United States Rides Five Goals From Katts to Avenge Previous Year's Lose to Scotland

Photos Robert John Boucher

The United States rode a 5-goal game from Raffael Katts to a 15-11 win over the Scottish Thistles Tuesday night, clinching first place in round robin play at the 2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, Ontario. 

This game was a rematch of last year's 16-15 Thistles win at the 2024 World Juniors in Erie, Pennsylvania. While last year's tussle was a wild ride from the start, Tuesday's edition of the rivalry saw a first quarter dominated by defence and goaltending. It took over six minutes for the first goal to be scored and a Katts power play marker with 1:40 to play was the only other goal in the period, making it 2-0 for the US. 

[PHOTO: Cameron Schweitzer carries the ball for Scotland against United States' Declan Landers.]

The rest of the contest played out very similarly to last year's game – in 2024 the United States outscored the Thistles a combined 12-11 in the second, third and fourth quarters, while Tuesday night the score through the final 45 minutes was 13-11 for the Americans. 

[PHOTO: Players of the Game - United States Raffael Katts (left) and Scotland Austin Maybee (right).]

Katts (5 G, 2 A) and Luke McNamara (4 G, 3 A) each put up 7 Points to lead the United States scoring parade. 

Austin Maybee was virtually a one-man show for the Scottish offence, scoring 6 of their 11 Goals. 

Aidan Malone earned the win in net, playing three quarters before giving way to Beck Hagan, while Jaret Jawor went the distance between the pipes for the Thistles.