The United States Of America Is Still The Greatest Lacrosse Playing Nation In The World
Sean M. Haffey. Getty Images.Ever since 2002, the United States and Canada have traded off every 4 years being the best lacrosse country in the world. USA won the World Championship '02, Canada in '06, USA in '10, Canada in '14, and USA won it again in 2018. Half of you weren't even a twinkle in your daddy's eye yet the last time USA or Canada won back-to-back gold medals.
So when Team USA won gold at the very last second in 2018 against Canada, the talk immediately became about Canada coming back in 2023 looking for revenge. And how did the Canadians respond this time around?
By not even coming particularly close to beating USA at all in the tournament this year.
Every 4 years the World Lacrosse Championships roll around. And while it's great to see new countries start to pick up the sport each tournament, there are only 2 games each tournament that really have any impact on the actual tournament. That's when USA and Canada play each other in the round robin stage, and then when they inevitably meet up in the gold medal game. USA beat Canada 7-5 in the opening game of this year's tournament. It was a slow, boring game in which USA had control from start to finish. And then last night's gold medal game was an announcement to the world that out of the several billion humans living on this giant floating rock, Brennan O'Neill is the best at playing lacrosse.
The only kid currently in college to make Team USA's roster. He's about to be a senior at Duke, and he just went off for 5 goals in the biggest game that international lacrosse has to offer. A 10-7 win for USA in the gold medal game, and Brennan O'Neill had half of those goals. That would be like if a high school LeBron made the Dream Team and then went out to drop 40 in the gold medal game against Venezuela.
This USA roster has 3 out of the 4 guys to win the MVP in the PLL. They have 3x Midfielder of the Year in Tom Schreiber. They have 3x Goalie of the Year in Blaze Riorden. And the MVP of the World Championships? He still has another year of college ball to play. USA might just have another dynasty on their way.
What a way to kick off Fourth of July week here in the States. Complete and total domination by the Americans from start to finish in this tournament. We are so, so goddamn good at this sport.
Play the music!!