Canada Provides Valuable Experience for Australia in Lopsided Victory

[Photo: David Fryer]

Australia’s debut at the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship could not have come up against a more formidable opponent as they took on defending World Junior Lacrosse Champions, Canada.

Canada’s Kealan Pilon opened the scoring at 10:52 of the 1st Quarter. Australia was quick to respond two-minutes later with Aaron Currie making international lacrosse history for Australia scoring his first goal of the Championship and the first goal for Australia at the world junior indoor/box level. Australia’s Adam Thistlethwaite closed out 1st Quarter scoring, bridging the gap 4-2; the closest quarter of the game. 

From that point, Canada went on to dominate the game winning the next three quarters 8-0, 7-2, and 5-0. In the 2rd Quarter Australia scored back-to-back short handed goals. First from Captain Colt Gnech at 4:42, then from Mitch Ogilvie at 4:27.

[Photo: (left) Mitch Ogilvie - Australia, (right) Sam LeClair - Canada]

Australia’s Player of the Game, Mitch Ogilvie, is one of only two dispensation players on the Aussie roster. His inclusion comes from his uncle’s involvement as Head Coach, Andy Ogilvie. Coach Ogilvie spent countless hours travelling back-and-forth from Vancouver, BC to Melbourne, VIC and countless hours introducing the Aussie squad to the intricacies of box lacrosse. Mitch being named to the roster deepens the Ogilvie Family commitment to help grow box lacrosse internationally and specifically in Australia. 

Canada was led in scoring by Sam LeClair (6G, 4A) who received Player of the Game honours for Canada, Kealan Pilon (3G, 6G), Austin Hasen (2G, 6A), and Quinn Ingalls who scored 4 Goals from the back gate. Laine Hruska and Landon Kells split time, 29:51 and 29:42, making 18 and 9 Saves, respectively. 

Watch: YouTube 
Boxscore: Canada 24 - Australia 4 FINAL 
Players of the Game: Canada Sam LeClair, Australia Mitch Ogilvie 
Next Game: August 7, 2019 5:00PM Round Robin - Israel vs Australia, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, Ontario