Haudenosaunee drops tough opener 11-4 to USA in first ever game at 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship
Chelsea Doolittle finished with 54 saves on the night.
Photo by David Tiger-Cortes
UTICA – The Haudenosaunee Nationals opened the first ever 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship with a hard fought 11-4 loss to USA in pool play at the Adirondack Bank Center. The Haudenosaunee offense was led by Trysten Burns with 2 goals and Fawn Porter and Chelsie John each added a goal. Goalie Chelsea Doolittle was unconscious between the pipes early as she finished with 28 saves in the first half alone and 54 saves overall.
Despite the loss, the night was historic as the game featured the first ever Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box Lacrosse team to compete in world championship competition. The crowd was hype from the get go and the game did not disappoint. Ultimately, it was a beautiful night all around that will go down as the foundation for the future of Haudenosaunee Women’s Box Lacrosse.
Trysten Burns scored the first goal in the history of Haudenosaunee Women's Box Lacrosse.
Photo by David Tiger-Cortes
The Nationals came out buzzing and playing physical early as they controlled the tempo for most of the first half. Although USA threatened first as Charlotte North drove to the net but hit the crossbar 30-seoncds into the game. Haudenosaunee would go the other way as Trysten Burns scored the first goal in the history of Haudenosaunee Women’s Box Lacrosse at 13:41 of the first. After a huge check and defensive stop, Tallis Tarbell found Burns streaking off the bench and Burns did the rest by beating USA goalie Ingrid Boyum to set off a raucous Haudenosaunee celebration throughout the arena. The energy stayed high as Burns struck again 30-seconds later once again streaking off the bench as she walked into a deep step down that went top corner for the early 2-0 lead. USA responded with a transition goal of their own as Riley Ewing sent the ball to Ally Kennedy who went low to cut the lead to 2-1 at 9:48 of the first quarter. Haudenosaunee Captain Fawn Porter took a pass from Carey-Leigh Vyse and hit a shot from the top for the 3-1 Haudenosaunee lead at 8:17 of the first. The Haudenosaunee defense then killed a Trysten Burns roughing penalty with two minutes left to keep the score 3-1 headed to the second quarter.
Fawn Porter scored a goal for Haudenosaunee against USA
Photo by David Tiger-Cortes
The physicality kept pace to start the second and Jillian Benedict took an illegal cross-checking penalty at 6:03 to put the Nationals a woman down. But, Mekwan Tulpin found Chelsie John streaking open who used several fakes to finish top left corner for the short-handed breakaway goal and the 4-1 Haudenosaunee lead at 5:36 of the second. USA would end the quarter on a 2-0 run to cut the lead. The first goal came short-handed off an unforced turnover as Ally Kennedy took the breakaway and finished five hole for her second goal of the game. Another Ally Kennedy breakaway occurred off a missed shot as she took the ball and sprinted in transition to finish top left corner and cut the lead to 4-3 with just over two minutes left to play in the half.
The game went scoreless for the first half of the third quarter as both teams continued to exchange blows. USA killed a 5-on-3 advantage until a delayed penalty allowed USA to pull their goalie and put the floor back at even strength and a low bouncer from Melissa Sconone tied the game at 4-4 at 5:42 of the third. Riley Ewing followed unassisted for USA as she took the ball off the wall and found a low bouncer to give USA their first lead of the game at 5-4 with 1:59 left in the third quarter. A Trisha John cross-checking penalty at 1:02 led to a power play goal by Erin Bakes to extend the lead to 6-4 headed to the final frame.
Mackenzie Shigwadja
Photo by David Tiger-Cortes
USA never looked back as they eventually wore down the Haudenosaunee defense and kept the Nationals off the board for the remainder of the game. Molly Garrett forced a turnover in the backcourt and scored on the breakaway at 13:10 to make it 7-4 USA. Haudenosaunee had chances on the woman advantage after a slashing penalty but USA killed it and Emily Hawryschuk immediately scooped the ball in a scramble at midfield and scored streaking at 9:42. A Timia Bomberry holding call led to Charlotte North’s first goal as she scrambled for the rebound and hit the pipe but the ball bounced off the back of Chelsea Doolittle and in the net for the 9-4 USA lead with five minutes to play in the game. An Emily Hawryschuk step down on the two woman game extended the lead to 10-4 at 3:13. Haudenosaunee pulled their goalie late to try and get something going but Ally Kennedy scored a breakaway empty netter for her fourth goal of the night and the final score of 11-4.
Up Next: The Haudenosaunee Women face England at 8:15pm on Sunday, September 22. Follow Decolonize Sports for all of your in-depth coverage. The only place for All-Native multimedia from the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championship. Mahsi’Choo and Mvto for following along ;)
