England win Bronze medal at World Championship
Engand's women have won a bronze medal at the Lacrosse World
Championship after a thrilling victory over Canada.
Lois Richardson's team trailed 2-1, but battled hard for a
deserved 11-8 triumph in front of more than 4,500 people at
the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Katy Bennett, nursing a leg-injury, led the way for England
with a hat-trick, while Lucy Lynch (2), Sophie Gapper, Felicity
Hermsen, Rachel Kirchheimer, Suzy Eul, Ailsa Stott and Sarah
Butt - playing in her fifth and final World Championship -
were also on the scoresheet.
"It's a fantastic feeling to win the bronze medal,"
said a delighted Richardson, the national team's head coach.
"We were made to work hard, but the girls showed so much
character. I'm proud of them all."
England trailed 1-0 from an Alana Chan goal, before hitting
bacl with a goal through Bennett.
Canada went ahead for the second time a nervous opening, before
England took the initiative to score three goals without reply
to edge 4-2 ahead.
Gapper, Hermsen and Stott all on the mark for the national
team.
Jessica Brownridge hit back for Canada after an assist from
Crysti Foote, before Foote supplied Brooke McKenzie who made
it 4-4.
But Bennett netted again and Lynch scored an unassisted goal
to give England a two-goas cushion at the interval.
England started the better after the interval and went 8-4
ahead with a goal from Lynch, who nearly ran the whole length
of the field to score, and a strike from Butt.
Jennifer Johnson replied for Canada, as did Chan and Foote
to trail 9-8.
But England held their nerve, kept their compsure and scored
twice more to seal victory.
Eul scored from a Hermsen assist and then Stott slotted home
after an assist from Lizzie McCosh.
WOMEN, Lacrosse World Championship (Annapolis, Maryland) -
Bronze medal play-off: England 11 Canada 8 (half scores 6-2,
5-6); 5th/6th play-off: Japan 12 Wales 8 (6-5, 6-3).
|