University of North Carolina Athletics
History Made! USA Wins First-Ever World Box Gold, Canada Gets Silver
September 29, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse
UTICA, N.Y. – History has been made on home soil! Six former North Carolina women's lacrosse standouts helped the United States win the first-ever gold medal at the inaugural World Lacrosse Women's Box Championship.
It was the first time World Lacrosse hosted a women's box world championship, and 10 teams had been competing from Sept. 20-29 in Utica, New York.
The six newly-crowned world champion Tar Heels include Kristen Carr ('10), Ally Mastroianni ('21), Taylor Moreno ('22), Melissa Sconone ('23), Caroline Wakefield ('21) and Kayla Wood ('21).
No other school had more than two former student-athletes on the U.S. squad. Carr, Mastroianni and Wood served as team captains.
Current UNC redshirt-junior Brooklyn Walker-Welch earned silver with Canada. She added to her already-impressive international resume, as this medal now complements her gold from the 2022 World Games and silver from the 2022 World Championship.
Walker-Welch, a defender, was crucial in helping Canada concede only five goals up until facing the United States, and none during pool play. She scored Canada's first goal in the gold medal game to end the tournament with two goals, four assists and six points.
Sconone concluded the World Box Championship ranked second on Team USA and fourth in the tournament with 36 points behind 21 goals and 15 assists. She contributed one assist in Sunday's final.
Mastroianni had one goal and two assists in the gold medal game, finishing the event with 10 goals, six assists and 16 points. Also with double-digit points was Wakefield with 11 after six goals and five assists. Playing in cage, goalie Moreno made 24 saves for a .800 save percentage.
Canada and the U.S. both finished pool play undefeated at 4-0 to advance directly to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Team USA defeated Ireland, 30-1, and Team Canada topped Netherlands, 33-2. Decisive semifinal performances saw USA beat Australia, 26-2, and Canada best Haudenosaunee, 19-3.
Tar Heels at the World Lacrosse Box Championship
Pool Play
Friday, Sept. 20 – Canada def. Finland, 31-0
Friday, Sept. 20 – USA def. Netherlands, 32-3
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Canada def. Australia, 26-0
Saturday, Sept. 21 – USA def. Haudenosaunee, 11-4
Sunday, Sept. 22 – USA def. China, 28-2
Monday, Sept. 23 – Canada def. Germany, 28-0
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Canada def. Ireland, 28-0
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – USA def. England, 28-2
Playoffs
Thursday, Sept. 26 – Quarterfinals: USA def. Ireland, 30-1
Thursday, Sept. 26 – Quarterfinals: Canada def. Netherlands, 33-2
Friday, Sept. 27 – Semifinals: USA def. Australia, 26-2
Friday, Sept. 27 – Semifinals: Canada def. Haudenosaunee, 19-3
Sunday, Sept. 29 – Gold medal game: USA def. Canada, 10-7
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse, is characterized by tight spaces, fast pace and quick decision making. Played inside the confines of a multi-sport rink, box lacrosse has a distinct set of rules apart from the field game. The playing surface is enclosed by boards, usually made of wood or plastic, and each team has six players on the floor – five runners and one goaltender. Players rotate on and off the floor in shifts.
More information about box lacrosse can be found here.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
It was the first time World Lacrosse hosted a women's box world championship, and 10 teams had been competing from Sept. 20-29 in Utica, New York.
The six newly-crowned world champion Tar Heels include Kristen Carr ('10), Ally Mastroianni ('21), Taylor Moreno ('22), Melissa Sconone ('23), Caroline Wakefield ('21) and Kayla Wood ('21).
No other school had more than two former student-athletes on the U.S. squad. Carr, Mastroianni and Wood served as team captains.
Current UNC redshirt-junior Brooklyn Walker-Welch earned silver with Canada. She added to her already-impressive international resume, as this medal now complements her gold from the 2022 World Games and silver from the 2022 World Championship.
Walker-Welch, a defender, was crucial in helping Canada concede only five goals up until facing the United States, and none during pool play. She scored Canada's first goal in the gold medal game to end the tournament with two goals, four assists and six points.
Sconone concluded the World Box Championship ranked second on Team USA and fourth in the tournament with 36 points behind 21 goals and 15 assists. She contributed one assist in Sunday's final.
Mastroianni had one goal and two assists in the gold medal game, finishing the event with 10 goals, six assists and 16 points. Also with double-digit points was Wakefield with 11 after six goals and five assists. Playing in cage, goalie Moreno made 24 saves for a .800 save percentage.
Canada and the U.S. both finished pool play undefeated at 4-0 to advance directly to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Team USA defeated Ireland, 30-1, and Team Canada topped Netherlands, 33-2. Decisive semifinal performances saw USA beat Australia, 26-2, and Canada best Haudenosaunee, 19-3.
Tar Heels at the World Lacrosse Box Championship
Pool Play
Friday, Sept. 20 – Canada def. Finland, 31-0
Friday, Sept. 20 – USA def. Netherlands, 32-3
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Canada def. Australia, 26-0
Saturday, Sept. 21 – USA def. Haudenosaunee, 11-4
Sunday, Sept. 22 – USA def. China, 28-2
Monday, Sept. 23 – Canada def. Germany, 28-0
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Canada def. Ireland, 28-0
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – USA def. England, 28-2
Playoffs
Thursday, Sept. 26 – Quarterfinals: USA def. Ireland, 30-1
Thursday, Sept. 26 – Quarterfinals: Canada def. Netherlands, 33-2
Friday, Sept. 27 – Semifinals: USA def. Australia, 26-2
Friday, Sept. 27 – Semifinals: Canada def. Haudenosaunee, 19-3
Sunday, Sept. 29 – Gold medal game: USA def. Canada, 10-7
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse, is characterized by tight spaces, fast pace and quick decision making. Played inside the confines of a multi-sport rink, box lacrosse has a distinct set of rules apart from the field game. The playing surface is enclosed by boards, usually made of wood or plastic, and each team has six players on the floor – five runners and one goaltender. Players rotate on and off the floor in shifts.
More information about box lacrosse can be found here.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Defender
/ Women's LacrosseSaturday, June 20
Friday, June 19
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17