England fell to a 19-4 opening game defeat against five-time world champions Canada despite a positive performance at the Utica University Nexus Center on Saturday.

Veteran Matt Marsh opened England’s World Championships account late in the second quarter before Jack Royer (2) and Corey Small hit three more as Canada eased the pressure late in the game.

Stand-out performer Cameron MacLeod in the England net faced an incredible 37 shots in total, saving 19.

Canada showed their wealth of talent on the floor with nine different goal-scorers and Wesley Berg hitting four as well as Robert Church, Tanner Cook, and Ryan Smith all netting hat-tricks.

England player Tom Bracegirdle said of the defeat:

“We knew that was going to be a tough fixture coming into it. We set ourselves targets to achieve in the game; we had spells of that and they showed their class, I think, in that fixture.

“We’ve got to re-set now, obviously, going into a tough game tomorrow and then take the little victories we can from that.”

England have less than 24 hours before their next Pool A game against USA at 6pm (UK) today with live updates on the England Lacrosse Instagram page HERE and the game streamed in full on WL TV HERE.

USA claimed a shock 16-9 victory over Haudenosaunnee in their opening fixture on Friday night.

England 4-19 Canada (0-5, 1-7, 0-4, 3-3)

England scorers: Jack Royer (2G, 1A), Lyndon Bunio (3A), Matt Marsh (1G, 1A), Corey Small (1G, 1A).