Team USA Defeats Canada to Claim Gold at ILF World Championship
7/12/2008 9:19:45 PM | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse
Tournament Central | Joel White's Blog
COQUITLAM, British Columbia -- Orange midfielder Josh Amidon (Lafatette, N.Y.) was one of 10 players to score for Team USA as it defeated Canada, 19-12, to claim the gold medal at the 2008 U-19 International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) Men's Lacrosse World Championship on Saturday, July 12. In the 20-year history of the tournament, the U.S. has won every game it has played (36-0) and has won six straight gold medals.
The U.S. never trailed, taking a 7-3 lead after the first period. Canada, led by SU women's lacrosse head coach Gary Gait, scored four straight to start the second period to tie the score, 7-7, with 11:52 on the clock. The U.S. responded with the final three tallies of the half, and Amidon's goal with 34 seconds remaining gave Team USA a 10-7 lead at the break.
Canada started the scoring in the second half, finding the back of the net 2:57 into the action to cut the lead to 10-8. That was as close as Canada would get as the U.S. scored three unanswered and took a 14-11 lead into the final 20 minutes of play. Team USA opened the fourth period with four straight goals to take control of the game. Canada ended the scoring drought with a goal at the 10:24 mark before Tim Donovan scored the game's final goal to give the U.S. a 19-12 victory.
Nicholas Elsmo, Dean Gibbons and Craig Dowd tallied three goals each, while Adam Ghitelman recorded 15 saves in goal for Team USA. Canada's Adam Jones led all scorers with five goals and was named the tournament MVP.
SU' Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) was part of Team USA's defense, while Amidon scored a goal in each of the U.S.'s final three games.
U.S. Goals: Nicholas Elsmo 3; Dean Gibbons 3; Craig Dowd 3; Anthony Mendes 2; Tim Donovan 2; Ramel Bratton 2; Josh Amidon 1; Andrew Feinberg 1; Mathew Dolente 1; Ryan Young 1
U.S. Assists: Ryan Young 2; Anthony Mendes 1; Tim Donovan 1
Canada Goals: Adam Jones 5; Mark Cockerton 1; Michael Cudmore 1; Matt Cockerton 1; Zachary Palmer 1; Kyle Clancy 1; Mark Mathews 1; Kevin Crowley 1
Canada Assists: Tyler Burton
