U.S. U19 Team Beats Australia 13-4

By Brian Logue

Randy Daly

• Box Score

COQUITLAM, B.C.. — Michael Sowers erupted for a first-quarter hat trick and finished with seven points overall to lead the United States past Australia 13-4 in a Blue Division game at the 2016 Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s U19 World Championship. The U.S. improved to 2-0 in the tournament while Australia fell to 0-1.

Sowers, a recent graduate of Upper Dublin (Pa.) High School headed to Princeton, had five goals and two assists. His five goals were just one away from the U.S. single game record of six, set by Dan Denihan against Australia in 1996. His seven points were two away from the U.S. record of nine set by Jon Hess against Canada in 1996.

Alex Roesner opened the scoring for Team USA and then Sowers ripped off three straight goals, two of them extra man, and the U.S. led 4-1 after one quarter. The U.S. held Australia scoreless in the second quarter to move out to a 7-1 halftime lead.

Sowers opened the scoring in the second half and added another third quarter tally as the U.S. moved out to a 10-2 lead after three. In the fourth, Sowers had a goal waved off for a crease violation, but Jared Bernhardt scored twice in the quarter and the U.S. coasted to the victory.

Roesner had a four-point evening (2g, 2a) and played a hand in the first three goals of the game. He scored the first off an assist from his Penn teammate Simon Mathias, and then assisted on Sowers’ first two goals.

Willie Klan got the nod in goal for the second straight night and made two saves while allowing just one first-half goal. Philip Goss played the second half and made two saves while allowing three goals.

The U.S. won 12-of-20 faceoffs with Austin Henningsen winning 7-of-11 and Christian Feliziani winning 5-of-9. The U.S. converted 3-of-6 of its extra man chances and denied Australia on all five of its power plays.

Gordon Purdie Jr., was one of four goal scorers for Australia and also added an assist. Australia goalie Luke Dobson made 14 saves.

The U.S. returns to the field on Monday night with a big game against the Iroquois Nationals at 7:30 pm (Pacific). The Iroquois squad, which beat the U.S. in pool play at the 2012 FIL championship, opened this year’s tournament with a 22-4 win over England on Friday. They will play host Canada on Sunday. All games in the FIL U19 World Championship are being streamed live at sportscanada.tv/2016worldlax/

The world champion U.S. Men’s National U19 Team trains and plays using best-in-class products provided by Nike (apparel and footwear), STX (equipment), and Cascade (helmets). Nationwide, GreenFields and Sweat X are official sponsors of Team USA.

Follow the U.S. men’s national team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and YouTube at @USLacrosse and using hashtag #USAMLAX.

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