Canada won its third world lacrosse title, and second in three tournaments, stunning the host United States with an 8-5 victory on July 19 at the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship in Denver.
The tournament represented the largest competition among men’s national teams in the history of international lacrosse, with 38 teams competed in the event, and a youth and master’s World Lacrosse Festival from U11 through Age 60+.
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Over 11,000 fans watched in the gold-medal game Kevin Crowley, a former U-19 Team Canada star, scored five goals to lead the patient Canadian attack.
Canada led from start to finish, leading 3-1 at the half with Crowley netting three of his five markers in the first 40 minutes.
The Canadian side led 7-2 after three quarters and then cored on goal from Mark Matthews to gain their biggest lead of the game at 8-2 early in the fourth.
All this despite a gutsy effort from Kevin Leveille of the U.S. who capped a three-goal U.S. scoring run to close out the game with one of his three goals.
The American defence could not find a solution from the patient and disciplined Canadian ball control game and faced a stellar goaltending effort from Dillon Ward
Ward, the tournament MVP, finished with 10 saves, despite being involved in a controversial play behind his net that forced him fom the game for five minutes with an apparent knee injury.
Canada also got scoring from Curtis Dickson and Cam Holding. Jordan Hall added two assists.
Rob Pannell also added a goal and three assists for the U.S., with one goal coming from Jesse Bernhardt.
The Canadians won the loose ball battle 35-22 to add the 2014 title to previous championship titles in 1978 and 2006. This was the third straight tournaments where the loser of the pool play game between the two powerhouses of the international game lost in the finals. The U.S. had won the 2010 world championship in Manchester, England, and won the round-robin meeting 10-7 on July 10.
Earlier in the day, the Iroquois defeated Australia 16-5 to win the bronze medal.
