Duffy Carries Flag, LoPinto Carries Offense in U.S. Win Over Puerto Rico

TOKYO — The United States led by 18 with 1:05 remaining and Brigid Duffy took a charge. It was an 11-goal lead when Katie Goodale took a charge with 10:59 left in the third quarter.

That’s the spirit head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein wants the U.S. Women’s National Team to play with. It’s urgency at all costs.

That urgency ticked up Wednesday as the stakes heightened. Pool play is over. It’s officially time to win or go home.

Emma LoPinto had four goals and three assists, Sam Apuzzo had four goals, and Madison Taylor had two goals and three assists in a 23-4 win for the United States over Puerto Rico in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship quarterfinals. LoPinto was named the player of the match.

“Honestly, I think any one of these girls on this team can get it at any given moment, all the way from the goalies to the defenders to the middies to the attackers,” LoPinto said.

The U.S. advances to the semifinals to face Israel, which made history by beating Australia, on Friday at 6:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. Eastern).

It will be just the second time the U.S. has faced Israel in women’s field lacrosse at the senior team level. The U.S. won 20-3 in 2017.

The United States started Wednesday’s contest by depositing the first eight goals — but the tone was set before opening draw. Duffy, who is the first member of the U.S. Women’s National Team to be active duty in the Army, was chosen to carry out the flag by Sydney Scales, who carried the flag against Chinese Taipei.

“That was just something that I've always looked up to my whole life, being able to carry the flag — being able to wear the flag on my chest, carry it on my shoulder,” Duffy said. “And that's something I'll be doing for the next five years, if not the rest of my life. So, it was a huge honor, and I was grateful that Syd Scales picked me to carry the flag tonight.”

Duffy parlayed that powerful moment into another steady showing with two goals, one caused turnover and two draw controls. Her presence in the midfield as a clearing threat allowed the U.S. to move the ball around at its signature high tempo, leading to 16 assisted goals and 12 different goal scorers for the fourth straight game.

Charlotte North carried out the flag for the team’s first game against Ireland. Then Caylee Waters. Then Scales. Now Duffy. Who will be next?

“I’ve put some thought into it, but we'll see,” Duffy said slyly. “We'll see tomorrow.”

As a full moon began its ascent into the sky, the U.S. played possibly its best game to date. It held the edge in every major statistical category, and Shea Dolce and Caylee Waters combined to make their highest save total (eight) of the event so far.

The full moon is often symbolic of the manifestation of intentions set during the previous lunar cycle. It’s a harvest for the seeds that were planted during the new moon.

Consider pool play the new moon phase. Walker-Weinstein and the coaching staff learned that their team could handle criticism and implement changes. They were coachable. As a result, each game has moved the U.S. closer to its goal.

Perhaps the full moon came two games too early. The true culmination of their work would come if the U.S. can secure its fifth straight world title and 10th overall. But Israel represents a new foe in the semifinals, and that’s top of mind for the entire team.

“Anything can happen,” LoPinto said. “It’s a tight window with games, so it's really anyone's game. I'm super pumped. They have unbelievable players with unbelievable talent.”