Duffy Atones for Canada Mishap with Seven-Assist Gem

Owen Duffy’s international lacrosse debut could not have started better nor ended worse Saturday. He turned the page with a masterful performance Sunday.

Through two games at the World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship in South Korea, Duffy has cemented his role as the quarterback of the USA offense. The two-time All-American attackman scored a first-half hat trick in a 7-6 win over Canada on Saturday and orchestrated an offensive breakthrough Sunday in a 14-3 victory over the Haudenosaunee.

Duffy’s first game, however, was marred by a crease violation and two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that put the United States a man down for the final 10 seconds. Not only did he step in the crease to negate an empty-net goal that would have iced the win a minute earlier, but he also inexplicably shoved defenseman Logan Fletcher after the play to start a scuffle.

Because Canada’s Brendan Marino retaliated, it was 5-on-5 until the final 10 seconds. The U.S. needed one last defensive stand culminating in a last-second save by goalie Patrick Jameison.

It didn’t need to be so tense, and Duffy knew it.

“That was definitely a moment that I had to reflect on and realize that if you wear these colors, you hold yourself to a higher standard,” Duffy said. “Coaches preach keeping it cool. I don't think I did a great job yesterday, but I tried to bounce back.”

Calm, cool and collected, Duffy racked up seven assists Sunday, dissecting the Haudenosaunee zone defense and serving as the second-to-last leg in several transition goals as the offense finally woke up.

“He’s a competitor. That’s what we want on our team,” U.S. head coach Shawn Nadelen said. “To have him process in a quick turnaround the game from Canada to coming in here and understanding how to get a little bit better, a little bit cleaner and understand the international game, he’s been doing a good job. He’s understanding what Team USA needs from him and how his role can impact [the game].”

Ranked by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023, Duffy has been as good as advertised coming out of high school powerhouse St. Anthony’s (N.Y.). He had 32 goals and 22 assists as a freshman and 40 goals and 39 assists as a sophomore, forming a potent 1-2 punch with attack mate Dominic Pietramala.

As they go, North Carolina goes. And the Tar Heels have made no bones about getting them touches. They’ve combined to launch 558 shots in two seasons together.

Duffy profiles as the alpha attackman, and the U.S. U20 coaching staff had seen enough of him in college to know he could serve that function in South Korea even though injuries sustained during the last two college seasons precluded him from participating in any of the training camps.

“His ability with the ball in his stick and the attention he can draw — we wanted to see what that looked like and stay in the fight with him,” Nadelen said. “He was passionate about it and committed to being a part of this.”

Sidelined during the June training camp at Towson, Duffy hauled buckets of balls between drills and caddied water to teammates in the sweltering heat. He rolled with the jokes, often delivered by offensive coordinator Connor Buczek.

Duffy’s first practice with the U.S. team was last month at Cornell.

“It’s hard to put into words how big of an honor it is to wear this jersey,” he said. “It’s something you dream of as a little kid, with all the guys who have played before you and what it represents. Putting that jersey on for the first time was really special.”

While Duffy may have lost sight of that purpose during a momentary, near-costly lapse of reasoning Saturday, he made sure to put it behind him Sunday. When he wasn’t feeding, he displayed his explosive dodging ability and would have had a pair of goals had he not hit the pipe and crossbar on two of his shots.

That’s what makes Duffy so dangerous. Sit back, and he’ll throw dimes. Engage, and he’ll beat you with his speed and change of direction. Hesitate, and he’ll torch corners.

This is the version of Duffy the United States needs to win a 10th gold medal, especially when the transition game gets humming as it did Sunday.

“That’s USA lacrosse right there,” Duffy said. “We’re really starting to mesh together as a group, and it’s really something special.”