Duke Lax @ U-19 World Championships

[burnspbesq]

The U-19 world championships in men's lax are going on in Turku, Finland, and the biggest story is that the US team finally lost a game. In fact, it lost two, to Canada and Iroquois, thereby finishing third in its group in pool play.

The US team faces a potentially tricky play-in game tomorrow against the winner of today's game between Germany and Wales (as I write this, Germany has a five-goal lead in the second quarter). A win tomorrow earns them a rematch with Iroquois in the semi-finals; a loss puts them into a placement round for fifth through eighth place.

Both Duke players on the US team have had up-and-down performances in pool play.

Kyle Keenan has had two four-goal games, against England and Australia, and been shut out against Canada and Iroquois.

Kyle Turri has played 200 minutes in goal (one complete game and three halves; international lax games consist of four 20-minute quarters). He has an overall save percentage around 55 percent, but got lit up for four goals in less than five minutes to open the second half against Iroquois, a run that turned that game around.

[MCFinARL]

After winning the quarterfinal against Germany easily, the US team reversed the outcome against the Iroquois in the semifinals, and Kyle Turri had a good outing. The other goalie had 2 saves to 5 goals against in the first half; Kyle had 5 saves to 2 goals against in the second

The US will meet Canada in the final on Saturday.

[burnspbesq]

After winning the quarterfinal against Germany easily, the US team reversed the outcome against the Iroquois in the semifinals, and Kyle Turri had a good outing. The other goalie had 2 saves to 5 goals against in the first half; Kyle had 5 saves to 2 goals against in the second

The US will meet Canada in the final on Saturday.

I got to see a good chunk of the fourth quarter. Lyle Thompson will be seeing Kyle Turri in his nightmares for a very long time. Kyle stuffed him from close range twice, at a time when a goal could have been a real momentum-changer.

Alas, Steve Pontrello, whose natural hat-trick at the start of the second half turned the game around for the USA, will be a Tarheel for the next four years.

[MCFinARL]

I got to see a good chunk of the fourth quarter. Lyle Thompson will be seeing Kyle Turri in his nightmares for a very long time. Kyle stuffed him from close range twice, at a time when a goal could have been a real momentum-changer.

Alas, Steve Pontrello, whose natural hat-trick at the start of the second half turned the game around for the USA, will be a Tarheel for the next four years.

That IS too bad. We can only hope he has the same experience there that so many of UNC's vaunted offensive recruits have had in recent years--playing on a team that fails to live up to expectations.

[burnspbesq]

That IS too bad. We can only hope he has the same experience there that so many of UNC's vaunted offensive recruits have had in recent years--playing on a team that fails to live up to expectations.

In terms of doing less with more, Joe Breschi is way ahead of Ol' Roy.

[burnspbesq]

Congrats to Kyle Keenan and Kyle Turri, who are coming home with gold medals from the U-19 world championships. The US reversed another pool-play loss, defeating Canada 10-8 in the championship game. Kyle Keenan scored a goal, part of the 4-0 second-quarter run that gave the US a lead that it never relinquished. Kyle Turri played the second half, making three saves.

Matt Kavanaugh of the US team, who will be at Notre Dame beginning this fall, was named the tournament's outstanding player.