Canada will play for the 2018 FIL Men’s World Lacrosse Championship on Saturday after they defeated the Iroquois Nationals 15-4 in their semifinal game on Thursday in Netanya, Israel.
And they'll be up against a familiar foe, after the United States won their semifinal against Australia, 14-5, later on Thursday. The two teams have played each other in six consecutive championships. Canada defeated the U.S., 8-5, in the final of the 2014 championship that was played in Denver, Colo.
Coquitlam’s Ben McIntosh scored three goals and added a pair of assists to lead Canada’s offence, which outshot the Iroquois Nationals 40-25.
Port Coquitlam’s Curtis Dickson scored three goals and Coquitlam’s Wesley Berg pitched in with an assist. Defender Ryland Rees, from Port Coquitlam, retrieved three loose balls.
“I think that was our best performance thus far,” said Canada's head coach Randy Mearns. “We’ve challenged our guys to get better every day and today our coaching staff had them well prepared. Overall, a tremendous effort.”
In fact, the only blemish on Canada's record was an earlier 11-10 defeat in the elmination round to the Americans, who are still undefeated.
The final will be played at 12 midnite, PT.
The 2022 world championships will be played in Coquitlam.