2008 Men's U-19 World Lacrosse Championship

The 2008 Men's U–19 World Lacrosse Championship (U–19) was held at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam, British Columbia from July 3 to July 12. The event was sponsored by the International Lacrosse Federation. This international field lacrosse tournament is held every four years, and teams are composed of players that are under the age of nineteen.[1]

2008 Men's U–19 World Lacrosse Championship

Tournament details
Host country	Canada
Dates	July 3–12
Teams	12
Venue(s)	Percy Perry Stadium, Coquitlam, British Columbia
Final positions
Gold	United States (6th title)
Silver	Canada
Bronze	Iroquois
MVP	Adam Jones
← 2003 2012 →

This was the last major event to be sponsored by the ILF. In August 2008, the ILF merged with the former governing body for international women's lacrosse, the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations, to form the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). Future U–19 championships will be sponsored by FIL.

The United States won the gold medal, the silver medal winners were Canada and the bronze medal went to the Iroquois Nationals.

Teams

The 2008 tournament saw twelve nations competing in the championship. Teams were split into two divisions: the elite "Blue Division" and the "Red Division" consisting of nations where lacrosse is still developing. The tournament consisted of round robin play within a team's division, where each team played every team in its division once. Round robin play established seedings for the following series of single elimination play-in games to compete in the semi-final round.[2]

The Blue Division was composed of the following six teams: the United States had won each of the ILF's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championship tournaments since its inception in 1988;[3] Canada led by head coach Gary Gait;[4] Iroquois Nationals, the Nationals are the only First Nations/Native American team to compete in international competition;[5] the up-and-coming England team; [6] Australia, who won the bronze medal in 2003;[6] and Japan, who moved up to the Blue Division after going undefeated in the Red Division in 2003.[6]

The Red Division included three nations making their first appearance in an Under–19 World Lacrosse Championship tournament:[7] Bermuda,[8] Finland,[9] and Scotland.[10] Wales[11] and South Korea[12] made their second appearances in the Under-19 World Lacrosse Championship. Germany also participated, but was granted a waiver by the ILF to field a team consisting of Under-21 year olds.[13]

Round Robin results

Earned Automatic Semifinal berth

Qualified for Play-in Round

Blue Division
#	Team	W	L	Points	WPct.	GF	GA	Assists	Pens	PIM	PPG
1	United States	5	0	10	1.00	108	41	27	32	24.5	9
2	Canada	4	1	8	.800	107	45	13	34	27.5	12
3	Iroquois Nationals	3	2	6	.600	92	74	11	39	36.5	15
4	England	2	3	4	.400	63	87	7	44	34.5	9
5	Australia	1	4	2	.200	62	81	1	46	35.5	14
6	Japan	0	5	0	.000	23	127	3	22	15	2

Red Division
#	Team	W	L	Points	WPct.	GF	GA	Assists	Pens	PIM	PPG
1	Germany	5	0	10	1.00	67	25	29	34	25	6
2	Scotland	3	2	6	.600	55	36	13	38	31	2
3	Wales	3	2	6	.600	46	31	8	65	54	2
4	Bermuda	3	2	6	.600	40	42	5	51	38.5	4
5	South Korea	1	4	2	.200	27	61	3	50	40	2
6	Finland	0	5	0	.000	18	58	1	34	28	4
WPct. = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, P.I.M. = Penalty Minutes, PPG= Points per Game

The round robin portion of the tournament determined seeding for the semi-finals and the placing games. The top two teams in the Blue Division were awarded automatic semi-final berths, while the third and fourth place teams from the Blue Division met with the first and second place teams from the Red Division in two semi-final "play-in games".

Two teams went undefeated in their divisions. In the Blue Division, the United States defeated all five opponents in their division to gain the top seed in the semifinals.[14] In the Red Division, Germany won its five round robin games. Prior to this tournament, Germany had never won an international U-19 contest.[15]

In the Blue Division there were a number of highly contested games. Canada defeated the Iroquois Nationals in a close game 15–12.[16] England defeated Australia in an overtime game 12–11.[17]

The United States earned one of the automatic semi-final berths by winning the division, while Canada earned the second spot based on its 4–1 record.[18] The remaining two semi-finals spots were earned by two play-in games.

The "play-in games" featured the top-ranked Red Division Germany team facing up against Team England. The English defeated Germany 16–2.[19] The Iroquois Nationals met Team Scotland, and were victorious with a final score of 28–2. The Iroquois Nationals advanced to the semifinals.[20]

Semi-finals

The July 10 semifinals saw the United States face England,[21] and the Iroquois Nationals face Team Canada.[22] The United States defeated England 25–5, extending their all-time Under-19 tournament record to 35-0.[23] Team Canada defeated the Iroquois Nationals 23–12 on the play of attacker Mark Cockerton, son of Hall of Famer Stan Cockerton, who scored five goals in the contest.[24]

Finals

Final game at Percy Perry Stadium

	1st Qtr	2nd Qtr	3rd Qtr	4th Qtr	Final
USA	7	3	4	5	19
CAN	3	4	4	1	12

The finals took place on July 12, 2008, the United States defeated Canada 19–12. It was the United States' sixth gold medal, and their third consecutive finals victory over Team Canada.[25] The United States was led by the play of goalkeeper Adam Ghitelman and three goals by captain Craig Dowd.[26]

In the bronze medal game, Iroquois Nationals defeated England.[27]

All tournament awards

Award	Winner	Team
Most Valuable Player	Adam Jones	Canada
Top Defenseman	Peter Fallon	United States
Top Midfielder	Adam Jones	Canada
Top Attacker	Craig Dowd	United States
Top Goaltender	Adam Ghitelman	United States

See also

• World Lacrosse Championship

References

1. Germany was granted a waiver by the ILF and fielded a team consisting of Under–21 year olds in 2008.
2. "2008 International Lacrosse Federation U–19 World Lacrosse Championships Schedule Playdowns" (PDF). 2008worldlax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
3. "US Men's U–19 National Team History". US Lacrosse. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
4. Kojima, Steve. "U-19 World Games Breakdown: Canada". InsideLacrosse.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
5. Fryling, Kevin (2006-07-27). "Nike deal promotes Native American wellness, lacrosse". University of Buffalo Reporter. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
6. "U-19 World Games Breakdown: Australia, England and Japan". InsideLacrosse.com. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
7. McLaughlin, Kiel (July 1, 2008). "U-19 World Games Breakdown: Red Division". InsideLacrosse.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-09. Bermuda:"This is the first time Bermuda will participate in the Under–19 tournament..." Finland: "Playing in their first Under–19 world championships. . ." Scotland: "A cast from across the English Isle and Canada make up the first ever Under–19 squad put fielded by Lacrosse Scotland."
8. "Team Bermuda" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
9. "Team Finland" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
10. "Team Scotland" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
11. "Team Wales" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
12. "Team Korea" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
13. "Team Germany" (PDF). 2008WorldLax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
14. "U.S. finishes U-19 pool play unbeaten; semifinals next". Inside Lacrosse. July 8, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
15. "Germany U-19/21: Undefeated in Round Robin play". Inside Lacrosse. July 9, 2008. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved 2008-07-10. Having never won a game at an international tournament before these World Games in Vancouver...
16. "Canada wins thriller over Iroquois Nationals at U-19 Worlds". Inside Lacrosse. July 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
17. "England edges Australia at U-19 Worlds". Inside Lacrosse. July 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
18. "Canada routs Japan to earn semifinal berth in U-19 Worlds". Inside Lacrosse. Inside Lacrosse. July 8, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
19. "England vs. Germany Box Score". 2008worldlax.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
20. "Iroquois vs. Scotland Box Score". 2008worldlax.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
21. "USA, England to square off in ILF U-19 semifinals". Inside Lacrosse. Inside Lacrosse. July 10, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
22. Kojima, Steve (July 9, 2008). "Lacrosse, more than a game for the Iroquois". NLL Insider. Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
23. "Team USA now 35-0 in U-19 play; Will play in Gold Medal game". 2008worldlax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
24. "Team Canada will play for Gold Medal vs. USA". 2008worldlax.com. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
25. "USA Wins Gold, Still Perfect after 19-12 Victory over Canada". 2008worldlax.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
26. "U.S takes U-19 championship, tops Canada 19-12". Inside Lacrosse. July 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
27. "Iroquois Nationals Capture Bronze Medal with 19-10 win over England". 2008worldlax.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-14.

External links

• 2008 Under-19 Men's World Lacrosse Championship Official Website