England tasted a second defeat at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship after a 15-11 fifth place play-in game defeat to Puerto Rico.
The result means England will now take on fellow Group C opponents Jamaica again in tomorrow’s seventh place game after the Caribbean side were defeated by Japan earlier today.
England started resolutely against Puerto Rico and found themselves 1-0 up after an unlikely maraud forward from long pole James Thompson led to the opening goal.
Puerto Rico came into the game quickly after this, however, holding onto possession well, and ending the quarter 3-2 ahead.
In the second quarter, Puerto Rico’s quality really started to shine through and England’s lack of a dedicated face-off man through injury began to show.
Despite this, England were able to keep up with their opponents and finished the quarter just three goals behind at 8-5.
Puerto Rico began to pull ahead in the third with three goals within the first five minutes before Ben Jackson and then Archie Gold got England’s sixth and seventh.
Another couple of goals followed for Puerto Rico but with 10 minutes left in the match, England got a second wind and pushed on.
Four goals followed from Drew Wilkinson, Gold (x2), and Spencer Mason without reply and with just over three minutes left in the tie, it felt like anything was possible for a resurgent England.
But Nicolas Bucello and Joseph Rafferty brought it all crashing down with 14th and 15th goals for their side as they made it over the line. Just.
Puerto Rico will now take on Japan in the fifth place game tomorrow at 11am (UK).
For more information about the match and the Championship, click HERE.
England 11-15 Puerto Rico (2-3, 3-5, 2-4, 4-3)
England scorers | Archie Gold (3G, 1A), Ben Jackson (2G, 1A), Drew Wilkinson (2G, 1A), James Thompson (1G), Ellis Baythorpe (2G), Spencer Mason (1G), Jack Dearden (1A), Owen Shuttleworth (1A), Zak Spreckley (1A), Jamie Mochan (1A).
Face-off win % | 24.14% (7/29).
Goalie save % | 46.43% (13/28).
