England player cheers on her team on the sidelines

The England U20 women’s team progressed to the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship play-offs after a 12-6 quarter-final defeat to Japan.

A promising first half with goals from Annie Mather (2), Freya Moody, and Carys Johnson saw England go toe to toe with an excellent Japan team but a slower second half from the women in red saw them fall to a second defeat to Japan in three days.

“We’re going to come out fighting really hard” is what England attacker Mather had told the nation yesterday and she stood by her word as she put England two goals to the good after just three and a half minutes.

Another four minutes of resolute defending followed before Japan’s quality began to show as they hit three without reply to end the first quarter; Haruka Takeuchi (2) and Negai Nakazawa putting their team 3-2 up.

Not to be swayed so easily, Moody hit her 15th goal of the tournament from a free position to get England back on level terms.

But Japan were the team in the ascendency and Nakazawa scored her second of the match to put her side a goal ahead at 4-3.

50 seconds from the half-time whistle, however, Johnson embodied the collective determination of this young England U20 team by scoring their fourth to ensure England went in at the break on level terms.

A fast start to the third quarter from Japan saw them pull two goals ahead for the first time through Miu Kimura and Hinako Ono before Mather scored her hat-trick goal to keep England within touching distance at 6-5.

Two more Japan goals, this time from Ayame Mizuno and Yuka Kawase, saw England’s opposition finish the third quarter three goals ahead at 8-5.

Rachael Ball tried to get the ball moving for England again early in the fourth with a goal after 49 seconds but it wasn’t to be as Japan’s quality overpowered England and four goals without reply from Megan Kitagawa, Miri Akiyama (2), and Ono saw Japan claim a 12-6 victory and progress to the semi-final.

Japan will take on Canada in a semi-final match on Thursday while England will play Italy also on Thursday with a chance to progress through to the fifth-place match.

Follow live updates of England’s next match HERE or watch live on World Lacrosse TV HERE.

Japan 12-6 England (3-2, 1-2, 4-1, 4-1)

England scorers: Annie Mather (3G), Rachael Ball (1G), Carys Johnson (1G), Freya Moody (1G)

MVP: Negai Nakazawa (Japan)

England top points scorers (as of 21 August)