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MONDAY RECAP: CANADA, USA BOTH WIN

Canada routs Germany, 23-4; US 17, England 5

07/19/2010

In Monday's action at the World Championships, Canada improved to 4-0 in round-robin play by routing Germany, 23-4. Dan Dawson led the way with six goals. Team USA improved to 3-1 with a 17-5 win over England. Both Canada and USA are assured of moving onto to the playoff rounds.

Team USA Game Summary, courtesy of US Lacrosse

Paul Rabil (Washington Stealth) scored three goals and added two assists to lead the U.S. men's national team to a 17-5 victory over host England in the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse Championships at the University of Manchester.

Rabil scored all three of his goals in the first quarter, as the U.S. turned an early 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead with a deluge of goals in the quarter's final minutes.

Team USA led 8-2 by halftime. Kyle Sweeney (Philadelphia Wings) made it 9-2 less than two minutes into the third quarter on a transition play ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢â€Ã...¡Ã‚¬" the fourth goal in five games for the U.S. long pole.

England's Adrian Bennett answered on the ensuing possession to close back within six, but consecutive fast break goals off Alex Smith faceoff wins ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢â€Ã...¡Ã‚¬" one finished by Ryan Boyle (Orlando Titans) and the other by Brendan Mundorf ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢â€Ã...¡Ã‚¬" in a 45-second span put Team USA out of reach.

Rabil added two assists to his three goals to finish with a game-high five points. Mundorf and Mike Leveille each finished with three goals and an assist. Ryan Powell (Edmonton Rush) had two goals and two assists.

Smith and Stephen Peyser combined to go 16-of-24 on faceoffs.

The U.S. (3-1) wraps up pool play Tuesday against upstart Japan, which is fresh off an upset of Australia and is in position to play itself into the medal round. Opening faceoff is at 1:30 p.m. local (8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern.)

CANADA DEFEATS GERMANY 23-4 TO IMPROVE TO 4-0

Reported by Neil Stevens, Team Canada Media Contact
Additional Information by Megan Robinson for NLL.com

Dan Dawson scored six goals in leading undefeated Canada to a 23-4 victory over Germany at the world field lacrosse championships Monday. The win clinched first place in the elite bracket for Canada, 4-0, which completes the round-robin phase against England on Tuesday (2:30 p.m. ET).

The Germans scored first and it was 2-2 before Team Canada Head Coach David Huntley's team roused itself into action. "We were awful in the first half,'' said Huntley. "Our focus wasn't there, but I'm pleased with the way we came out in the second half. We had more focus, and that's how we need to play. So, bad half, but we bounced back.''

Dawson had a big role in that. With Canada up 4-2, the captain of the NLL's Boston Blazers scored three in a row to put Canada up 7-2 after one quarter. It was 12-3 at halftime and 17-3 after three quarters.

Dawson has been an MVP in the NLL since 2002, but he's a newcomer to the field game.

"It's kind of been a new venture for me," said the 28-year-old attacker. "Coach Huntley has guided me in the right direction and guys on the team have should be some of the things that work in the outdoor game that I may not be used to.

"I'm still learning. Whatever my role might be on this team, I'm willing to do it."

Toronto Rock's 2010 Rookie MVP Garrett Billings scored four goals, Minnesota Swarm forward Zack Greer three and mid-fielder Kevin Crowley, Rochester Knighthawks forward Shawn Williams, and Philadelphia Wings Rookie Kevin Huntley and Edmonton Rush Rookie Corey Small scored two goals each against the Germans. Orlando Titan transition player Jordan Hall and Rochester Knighthawks forward and NLL Veteran John Grant added one each to the victory. Huntley opted at half time to rest Grant the rest of the way.

In nine previous world tournaments, which are held every four years, Canada had never played Germany. Germany is in the elite bracket this year only because they got to take the place of the Iroquois Nationals when the Nationals were unable to make the trip due to passport issues.

"We were really happy to be out here playing with these guys,'' said Germany's Jordan West-Pratt, a former NLL player who grew up in the Vancouver region and who now lives in Berlin. "They're defending world champions and we hung with them in playing them 2-2 in the first quarter."

"We couldn't expect more than that, man. This is bittersweet for me. I love those (Canadian players). They helped us get better and we're looking forward to playing the rest of the tournament.''

Canada will complete its play in the round-robin portion of the tournament on Tuesday, when they play England at 2:30pm Eastern. The games of the FIL World Championships can be watched online via pay-per-view by clicking here.

Additional reporting on the USA vs. England match by Dan Ventresca for NLL.com

Team USA won in blow-out fashion for the second straight day at the FIL World Lacrosse Championships on Monday, beating host country England 17-5 in Manchester.

Midfielder Paul Rabil (Washington Stealth) scored three goals ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" all in the first quarter, and Ryan Powell (Edmonton Rush) added two of his own.

Rabil scored his three goals in a five minute span. His third was a hard rip from the perimeter on the powerplay, and the Americans held a 5-1 lead after one quarter.

England scored its second goal of the game in the second quarter, but a quick-stick goal by Ryan Powell (Edmonton Rush) from Max Seibald (Philadelphia Wings) and a goal from Brendan Mundorf gave the US an 8-2 advantage at the half.

Long-pole Kyle Sweeney (Philadelphia Wings) drove to the net and scored off the opening faceoff in the third quarter. Ryan Boyle (Orlando Titans), Seibald and Drew Westervelt (Wings) all scored their first goals of the game in the third.

After holding the English scoreless for more than 30 minutes, they scored twice in the final nine seconds to make the final 17-5.

Rabil now has eight goals in the tournament, while Seibald and Westervelt have seven.

The Americans return to action on Tuesday to take on Japan at 8:30 a.m. ET.