UTICA, New York – Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are poised to make the Caribbean proud as they signify the area on the 6th Men’s World Lacrosse Box Championship, scheduled from September 20-29 in Utica, New York.
This fast-paced indoor model of lacrosse will showcase the abilities of greater than 600 athletes throughout 28 groups, divided into seven swimming pools, as they compete for worldwide supremacy. Each Jamaica and the USVI will convey their distinctive expertise to the event in hopes of constructing a mark on the worldwide stage.
Jamaica’s males have been positioned in Pool D, the place they’ll face off towards seventh-ranked Czech Republic, Scotland, and newcomers Chinese language Taipei. As Jamaica makes its first-ever look within the World Lacrosse Field Championship, the crew can be seeking to switch their expertise from the sphere sport, the place they’ve climbed into the world’s high 10 rankings, to the field enviornment.
Filled with seasoned expertise
Below the steerage of Darryl Gibson, an assistant coach for the Albany Firewolves within the Nationwide Lacrosse League (NLL), Jamaica’s roster is full of seasoned expertise. Eight gamers from the squad that reached the quarter-finals on the Males’s Lacrosse Championship in San Diego will play in Utica, together with 4 veterans from the 2018 championship in Israel. 4 others gained invaluable expertise taking part in within the 2022 Junior Males’s Championship in Limerick.
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The Jamaicans’ roster boasts important collegiate expertise, particularly in protection. Goran Murray, Antoine Campbell, Tony Diallo, and Shane Lumsden fashioned the spine of Jamaica’s protection in San Diego and can be key to the crew’s success in Utica. Offensively, the crew will look to dynamic forwards like Isaac Newland, Andrew Knox, and Bryan Depass to steer the cost, whereas goalies Jacob Thompson and Kiereek McLeod can be important between the posts. One participant to look at is Marcus Minichello, a flexible transition participant with earlier NLL expertise with each the Philadelphia Wings and the Buffalo Bandits.
In the meantime, the US Virgin Islands can be making their debut in any world lacrosse self-discipline, competing in Pool F towards the eighth-ranked Netherlands, Austria, and Italy. Their inclusion within the event is a milestone for the Caribbean nation, marking their first steps onto the worldwide lacrosse stage. Although comparatively new to the world lacrosse scene, having joined World Lacrosse in 2020, the USVI has labored diligently to develop their program and is raring to compete at this elite stage.
A prolific goalscorer
The crew beforehand took half in discipline lacrosse qualification for the 2023 Males’s Championship in Medellin, Colombia, in addition to the PALA Sixes Cup held in Jamaica in December 2023. Additionally they participated within the 2023 LAXNAI field lacrosse occasion. The USVI crew for Utica consists of 10 gamers from their PALA Sixes Cup squad, with key contributors like Gavin Jones, anticipated to be a prolific goalscorer, and Ryan Cochran, a talented playmaker.
In aim, the USVI will depend on the abilities of Kev Reder and Patrick Crosby, whereas ahead Nick McEvoy, who performed discipline lacrosse at Penn State from 2017 to 2020, is anticipated to be a crucial offensive drive. Defensively, skilled gamers like Tyler Peworchik and Blake Runkle will present a stable backline.
For each Jamaica and the USVI, the Males’s World Lacrosse Field Championship represents an exciting alternative to compete towards the world’s finest and showcase Caribbean expertise on a world stage.
