Fins finish fourth at 2026 North American Invitational with all-European team
Fins Box Lacrosse made history at the 2026 North American Invitational event in Utica, USA last week as they finished fourth, the highest ever finish by a European side, with a team featuring nine England internationals.
Led by coaches Cai Jefferies and Albert Lee-Whitehead, both of whom have England international pedigree, Fins won two of their five games and missed out on a third-place finish after an agonising one-goal defeat to Canada’s Loggers in sudden-death over-time.
Seven of the Fins 12-player squad took to the floor for England at the inaugural European Box Lacrosse Championship in Prague, Czechia in June helping their team to a third-place finish and a bronze medal.
Fins was founded in early 2025 and competed in that year’s ShE-Box event, beating several international sides including the Netherlands.
This year, they took part in the 2026 UK Lacrosse Summer League at Macclesfield Rugby Club where they lifted the trophy after two wins from their three games against Whippets.
Following their domestic success, attending the 2026 North American Invitational marked Fins first overseas tour and first games against opponents from USA and Canada.
Elsewhere in the competition, Lauren Lewis, who also starred for England at this year’s Euros, continued her playing tour of North America, teaming up with GTA All-Stars and playing five times as they won the 2026 trophy in style after a 4-0 defeat of Skywomen.
The North American Invitational was launched in 2016 at the Onondaga Nation Fieldhouse and is held annually each September.
In the past, teams from North America have been joined at the competition by teams from all over the world such as Czechia, Dominican Republic, England, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, and US Virgin Islands.
Fins will next take to the floor to play competitive fixtures at the Prague Open from 8-10 April 2027.
Results
Skywomen 4-0 Fins
Fins 6-1 Lady Liberties
Fins scorers | Laura Beaman (2G), Jane Lee-Whitehead (2A), Millie Johnson (1G), Laura Wright (1G).
Fins 1-0 France
Fins scorers | Laura Beaman (1G).
GTA All-Stars 7-1 Fins
Fins scorers | Kim Dressendoerfer (1G).
Loggers 5-4 Fins
Fins scorers | Karma Kabbani (2G), Jane Lee-Whithead (2G), Millie Johnson (1A).
Squad
Laura Beaman
Phoebe Blakeley-Crewe
Kim Dressendoerfer
Beth Frank
Millie Johnson
Rosie Jones
Karma Kabbani
Isabella Knapp
Jane Lee-Whitehead
Gabbie Lucas
Lucy Mayers
Tilly Sideso
Laura Wright