 12
Goals - US: Jalbert 3, Harrison 2, Walters 2, C. Powell, M. Powell, R. Powell, Miller, Striebel, Urick; C: Zywicki 5, Grant 4, Doyle, Gait, Williams.
Assists - US: C. Powell 2, M. Powell, Striebel, Boyle, Harrison, Walters; C: Williams 3, Grant 2, Doyle, Hall, Prout, Merrill.
Shots - US 39, C 32. Saves - US 11 (Tierney 6, Garrity 5), C 14 (Sanderson). Faceoffs - US 7, C 22. Ground Balls - US 17, C 23.
