OSHAWA, Ontario – Sixes is often compared to basketball and if so, is there anyone better to talk about the similarities than the USA’s Emma LoPinto? A two-time gold medalist in lacrosse, LoPinto spent last winter playing with the Boston College women’s basketball team after her college lacrosse career ended.
LoPinto was one of four U.S. players with five goals in the USA’s 36-1 victory over Brazil on Friday afternoon at the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship. The U.S. will meet Puerto Rico on Saturday at 3 pm with a trip to Sunday’s championship game on the line.
“Sixes is just go-go-go,” LoPinto said. “I think both are so similar. You have to focus on offense and defense. I think that’s a special part about it, you get to do both.”
LoPinto has been in the player pool for the U.S. sixes program in recent years, but this tournament is her first game competition. The top five teams at the Pan-American championship will qualify for next year’s World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in Colorado Springs. From there, the LA28 Olympics await.
“It’s surreal,” LoPinto said. “We’re hopefully competing towards the Olympics, which is unbelievable. It’s been such a special opportunity playing for the U.S. at any event.”
Nine of her teammates from the U.S. field team that won gold in Tokyo this summer are in Canada for this sixes event. It’s a stacked lineup.
LoPinto added four assists to give her nine points for the day – tying for the team lead in scoring with Brigid Duffy (5g, 4a) and Marie McCool (4g, 5a). McCool was named the game’s MVP and the U.S. also got five goals from Chloe Humphrey and Ellie Masera and eight points from Ally Kennedy (3g, 5a).
The U.S. tandem of Shea Dolce and Taylor Moreno combined for 12 saves while allowing just one goal.
Playing with this level of talent means a lot to LoPinto, who won her first world championship in 2024 when she scored a U.S. record 49 points in the tournament, leading the USA U20 team to the gold medal in Hong Kong.
“Sometimes I can’t even put into words how special it is,” LoPinto said. “Every time you get to look around in the huddle, you get to be in the hotel with these girls. These relationships last forever, on and off the field, so it’s so special to be here. I’m so grateful and just having a lot of fun.”
Having fun is something she reminds herself to do, literally. Before the game she writes PWJ on tape on her wrist – reminding her to “play with joy.” On the top side of the tape, she writes FFF for “fix, flush, forget.”
“I’ve brought that since high school or college,” LoPinto said. “Just a little reminder that you’re playing the game you love, so enjoy it, have fun and try to play with a smile on my face all the time.”
