England win the 2023 ELF Women's U21 Lacrosse Championship

England ensured back to back ELF Women’s U21 Lacrosse Championship titles after defeating Czechia 9-4 in an enthralling 2023 final in Prague on Sunday.

After a tense start from both sides, Charlie Bell opened the scoring after 11 and a half minutes but with just 30 seconds left in the first quarter, Czechia were level after Eliška Hanzlová scored her fourth of the tournament.

England came out in the second and were very assured in their possession but were unable to turn their control of the ball into goals until Grace Davison found herself high up the pitch and fired home from close range to ensure every single England out-field player scored at the tournament.

Czechia were resolute in their game plan, remaining in the game, and they found themselves level once again when Ellen Pantazopoulou scored direct from a free position.

But, in what was a turning point in the game, captain Millie Cant put England back in front with the last play of the half.

England returned to the field after half-time with renewed confidence and quickly punished Czechia with Sofia Wise keeping up her record of scoring in every game at the tournament before Molly Light capped a brilliant performance in midfield with a goal as well.

Czechia remained within touching distance as Barbora Koděrová hit her team’s third of the day from a free position but England upped the pressure and pulled further ahead through Wise, Annie Mather, Rachael Ball, and Carys Johnson as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Pantazopoulou scored Czechia’s fourth but it proved to be too little, too late as England were able to see the game out and win the Championship title 9-5.

Watch the game in full HERE.

England points scorers | Wise (2G, 2A), Ball (1G, 2A), Bell (1G, 1A), Cant (1G, 1A), Davison (1G), Mather (1G), Light (1G), Johnson (1G), Renders (1A)

Czechia points scorers | Pantazopoulou (2G), Hanzlová (1G), Koděrová (1G)

England top points scorers