University of North Carolina Athletics
LaGrow Scores Again As Team USA Beats Japan, 26-12
June 21, 2009 | Women's Lacrosse
June 21, 2009
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- The United States raced to a fast-paced win over Japan, besting its opponent 26-12 in the 2009 Federation of International Lacrosse Women's World Cup on Saturday. The combined 38 points scored by both teams set a tournament record, outpacing the 36 points from Ireland's 23-13 win over the Netherlands on Friday.
American attacker Lindsey Munday (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Northwestern `06) led all scorers with six goals and five assists, earning her Player of the Match honors. Attacker Caroline Cryer (Centennial, Colo./Duke '09) also contributed five goals and two assists. Kristen Kjellman (Westwood, Mass./Northwestern '07) and Sarah Albrecht (Braintree, Mass./Northwestern '06) each contributed three goals and three assists. Sarah Bullard (Needham, Mass./Duke '11) scored a pair of goals, and Acacia Walker (Sherwood Forest, Md./Maryland '05), Erica LaGrow (Skaneateles, N.Y./North Carolina '08), Whitney Douthett (Newtown, Pa./Dartmouth `07) and Katie Chrest (Hampstead, Md./Duke '06) each scored a single goal. The entire team combined for 43 shots.
Munday got things started quickly for the U.S., scoring the first of her six goals just 1:38 into the first half on an assist from Katie Rowan (3g, 4a) (Delmar, N.Y./Syracuse '09). The Americans never looked back after gaining the lead. Japan closed the gap to 9-4 at 10:52 in the first half after a two-goal run, but never came any closer to catching up with the Americans. Attacker Akiko Wada (4g, 1a) and midfielder Kana Uwai (1g, 5a) led Team Japan's scoring.
U.S. goalie Megan Huether (Lutherville, Md./Duke '06) got her first start of the tournament against the Japanese, and made six saves. Goalkeeper Devon Wills (Denver, Colo./Dartmouth '06) came in during the second half and contributed two stops. Japan goalie Chiaki Nakashima made seven saves, and Maiko Iwata made two stops.
The fast-paced, high-scoring game stood in contrast to the Americans' slow starts versus their last two opponents, England and Canada. The U.S. is now 3-0 and has a rest day before heading into Monday's showdown at 5:30 a.m. EST (11:30 a.m. Prague time) versus Australia, the reigning world champions.
