Debutant goalie Jacob Brindle secured an 80% save ratio as he played the second half of England’s 23-3 pool stage defeat to USA at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships on Sunday.
Making his first major tournament appearance for England, Brindle faced 25 shots during his second half performance, saving all but five.
Crediting Head Coach Walt Christianson and fellow England goalie Cam MacLeod, Brindle said of his performance:
“I’m very very chuffed but credit to the lads, they stop the ball first and then eventually it gets to me and they put in an absolute shift today.
“I really enjoyed the challenge and it hit me in the third quarter but I managed to reset, take a breath, and play my game in the fourth […] which I’m really pleased with.”
England had started the game brightly coming back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 after six minutes when Elliot Leonard and Corey Small fired home.
But USA were out for blood and showed their professional pedigree with six goals from Jack Hannah, four from Connor Kirst, and a hat-trick for Mac O’Keefe.
Small added a third for a determined England team just before the half but USA were ruthless in their delivery and secured the victory to go into their final pool stage match undefeated.
England take on the Haudenosaunee in their final pool stage match on Tuesday 24 September with live updates on the England Lacrosse Instagram page HERE and live stream on WL TV HERE.
England 3-23 USA (2-7, 1-6, 0-8, 0-2)
England scorers: Corey Small (2G, 1A), Elliot Leonard (1G), Ben Buchanan (1A).