Australia shock defending champions United States to win
gold.
Australia crowned new World Champions.
You have to take your hats off to Australia for the way
they performed in this year's World Championship final against
the United States, defending champions and five-times winners
of the biggest prize in women's international lacrosse.
Throughout a compelling ten-day tournament, the talented
Aussies were the most impressive team in Annapolis, both at
the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility (for the first five days
of the tournament) and then for the final five days of competition
at the 34,000-seater Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
That's not to say that there was not improvement across the
board - you only have to look at Japan's deserved fifth place
finish, a two-place jump from their 2001, 1997 and 1993 finishes
respectively - the latter the first time they competed in
their first World Championship.
It was also great to see New Zealand and the Czech Republic
compete in their first World Cup, which took the international
team roster to ten teams.
Both countries gave good accounts of themselves and have
gained valuable experience for future competitions.
The next World Championship in 2009 will see 12 teams battling
for honours with both Denmark and Hong Kong having joined
as IFWLA affiliate members. Let's hope Olympic recognition
is not too far around the corner.
The U.S., as they so often are, were expected to be the best
and retain the crown they won in High Wycombe four years ago.
But Australia, having held the hosts to a 7-7 tie in pool
play, rose to the challenge of beating the U.S. in front of
a crowd of around 6,000 spectators, broadcast out across America
on the sport network channel CSTV.
And this time the score was never close apart from some nervous
early exchanges which saw both teams share goals.
The U.S. led 2-1, but the ladies from Down Under triumphed
14-7 and upset the home supporters - and with victory set
a new benchmark for the next World Championship.
Jen Adams led the way with four goals and three assists in
a commanding performance, while Sarah Forbes - honoured with
the John Wesley Patterson award as the tournament's most valued
player - weighed in with a hat-trick and three assists as
Australia led 7-3 at half-time.
Quinn Carney, one of the U.S. team's star Championship performers,
scored twice for the defending champions, as did Kate Kaiser.
Lauren Aumiller, Cherie Greer - playing her fourth World
Cup - and Sarah Nelson were also on target as the U.S. rallied
in patches.
However, the Aussies, World Cup winners in 1986 in Philadelphia,
were not to be beaten and courtesy of goals from Michelle
Lincoln (2), Kate McHarg (2), Hannah Nielsen, Sarah Falcione
and Casey Magor swept to victory.
The U.S. had more shots than their opponents, 29-23, but
some fine saves from Australian goalkeeper Suzanne McSolvin
- eight in the match - and some fine finishing from the Aussies
made sure victory was duly served.
'The first game we played the United States we realised we
could out-pace them,' revealed Max Madonia, the Australian
head coach.
'But ultimately it was our purpose and commitment to win.
Lacrosse is a cycle, though. They'll (the U.S.) come back
stronger in four years time and want to beat us.'
Wise words from a coach, who with assistant coaches Sue Sofranos
and Kylie Taylor, and the rest of the team's five other support
staff, deserve all the plaudits thrown at them after humbling
the five-time winners.
'There's been a great energy amongst the players,' added
Madonia.
'It's all been about how skillful and good they (the players)
have been from top to bottom.'
Sue Stahl, the U.S. head coach, summed up her frustration
after the match, but was respectful after defeat.
'I'm proud of all the girls, but we just fell short,' said
Stahl.
'They gave it what they had. It was a hard game, but credit
to Australia, they deserved to win and played much betetr
than us.
'It's a heck of a lot more fun to win than to lose, but hopefully
we will come back stronger and more determined at the next
World Cup.'
Carney, the impressive 26-year-old midfielder, was understandably
disappointed with defeat, but admitted: 'Australia were diffcult
to penetrate.
'We had the team, the coaching, but it just didn't go for
us.'
Australian keeper McSolvin, who scopped the Most Valuable
Player Award after the match, has had to wait 12 years to
win gold at a World Champhionship, so it came as no surprise
she was able to breath a big sigh of relief after her country's
gold-medal winning triumph.
'I've waited a long time to win a gold medal. It was 1993
when I first played, but it's definitely been worth waiting
for,' said McSolvin.
'It's been a total team effort. We played really well all
tournament and our fitness training has been fantastic. That
definitely helped.'
And so, with the gold medal secured, it was time to party
and relax at a special banquet gala dinner at the Navy Marine
Corps Memorial Stadium.
There an All-Star team was selected, votes coming from all
ten countries for the players from each team they believed
had been worthy performers from the start to finish of the
tournament.
It was no surprise the main bulk of the team - in categories
(goal, defence, midfield, attack) - was main up of Austrlian
and U.S. players, but it was also good to see an English player
included, someone from Wales and also a Japanese player selected.
England defender Alex Harle, playing in her third World Cup,
was honoured, as was Wales' attacker Laura Warren, who has
had a fine tournament.
Attacker Akiko Wada, the 22-year-old who finished the tournament
with 26 goals from seven matches, was also honoured for some
starring performances.
The only other none U.S. or Australian player selected was
Canada's Jen Johnson, a star performer for her team throughout.
The full All-Star line-up was:
Leading scorer for the Championship was Japan's Kana Uwai
with 27 goals, while Adams finished as the highest points
scorer with 47, 13 points clear of second-placed Uwai (34)
and Wada (33), a further point behind.
The leading goalkeeper could well have been Australia's McSolvin,
but few could argue that U.S. goalkeeper Jess Wilk was a worthy
recipient.
It was a tight call, that's for sure, especially the U.S.'
other goalkeeper Christine Lindsey also a top performer.
Other notable performers during this year's Championship
were Scotland's Valerie Houston, the 41-year-old attacker
playing in her final and sixth World Cup, while England's
Sarah Butt has also decided to retire having guided England
to a bronze medal in her fifth and swansong World Cup.
Incredibly Sarah, 38, who heralds from Dorset, managed to
find time to have two children since the last World Cup, work,
meet the tough training schedule for all the players and committed
herself to taking on the best players in the world for one
more time.
It's a wonder she found time to eat or have some spare time
for herself!
Of course it would take far too long to list every notable
performee on the world stage, but this year's competition
really engaged the spirit and success of years gone by.
Teams played hard, fought for everything as you'd expect
them to - but played every game with respect for not only
their opponents, but the game we like to call 'lacrosse'.
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