July 3, 2005

Four Americans were named to the IFWLA World Team tonight (July 2) at the closing banquet of the 2005 IFWLA World Cup, hours after Team Australia defeated the USA 14-7 in the gold medal match. Vice-captain Jess Wilk, along with teammates Kelly Amonte Hiller, Jo Connelly, and Quinn Carney were all named to the All-World Team. Head Coach Sue Stahl was also awarded an IFWLA Heart of Lacrosse, recognizing her dedication to the sport and to these World Cup games.

In the gold medal match, the Australians won the opening draw but they turned it over almost immediately, and Lauren Aumiller was there to collect the loose ball. The Americans turned the ball back over, but they threw it out of bounds and Rachael Becker took possession of the ball. Team USA cleared the ball and at the other end of the field Quinn Carney took a shot that was saved, starting a clear for the Aussies. The Aussies turned the ball over in their offensive end, and Crista Samaras picked up the loose ball. The Americans then turned the ball over before getting the ball right back after the Aussies threw the ball over the endline. The Americans took the ball into their end, but they turned the ball over and the Aussies took the ball back upfield, where they scored on an opposite post feed for an early 1-0 lead at 6:18.

The Aussies won the next draw, and they were able to get off a shot that Wilk saved, giving the USA possession. Wilk cleared the ball to Amonte Hiller, who in turn passed the ball to Carney. Carney gave the ball to Cherie Greer, who took it in from the midfield, racing 50 yards for a goal at 7:03 to tie the game.

Again the Aussies won the draw, and after a settled attack were awarded an 11m shot. Again Wilk was up to the task, saving the shot and starting a clear. At the other end of the field, Carney was fouled as she drove to the cage. Carney converted the shot and the Americans led 2-1 ten minutes into the game.

Kara Cooke won the ensuing draw, and a Samaras shot was saved, giving the Aussies possession. At the other end of the field, a Jen Adams shot was saved by Wilk, and she cleared the ball to Connelly, who worked the ball up to Cooke, who brought the ball into the offensive end where she settled it. The Americans turned the ball over out of bounds, and at the other end of the field, the Aussies scored on a dump into the arc. They won the ensuing draw, and scored 39 seconds later on an Adams take from the left. Again the Aussies won the draw, and they settled their attack but lost the ball in the arc briefly. Michelle Lincoln picked it up and gave it to Adams, who scored 54 seconds after her first goal to give the Aussies a 4-2 lead. They won the next draw, and scored on a dump into the arc 37 seconds after their fourth goal for a 5-2 lead, scoring four goals in 2:10.

Amonte Hiller won the next draw to herself, and the Americans took a couple shots before the teams turned the ball over to each other. Connelly was fouled on a loose ball pickup in the Americans' defensive arc, but the USA turned the ball over on the clear and the Aussies took it right back up where they drew an 11-meter shot. Chris Lindsey made the save, but on the clear the Americans turned the ball over and the Aussies fast breaked down the field, scoring at 22:23 for a 6-2 lead.

Amonte Hiller again won the draw to herself and the Americans took a pair of shots before a Carney dump into the arc was tipped by Nelson into the cage, scoring at 24:19 to pull within three at 6-3. Carney won the ensuing draw and the Americans got off a shot but it was saved, and at the other end the Aussies settled their attack and got off a shot that Lindsey saved. Bonnie Rosen picked up the loose ball and Lindsey made a long clear out to Samaras. The Americans tried to settle their attack but turned the ball over and the Aussies took advantage, taking the ball upfield where Adams scored at 28:23 to give the Aussies a 7-3 lead.

Amonte Hiller won the draw to herself again, and the Americans drew a 3-seconds call, but the 11-meter shot was saved and the Aussies gained possession. At the other end of the field, a Sarah Forbes shot was saved by Lindsey, and the two teams entered halftime with the Aussies holding a 7-3 lead.

Greer won the opening draw of the second half but an American shot was saved, and at the other end of the field the Aussies scored at 31:18. Amonte Hiller won the draw to herself, and an American shot was wide, giving the Aussies possession. They cleared the ball and scored on a take from the top at 33:16, giving them a 9-2 lead.

Cooke won the draw, and an American shot was saved, but the Aussies turned the ball over on the clear as Randee Goldsborough intercepted a pass and the Americans settled the ball in the attack. Stacey Morlang was given her second yellow card of the game, giving the Americans a player advantage for the next five minutes.

In the settled attack, Kaiser took a feed from Amonte Hiller and scored at 36:53 to pull within five at 9-4. The Aussies won the draw, and they settled their attack,but Greer caused a turnover and picked up the ground ball to give the USA possession. The Americans, however, turned the ball over on their clear, and the Aussies capitalized, scoring at 41:00 to push the margin back to six.

Cooke won the draw again, and the Stars and Stripes settled their attack, and Aumiller scored with a crease roll at 42:19.

Greer won the draw control, and Cooke drew a shooting space foul but the shot was saved, and the Aussies took the ball back upfield where they scored on a dump into the arc for an 11-5 lead. Amonte Hiller won the draw, and her shot ricocheted off the crossbar, but Carney retained possession for the Americans. The Yanks got off two more shots, but on the second the Aussies made a save and cleared the ball to the other end of the field. The first Aussie shot was wide, but they retained possession, and on the restart scored again.

Cooke again won the draw but the Americans turned the ball over before Greer intercepted an Aussie pass, giving the USA possession again. The Americans, however, turned the ball over again before Sommar caused a turnover and Cooke was there to get the ground ball. The Americans advanced the ball and took three shots, retaining possession each time, before Carney took a Samaras feed to the cage for the Yanks' sixth goal of the game at 54:35.

Amonte Hiller won the draw, and she got the ball immediately to Cooke, who led Samaras with a pass. Samaras' shot went into the net, but it was called back for a shooting space violation. The 11-meter shot was saved, and the Aussies cleared the ball where Forbes scored on a drive from the top.

Cooke won the draw, and the Americans settled their attack before Kaiser drove in from the top and scored at 58:35.

The Aussies won the draw, and with the Americans pressing out, scored on an empty net at 59:30 for the final score of 14-7, ironically the same score as the 2001 final.