OSHAWA, Ontario – Two years ago, Joey Spallina looked right at home during his first time wearing a USA jersey. That came during the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships in Utica, N.Y. Fast forward to today and he looks even better playing in the sixes format despite this being the first time he’s competed in the discipline.
Spallina scored a game-high six goals as the United States beat Jamaica 28-12 at the Pan-American Sixes Lacrosse Championship on Friday afternoon, placing the U.S. in Sunday’s gold medal game at 4:30 pm (streaming on World Lacrosse TV) against the winner of Saturday’s Canada-Haudenosaunee game.
Connor Kirst, Coulter Mackesy and Mikey Weisshaar each added four goals in the victory and Michael Sowers helped set the table with a goal and four assists. Kirst was selected as the MVP of the game.
In just three games, Spallina has lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 15 goals and 12 assists, an average of 9.0 points per game. He’s the leading scorer in the tournament, which isn’t a big surprise given his background.
The all-time leading scorer at Syracuse, he spent two summers playing box lacrosse in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League. He parlayed that experience into a major role with the U.S. box team in 2024. Spallina finished the world championship tournament with 23 points (14g, 9a), ranking second on the team, and helped the U.S. reach the gold medal game for the first time in its box lacrosse history.
“I’m just excited to be out here and kind of show what I can do and show my play,” Spallina said. “I think my knowledge in box has helped me play to what I think I can play in this event.”
Box lacrosse skills seem to translate seamlessly to sixes and Spallina is another proof point.
“I just think of it as like I’m playing backyard lax,” Spallina said. “You’ve kind of got to play up-and-down, you’ve got to play D, you’ve got to play O. If you can leak out and make plays, that’s par for the course. I think I’m doing everything that I can to help our team win. It’s been a ton of fun. It’s starting to become one of my favorite ways to play.”
That’s saying something, because Spallina flat out loves playing the sport. He famously made waves on the fields of Major League Lacrosse as a youngster when his dad, Joe Spallina, was the head coach for the New York Lizards. Pro lacrosse was in his dreams more than most young players because of how close he was to the action.
That has truly become a reality. He was named the Premier Lacrosse League’s Rookie of the Year and a second team All-Pro with the Maryland Whipsnakes this summer. Just over a week ago, he was drafted No. 5 overall in the National Lacrosse League Draft by the Calgary Roughnecks.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to be a two-leaguer,” Spallina said. “I’m super excited to get out to Calgary – they’ve got the best fans in the league. They play in one of the most historic places out there and I’m just super pumped. Then playing with the Whipsnakes was unreal. It was a dream come true to go out there with RP3 [Rob Pannell]. It’s been everything I thought it would be and more.”
Before he goes back in the box, he and his U.S. teammates have their sights set on the Pan-American championship on Sunday, the first step on the official path to the LA28 Olympics. The top five teams at this event qualify for next year’s World Lacrosse Sixes Championship in Colorado Springs.
This is the first of three major competitions this year for U.S. head coach Andy Shay to evaluate players. The U.S. will host the Atlas Cup from Oct. 23-25 at its headquarters in Sparks, Md., and then they’ll play in the inaugural Global Lacrosse Games from Dec. 8-13 outside of Washington D.C.
Shay has said his focus on the back-half of this year is to make sure they properly evaluate everyone in the player pool. But he also wants to win, and Sunday will be a key opportunity.
“Whenever you’re playing for a gold, it’s just a great feeling and great honor,” Spallina said. “Whenever, you’re putting on this jersey as well, it’s just a great honor and you don’t take for granted. We’re just excited to play another game.”
