U.S. Blanks England 26-0 to Reach World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship Semifinals

The United States cruised to the semifinal round of the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship, defeating England 26-0 to wrap up the quarterfinals Thursday at Gongcheonpo Training Center on Jeju Island in South Korea.

The top-seeded U.S. (4-0) will play the fourth-seeded Haudenosaunee (1-3) in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. local (6 a.m. U.S.  Eastern). The Americans defeated the Nationals 14-3 in pool play, the start of an offensive awakening that has seen them pour in 58 goals over the last three games. The Haudenosaunee held on to defeat Puerto Rico, the breakthrough team of the tournament, 13-12 in the quarterfinals.

The winner will advance to the gold medal game against second-seeded Canada or third-seeded Australia. The Canadians advanced with a 21-1 win over Jamaica and the Aussies beat Japan 11-7.

England made it to the quarterfinals after defeating Mexico 7-6 in a thrilling play-in game Wednesday. Goalie Jackson Davies denied a behind-the-back buzzer-beater on the doorstep as time expired.

There would be no such dramatics Thursday. The United States scored 11 goals in the first quarter alone and won every faceoff in the game, with Brady Wambach and Zach Hayashi combining to go 30-for-30. England did not register a shot on goal until the 9:05 mark of the third quarter, going nearly 36 minutes without an attempt. At that point, the U.S. led 19-0.

It was a historically dominant performance even for the vaunted United States, which improved to 58-2 all-time in junior world championship play and is seeking its 10th gold medal. The only other shutout in U.S. Men’s National Team history — in any discipline, senior or junior — was a 27-0 victory over Japan in the 2008 U19 world championship.

England managed a second shot attempt late in the third quarter, but U.S. goalie Patrick Jameison made a five-hole save on Zak Spreckley to preserve the shutout. Its best chance to score came on an extra-man possession in the fourth quarter, but three shots bounced wide before a Spreckley turnover gave the ball back to the United States.

Five different U.S. players scored at least a hat trick. Timothy Shannehan led the barrage with three goals and seven assists. Colin Kurdyla and Brendan Millon tied for the game high with four goals apiece. Jack Speidell had three goals and four assists. Owen Duffy added three goals and two assists.

Even the long poles got in on the scoring. Robby Hopper deposited a pair of goals in transition and Mike Marshall had a third-quarter tally for their first offensive contributions of the tournament.

Friday’s semifinal games will be streamed live at tv.worldlacrosse.sport.