Leveille And Powell Are World Champs!

Former Syracuse stars Mike Leveille '08 and Ryan Powell '00 were integral to helping the United States win the gold medal at the 2010 Federation of International (FIL) Lacrosse World Championship in Manchester, England on Saturday, July 24. Leveille scored three goals, while Powell contributed one goal and one assist in Team USA's 12-10 victory against Canada in the championship match.

With the victory, the Americans avenged a 15-10 loss to the Canadians in the 2006 world championship game and a 10-9 defeat last week in pool play. It was the seventh world title for the Americans.

After pulling in front 8-4 at the half, Team USA withstood a furious Canada rally to reclaim the gold. The Canadians outscored the Americans, 4-0, in the third quarter to tie the score, and took a 10-9 lead on a goal by John Grant Jr. with less than 10 minutes to play. But Leveille and reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Ned Crotty of Duke came through for the Americans down the stretch.

Team USA's stretch drive started when Leveille found Crotty for a goal to tie the game at 10 with 8:24 remaining. Crotty scored again less than three minutes later to give the U.S. back the lead, and Leveille sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 1:19 to play.

"In the second half we made the decision that Mike Leveille was not going to leave the field," Team USA head coach Mike Pressler said on a conference call after the game. "So when he wasn't running on the first midfield line we pushed him down to attack and put Ned in there. He is very similar to Mike Leveille – a great dodger, a left-hander and great behind the goal. He can feed and he can score. He really delivered down the stretch."

Leveille was named to the All-World Team for his play in the tournament. He was joined by U.S. teammates Paul Rabil (tournament MVP), Max Seibald, Brendan Mundorf, Ryan McClay and Kyle Sweeney on the All-World squad.

Ryan Powell became the third member of the family to win a world title, joining his brothers, Casey (1998) and Mike (2002).

The next FIL World Championship will be held in Denver in 2014.

Syracuse University Athletics

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