The England U20 women’s team qualified for the quarter-finals at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship in dramatic fashion after a narrow 13-8 victory against Ireland in their final Pool D match.

After defeat in their penultimate pool stage game against Japan, England knew they needed to beat Ireland by at least three goals to guarantee a quarter-final spot.

Hat-tricks from both Rachael Ball and Freya Moody and braces by Annie Mather and Emma Pearce alongside goals from Molly Light, Charlie Bell, and Ellie Martin ensured victory by five goals despite a shaky third quarter that left England fans biting their nails.

England started the game with huge intent and saw themselves two goals to the good after Ball and Moody put their team ahead with just over six and a half minutes gone.

Ireland, coming into this match unbeaten, were not to be taken lightly and battled their way back on level terms with goals from Bridget Valentine and Kendra Harris.

That was enough of a wake-up call for this young England U20 team as they immediately turned the after-burners on, scoring seven without reply in the remainder of the first quarter and opening 10 minutes of the second.

Emma Pearce, Annie Mather (2), Charlie Bell, and Molly Light all got their names on the scoresheet while second goals from Ball and Moody put England in a commanding 9-2 lead with five minutes left in the half.

Harris got one back for Ireland before Moody hit her hat-trick goal just over a minute before half-time to see England into the interval with a seven-goal lead at 10-3.

England started the third quarter as they’d finished the second: with a goal. Pearce with her second of the game to put England 11-3 up.

At this point, Ireland seized upon an opportunity to get back into the game, scoring four goals in just over two minutes.

Brigid Welch, Harris (2), and Jane Howlett brought Ireland to within four goals of England with under 10 minutes left in the quarter.

But England showed their quality as they regrouped, regained their composure, and scored a 12th through Ellie Martin five minutes before quarter-time.

As the game entered its fourth quarter, England were able to nullify Ireland and their attacking threat, limiting them to just one final goal through Ava Connaughton before Ball ended the game with a 13th goal for England with five seconds to go.

England will take on Japan in a quarter-final match at 6:30am (BST) on Wednesday 21 August. Watch live HERE or follow live updates HERE.

England results

Jamaica 3-30 England (2-6, 1-9, 0-7, 0-8)

England scorers: Annie Mather (5G, 2A), Freya Moody (5G, 1A), Charlie Bell (4G, 1A), Rachael Ball (3G, 1A), Carys Johnson (3G, 1A), Ellie Martin (2G, 1A), Lucy Evans (1G, 2A), Emma Pearce (2G), Sienna Richardson (2G), Grace Connor (1G, 1A), Habi Littlehales (1G, 1A), Molly Light (1G), Millie Cant (1A).

MVP: Annie Mather.

Hong Kong, China 1-18 England (1-3, 0-6, 0-4, 0-5)

England scorers: Rachael Ball (4G), Charlie Bell (2G, 2A), Annie Mather (3G), Freya Moody (3G), Millie Cant (2G), Carys Johnson (2G), Lucy Evans (1G), Molly Light (1G).

MVP: Freya Moody.

England 7-12 Japan (6-3, 0-5, 1-2, 0-2)

England scorers: Freya Moody (3G), Molly Light (2G), Annie Mather (2G), Charlie Bell (1A).

MVP: Miri Akiyama (Japan).

England 13-8 Ireland (4-2, 6-1, 2-4, 1-1)

England scorers: Rachael Ball (3G, 1A), Freya Moody (3G), Molly Light (1G, 2A), Annie Mather (2G), Emma Pearce (2G), Charlie Bell (1G, 1A), Ellie Martin (1G), Ella Dimbylow (1A).

MVP: Rachael Ball.

England top points scorers (pool stage)