England battled hard but eventually lost 17-3 against the USA in the sun at the University of Limerick, Ireland on game day two at the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship.

Six goals from six shots by Graham Bundy Jr and a Patrick Kavanagh hat-trick propelled USA to victory and ensured they maintained their 100% record at the tournament so far.

Goals from Ollie Allsop, Danny Hilditch, and Will Shirt coupled with the way they grew into the game will give England some confidence heading into their final two pool stage games but that wasn’t enough to overcome the USA on the day.

The USA started the game in terrifying form, fresh off the back of a tight victory over Canada in their opening fixture, and found themselves four goals up with eight minutes gone in the game.

England managed to steady the ship somewhat heading into the final five minutes of the first quarter and scored with their very first shot of the game after their first meaningful period of possession.

Allsop snatched his second goal of the tournament with a cute underarm finish from just outside the crease after some good work from his team mates in midfield.

England looked a little more confident after their goal and managed to trouble USA goalie, Jared Paquette, just before quarter-time when Will Goodwin tried his luck from close range; unfortunately for England, Paquette was equal to it.

Any game against the USA is tough and this was no exception but England will be pleased that they were able to prevent the opposition from scoring for over ten minutes at the back end of the opening quarter and beginning of the second.

But they eventually wore down the stoic England defence and went on a run of scoring five without reply: four in the second quarter and one in the third.

England have worked hard over the past three years to get to this point and they weren’t about to back down now and they got their reward when Will Shirt went on a determined run towards goal, slipped past a USA defender, and fired home to make the score 9-2.

The team were clearly buoyed by this goal and it wasn’t long before they hit their third through Hilditch, who also takes his tally to two for the tournament, after England found themselves a man up in the game.

Hilditch was found in space 15 yards from goal and he only had one thing on his mind as he wound up a shot that kissed the post on its way in.

As the game wound down to a close, the USA once again went on a goal-scoring run, this time hitting six without reply to see the match out at 17-3.

England now have a rest day today (Friday 12) before their third pool stage game against Australia tomorrow (Saturday 13) live on BT Sport 4!

England Points: Ollie Allsop (1G), Will Shirt (1G), Danny Hilditch (1G)

Saturday 12 August Schedule (times BST)