Syracuse University Athletics - Championship Match Pits U.S. Against Gary Gait's Canadian Squad

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Syracuse's Josh Amidon and Team USA improved to 30-0 all-time in U-19 play Thursday (photo credit: John Strohsacker).

Josh Amidon scored his third goal of the U-19 ILF World Championship Thursday.

Championship Match Pits U.S. Against Gary Gait's Canadian Squad

courtesy of U.S. Lacrosse

7/11/2008 9:15:22 AM

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Tournament Central | Joel White's Blog

COQUITLAM, British Columbia - Orange midfielder Josh Amidon (Lafayette, N.Y.) scored his third goal of the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship to help lead Team USA to a 25-5 victory against England in the semifinals on Thursday, July 10. It was Amidon's second consecutive game with a score.

The U.S. will face Canada in the gold medal game on Saturday, July 12 at 2:30 p.m. PST. Team Canada is coached by SU women's lacrosse coach Gary Gait. Gait's squad knocked off the Iroquois Nationals, 23-12, in the semifinals to advance.

Team USA enters Saturday's title match with a 6-0 record. Canada is 5-1 with its only loss of the tournament coming against the Americans, 16-15, in overtime on July 6.

For the United States in the semifinals, Andrew Feinberg and midfielder Nick Elsmo led the team with four goals each. Elsmo scored three times in the opening half as the U.S. team built an 11-3 halftime lead. The Americans out-scored England, 7-0, in the third quarter, with Feinberg scoring three times in the period.

Six other Americans recorded multiple goals, led by Dean Gibbons, Matthew MacKrides and Rhamel Bratton with three each. MacKrides also added a game-high four assists to lead all scorers with seven points.

Team USA built a 5-2 lead in the first quarter. English attackman Zac Guy (2g, 1a) beat defenseman John Lade topside and stuck a low shot past goalie Adam Ghitelman to close within three.

The tune changed in the second quarter, however, as U.S. faceoff specialist Matt Dolente won all six of his draws and sparked a 6-1 run that England could not counter. Dolente finished 15-for-20 on faceoffs.

England's goalies Anthony Hayes (14 saves) and Daniel Grimes combined for 21 saves in the loss. England (3-4) will play the Iroquois Nationals for the bronze medal Saturday.

U.S. Goals: Andrew Feinberg 4, Nick Elsmo 4, Dean Gibbons 3, Matt MacKrides 3, Rhamel Bratton 3, James Green 2, Ryan Young 2, Jack McBride 2, Josh Amidon 1, Craig Dowd 1

U.S. Assists: MacKrides 4, Dowd 3, Young 2, Elsmo 1, Green 1, Feinberg 1, Gibbons 1, McBride 1, Anthony Mendes 1, Tim Donovan 1