The championship final of the inaugural World Lacrosse women’s box lacrosse championship took place in Utica, N.Y. yesterday afternoon.
Throughout the tournament, especially during the semifinal round, the usual suspects showed themselves. The two teams who were expected to meet in the finals were Canada (the inventors of box lacrosse) and the United States (the current field lacrosse women’s world champion).
And in the semis, the teams played a game of “Can You Top This?” in beating their opposition. Both Charlotte North of the United States and Dana Dobbie of Canada each scored an Air Gait from behind the goal cage.
Aside from North and Dobbie, these two teams had some generational talents on their rosters such as Ally Kennedy, Taylor Moreno, Erica Evans, Ally Mastrioanni, and Brooklyn Walker-Welch.
But in the United States’ 10-7 win over Canada, the key player for the Stars and Stripes was a heretofore unknown goaltender named Ingrid Boyum.
You’re asking yourself, “Who?”
After all, the U.S. team has used three goalies on its roster, which includes two-time Athletes Unlimited winner Taylor Moreno and age-group national-teamer Madison Doucette. But this is box lacrosse, a game where you’re expected to face continuous pressure for 60 minutes and shots coming from all angles while wearing gear which makes you look like the Michelin Man.
Boyum, a three-year starter for the United States Naval Academy, came up trumps for the U.S. coaching staff and team. She had 41 saves against a high-powered Canadian outfit, and kept the Leafs off the board for long stretches of the game, including the first 28 minutes of the game, and, more crucially, the last eight minutes as the States came back from a 7-5 deficit to score the last five goals of the gold-medal game.
I guess this is one reason why the United States are the current queens of women’s lacrosse — being able to develop all manner of athletes for the sport, including those who can come in during key situations and play to a championship level.