COQUITLAM, B.C (July 10, 2008) - Attacker Andrew Feinberg (Owings Mills, Md/McDonogh HS/Brown '11) and midfielder Nick Elsmo (Edgewater, Md/Severn HS/Virginia '11) scored four goals each as Team USA withstood an early challenge to defeat England 25-5 in Thursday's semifinal of the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship. The U.S. (6-0) will face Canada in Saturday's gold medal match at 2:30 p.m. PST. Canada defeated the Iroquois Nationals, 23-12, in the second semifinal.

Elsmo scored three times in the opening half as the U.S. team built an 11-3 halftime lead in the semifinal. The Americans then outscored England 7-0 in the third quarter, with Feinburg scoring three times in the quarter.

Six other Americans scored at least twice in the game, led by Dean Gibbons (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City HS/Harvard '11), Matthew MacKrides (Newtown Square, Pa/Malvern Prep/Penn State '12) and Rhamel Bratton (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington HS/Virginia'11) with three goals each. MacKrides also added a game-high four assists to lead all scorers with seven points.

The U-19 team (6-0) improved to 35-0 all-time in international competition and will try to claim its sixth straight ILF U-19 title.

Team USA built a 5-2 lead in the first quarter. English attackman Zac Guy (2g, 1a) beat defenseman John Lade (Randolph, N.J./Randolph/Villanova '11) topside and stuck a low shot on Adam Ghitelman (Syosset, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor/Virginia) that closed within three. England won six of eight first-quarter face-offs.

The tune changed in the second quarter, however, as U.S. face-off specialist Matthew Dolente (Phoenixville, Pa./Malvern Prep/Johns Hopkins '11) won all six of his draws and sparked a 6-1 run that England could not counter. Dolente finished 15-for-20 on face-offs.

England's goalies Anthony Hayes (14 saves) and Daniel Grimes combined for 21 saves in the loss. England (3-4) will play the Iroquois Nationals for the bronze medal on Saturday.

U.S. Goals: Andrew Feinberg 4, Nick Elsmo 4, Dean Gibbons 3, Matt MacKrides 3, Rhamel Bratton 3, James Green 2, Ryan Young 2, Jack McBride 2, Josh Amidon 1, Craig Dowd 1

U.S. Assists: MacKrides 4, Dowd 3, Young 2, Elsmo 1, Green 1, Feinberg 1, Gibbons 1, McBride 1, Anthony Mendes 1, Tim Donovan 1

2008-07-11