UTICA – The Haudenosaunee Nationals dropped a heartbreaker 12-11 to USA in the semifinals of the 2024 World Lacrosse Men’s Box Championship at the Adirondack Bank Center. The game was tight throughout as neither team led by more than two goals. Ultimately, it was a 3-0 run to end the game for USA that was the difference in the game. The Haudenosaunee offense had goals from eight different players, led by Eli McLaughlin with two goals and two assists, Lyle Thompson with two goals and an assist, Noonzy Thompson with two goals, and Randy Staats with a goal and three assists. Doug Jamieson got the start in net and finished with 50 saves.

USA jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Jack Hannah pushed the ball ahead in transition, drove left and finished five-hole at 12:20. Connor Kirst followed as Ryan Terefenko won a groundball in transition and dropped a pass to the trailing Kirst for the step down at 11:26. Haudenosaunee would respond with a 3-0 run of their own started by a USA slashing penalty at 10:18. It took Lyle Thompson 10-seconds to score the power play goal as he worked left off a Randy Staats screen and sniped one through traffic to get Haudenosaunee on the board. A minute later Thomas Hoggarth found Larson Sundown in the slot and Sundown’s low bouncer tied the game. Three minutes later Randy Staats posting up on the perimeter found Eli McLaughlin on the back cut for the diving goal and the first lead of the game for the Nationals at 3-2. USA answered as Dylan Robinson sprinted ahead in transition and hit the double pipe but the ball apparently crossed the line to tie the game at 3-3 with 2:44 to play in the first. A Jeremy Thompson holding penalty at 1:06 led to a power play goal as Joey Spallina fired a step down off a pass from Blaze Riorden to regain the 4-3 lead for USA with 43-seconds remaining.

Haudenosaunee responded first in the second quarter as Noonzy Thompson took an outlet pass and pushed the ball in transition to finish top left and tie the game at 11:31 of the second. Tehoka Nanticoke scored at 10:14 as Cody Jamieson barreled into the defense to create space and find Nanticoke back cutting for the diving finish and the Haudenosaunee 5-4 lead. Jamieson followed with a goal of his own as Lyle Thompson dug out a ground ball in the corner and shoveled it to Jamieson who fired a step down behind the Thompson screen for the 6-4 lead with 8-minutes remaining in the half. USA responded as Jack Hannah used a swim move to get inside and score at 5:12 of the second quarter. USA would kill a cross checking penalty before Noonzy Thompson struck again in transition as he sprinted the ball up the floor and scored low for his second of the game and the 7-5 lead at 1:04 and headed to halftime.

USA struck first in the third quarter as Blaze Riorden set the pick and rolled for the finish to cut the lead to 7-6 20-seconds into the second half. Joe Resetarits followed up with a goal from the top to tie the game at 13:25 of the third. Randy Staats answered with his first of the game from the left side as he took a pass from Jamieson barreling through the defense to regain the lead at 11:50. USA responded two minutes later as Joey Spallina walked into a step down on the left side for his second of the game and an 8-8 tie. A couple of penalties put the game at 4-on-4 and Thomas Hoggarth scored off the pick and pop with Staats who used a beautiful backhand over the shoulder to Hoggarth for the bouncer to regain the lead at 2:35. Charlie Bertrand would answer in traffic for USA with 11-seconds left to tie the game at 9-9 headed to the final frame.

Both nations exchanged penalties early in the fourth as the game went back and forth until Eli McLaughlin fired a step down that trickled through the pads for the 10-9 lead at 9:42. 50-seconds later Lyle Thompson used a swim move to get loose driving to the outside and bounced one home for the two goal lead with 8:52 to go in the game. Joe Resetarits would answer on a shot that trickled over the line according to the referee. Replays showed it was definitely close to being saved by Doug Jamieson before crossing the goal line at 8:28 of the fourth. Another USA goal came as Joey Spallina cut and scored on a one-timer in traffic at 7:37 to tie the game at 11-11. USA would regain the lead as a Haudenosaunee turnover sent USA in transition and Connor Kirst ran into a step down from the right side for the 12-11 lead with 5:01 to play in the game. Haudenosaunee had several chances but could not score again. Then an illegal substitution call came at 2:04 as Lyle Thompson sprinted in transition and passed the ball ahead to Cody Jamieson streaking off the bench only to be called for the penalty and put Haudenosaunee a man down for the remainder of the game. Their best chance came as Lyle Thompson beat his man one-on-one and was open in front of the net but missed the shot and USA ran out the clock for the 12-11 win.

The win for USA means they will play for the gold medal for the first time ever. Haudenosaunee and Canada have played each other for the gold medal in every tournament since 2003.

Up Next: Haudenosaunee will face England for the Bronze medal on Saturday, September 27 at 7:15 p.m. EST at the Adirondack Bank Center.

Haudenosaunee Men drop heartbreaker 12-11 to USA in semifinals of 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championship

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