Alex Drewe hit a sudden death over time goal as England claimed their second victory at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships with an 11-10 win on Monday.
Leah Catton scored four and Laura Beaman grabbed herself a hat-trick as a determined England side came from behind to secure victory in a must-win World Championship match.
Knowing they most likely needed to beat the Netherlands to keep their hopes of heading straight into a first World Championship quarter-final alive, England started with purpose, despite falling to an early Netherlands goal from Delaney Keen.
Drewe, Beaman, and Catton eventually got England going in the first quarter as they stormed into a 3-1 lead at quarter-time.
England slowed slightly heading into the second quarter and a two-goal shutout from the Netherlands with goals from Ryley Black and Keen saw the teams go in at the half-time break level at three goals apiece.
The Oranje continued their momentum into the third quarter, netting a fourth through Evelien Copraij and taking the lead for the first time since the second minute.
Ellie Racle, who was excellent on the day, pulled a goal back for England before the Netherlands went on another scoring run, this time a three-goal shut out with strikes from Manon Loos (2) and Black.
With less than three minutes left in the third, however, something changed in England and they hit four quick-fire goals through that familiar trio of Catton (2), Beaman, and Drewe.
England took an 8-7 lead going into the final 15 minutes, but the Netherlands weren’t to be shaken off that easily and pulled themselves ahead at 9-8 after two goals from Hedwig Lambregts and a hat-trick strike from Black.
Catton pulled England level at 9-9 and with 59:04 on the clock and just 56 seconds left in the game Beaman scored her hat-trick goal to put her team ahead.
Just 11 seconds later, though, the Netherlands were back on level terms at 10-10 after Loos scored another for her team to send the game into sudden death over time.
Knowing that the first possession was vital, face-off player Catton secured the ball, evaded two Netherlands defenders, and skilfully fired an up-field pass towards the speedy Drewe who collected the ball, sprinted towards goal, and fired past the Netherlands goalie to secure a famous win.
England play their final pool stage match against USA on Tuesday at 6pm (UK) with live updates on the England Lacrosse Instagram page and live stream on WL TV.
England 11 (OT) 10 Netherlands (3-1, 0-2, 5-4, 2-3, 1-0)
England scorers: Leah Catton (4G, 1A), Alex Drewe (2G, 2A), Laura Beaman (3G), Ellie Racle (1G, 2A), Zara Russell (1G, 1A), Rosie Bathurst (1A), Georgie Rutter (1A), Laura Wright (1A).