U.S. and Haudenosaunee One Win From World Lacrosse Berths

Three teams moved closer to their dreams this week in Kingston, Jamaica, where the Pan-American Men's Lacrosse Championship is creating pathways to the world stage and writing new history along the way.

Team USA improved to 2-0 after defeating host nation Jamaica 16-2 on Wednesday, nearly securing their spot at the 2027 World Lacrosse Men's Championship. The Americans took 65 shots throughout the night, eventually wearing down Jamaica's determined defense despite an impressive 25 saves from goalkeeper Nate McPeak.

The Haudenosaunee Nation bounced back from Tuesday's loss to Canada with a commanding 16-6 victory over Mexico. Ten different players scored for the Haudenosaunee, led by Ron John's four goals and Winter Rivera's five assists, the most in any game at the championship so far.

Both teams now control their own destiny. The United States needs just one more win to advance to the gold medal game, while the Haudenosaunee will clinch their championship berth with a victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday.

The Ripple Effect

The tournament's most heartwarming moment came from the U.S. Virgin Islands, which secured its first-ever win in a World Lacrosse-sanctioned men's field competition with a 15-5 victory over Argentina. The milestone comes just four years after the territory joined World Lacrosse as a member nation in 2020.

Jake Walter and Anthony Bardonille each tallied four goals and two assists for the Virgin Islands, while goalkeeper Isaiah Wilson made 10 crucial saves. The win keeps their championship hopes alive heading into a challenging matchup against second-ranked Canada.

The tournament showcases lacrosse's growth beyond traditional strongholds, with nations like Jamaica hosting world-class competition and newer members like the U.S. Virgin Islands proving they belong on the international stage. These qualifying matches determine which teams will compete at the 2027 World Championship, raising the stakes for every goal and save.

The Haudenosaunee, representing the Indigenous confederation that invented lacrosse, continue honoring the sport's origins while competing at its highest levels.

Three more qualification matches are set for Thursday, with Canada potentially becoming the first team to punch its ticket to the world championship.