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Lacrosse: Japan Claims Historic Bronze in the Women's U20 World Championship
Japan, a three-time fifth-place finisher in this lacrosse tournament, scored eight unanswered goals in the second half to turn a close match into a runaway win.
HONG KONG ― Led by team captain Negai Nakazawa, Japan defeated Australia 14-5 in the World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship bronze-medal match at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday, August 24.
For Japan, it was the team's first-ever medal at the world championship, which was first held in 1995. (It was previously called the Women's U19 Championship.)
What's more, it's the first medal for Japan in any of the World Lacrosse-organized world championship tournaments for men and women.
Making its eighth appearance in this tournament, Japan had previously finished fifth on three occasions (2003, 2007 and 2019).
How the Match Unfolded
Japan led 5-3 at halftime. It extended the lead to 6-3 early in the second half on a Rika Hitomi goal. Australia then rallied with two quick goals, cutting the lead to 6-5.
The rest of the match featured an impressive display of Japan's teamwork and the bronze medal-winning squad's versatile offensive attack.
Megan Kitagawa, a Yale University student, finished with a team-best four goals. Nakazawa and Miri Akiyama had three apiece, and Hitomi, Ayame Mizuno, Miu Kimura and Tomoe Kurokawa all scored one.
Mizuno contributed a team-best three assists in the win.
Japan's Lacrosse Success Bolstered by Confidence
Japan entered the bronze-medal match with confidence and determination to win.
Before the match, Nakazawa expressed the team's mindset.
"We have been working with the goal of winning medals," Nakazawa said, according to insidelacrosse.com. "Now is our chance. We will definitely win the bronze medal for ourselves and Japan as a team."
Japan advanced to the 20-nation tournament semifinals for the first time by defeating England 12-6 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 21.
Canada trounced Japan 17-2 in the semifinals the next day.
On Saturday, the United States defeated Canada 23-6 in the championship final.
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Author: Hidemitsu Kaito
Hidemitsu Kaito is a staff writer at JAPAN Forward. In addition to his other duties, he has been covering the sport of lacrosse internationally and in Japan since 1989.