Successful PanAm Championships for Former Orange
8/27/2026 10:41:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Seven Orange Capture Gold in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Twelve former Syracuse University men's lacrosse players and coaches represented three different nations at the 2026 Pan-American Men's Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, Jamaica, with several former Orange making an impact during medal weekend.
Six former Syracuse players and coaches helped Team Canada capture the gold medal with a dramatic 9-8 win over Team USA. Four members of the Orange lacrosse family helped Haudenosaunee earn bronze, while two more represented fourth-place Jamaica.
Below are capsules of each former Syracuse player and coach's contributions during the tournament.
Team Canada (Gold Medalists)
Alex Simmons
After playing one season for the Orange in 2024, Simmons was the hero for Canada in the gold medal game. He scored the game-tying and game-winning goals against Team USA, with his final goal giving Canada the 9-8 victory. Simmons finished the tournament with 11 goals and a team-high 11 assists across five games.
Jake Stevens
Stevens, who played one season at Syracuse in 2023, assisted Simmons on the game-winning goal in the championship game. He finished the tournament with eight goals and five assists.
Finn Thomson
Fresh off the conclusion of his four-year Syracuse career, Thomson led the entire tournament with 19 goals while adding seven assists during Canada's run to the gold medal.
Sam English
The former two-year Orange midfielder recorded eight goals and three assists for Canada.
Owen Hiltz
Hiltz, who recorded at least one point in all 64 games of his Syracuse career, continued that offensive production for Canada. He finished the tournament with nine goals and seven assists.
Drake Porter
Porter saw action in goal during Canada's run to the title, recording 12 saves and a .520 save percentage.
Gary Gait
Gait, entering his sixth season as the head coach for the Syracuse men's lacrosse team, and a former Team Canada standout, served as an assistant coach during Canada's gold medal run.
Team Haudenosaunee (Bronze Medalists)
Greg Elijah-Brown
A two-year member of the Orange, Elijah-Brown recorded 13 goals and eight assists during the tournament. He added three goals in the bronze medal game to help Haudenosaunee secure a spot on the podium.
Jerry Staats
The former Orange defenseman appeared in all five games for Haudenosaunee during its run to the bronze medal.
Brett Bucktooth
A member of Syracuse's 2004 national championship team, Bucktooth served as an assistant coach for Haudenosaunee.
Casey Powell
Powell, a member of Syracuse's 1995 national championship team and a four-time All-American, also served as an assistant coach during Haudenosaunee's bronze medal run.
Team Jamaica (Fourth place)
Dante Bowen
Bowen, the 30th overall pick in this year's PLL Draft, appeared in four games for Jamaica. The former Orange short stick defensive midfielder recorded two goals and one assist.
Nate McPeak
McPeak played all 128 minutes in goal for Jamaica, recording 54 saves and a .570 save percentage as the host nation finished fourth.
Six former Syracuse players and coaches helped Team Canada capture the gold medal with a dramatic 9-8 win over Team USA. Four members of the Orange lacrosse family helped Haudenosaunee earn bronze, while two more represented fourth-place Jamaica.
Below are capsules of each former Syracuse player and coach's contributions during the tournament.
Team Canada (Gold Medalists)
Alex Simmons
After playing one season for the Orange in 2024, Simmons was the hero for Canada in the gold medal game. He scored the game-tying and game-winning goals against Team USA, with his final goal giving Canada the 9-8 victory. Simmons finished the tournament with 11 goals and a team-high 11 assists across five games.
Jake Stevens
Stevens, who played one season at Syracuse in 2023, assisted Simmons on the game-winning goal in the championship game. He finished the tournament with eight goals and five assists.
Finn Thomson
Fresh off the conclusion of his four-year Syracuse career, Thomson led the entire tournament with 19 goals while adding seven assists during Canada's run to the gold medal.
Sam English
The former two-year Orange midfielder recorded eight goals and three assists for Canada.
Owen Hiltz
Hiltz, who recorded at least one point in all 64 games of his Syracuse career, continued that offensive production for Canada. He finished the tournament with nine goals and seven assists.
Drake Porter
Porter saw action in goal during Canada's run to the title, recording 12 saves and a .520 save percentage.
Gary Gait
Gait, entering his sixth season as the head coach for the Syracuse men's lacrosse team, and a former Team Canada standout, served as an assistant coach during Canada's gold medal run.
Team Haudenosaunee (Bronze Medalists)
Greg Elijah-Brown
A two-year member of the Orange, Elijah-Brown recorded 13 goals and eight assists during the tournament. He added three goals in the bronze medal game to help Haudenosaunee secure a spot on the podium.
Jerry Staats
The former Orange defenseman appeared in all five games for Haudenosaunee during its run to the bronze medal.
Brett Bucktooth
A member of Syracuse's 2004 national championship team, Bucktooth served as an assistant coach for Haudenosaunee.
Casey Powell
Powell, a member of Syracuse's 1995 national championship team and a four-time All-American, also served as an assistant coach during Haudenosaunee's bronze medal run.
Team Jamaica (Fourth place)
Dante Bowen
Bowen, the 30th overall pick in this year's PLL Draft, appeared in four games for Jamaica. The former Orange short stick defensive midfielder recorded two goals and one assist.
Nate McPeak
McPeak played all 128 minutes in goal for Jamaica, recording 54 saves and a .570 save percentage as the host nation finished fourth.
Players Mentioned
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