United States Win Second IIJL World Junior Gold Medal in Three Years

United States captain Declan Landers leapt out of the American crease to pick off a pass, streaked up the floor like a meteor and found Ben Pousak roaring off the bench for a shorthanded goal that stood up as the deciding marker in a 9-8 win over the Scottish Thistles, giving the United States their second IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship gold medal in three years Friday night at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, Ontario. 

The win provided revenge for the 11 returning members who had been part of the team that was knocked out of the championship game by Scotland in 2024, when the championship was played in Erie, Pennslyvania. 

The USA had looked like they might run away with the game after Pousak's third goal capped off a streak of five straight for his team and pushed them to a 5-1 lead just a minute and a half into the second quarter. 

The Scots got a couple back from Paul Ruskoski and Austin Maybee, who were the team's top scorers throughout the tournament. Luke McNamara, who would finish as the leading goal scorer in the tournament, fired home an outside bullet against a tired Scottish defence that had been caught out on the floor for multiple possessions. 

That left the United States ahead 6-3 at half time. 

The complexion of the game changed when the teams returned to the floor. Scotland goalie Jaret Jawor, who would be named to the tournament's All World Team, shut out the Americans while his teammates found the back of the net four times, led by 2 goals and an assist in the quarter from Ruskoski. 

The Scots led 7-6, putting them 15 minutes away from hoisting the nations first WJLC championship. 

McNamara tied it up 1:20 into the fourth quarter, but Max Benoit restored the Scottish lead a couple of minutes later when he spun off a check and fired a shot around his defender into the far top corner of the net for a power play goal. McNamara didn't leave the Scots much time to enjoy their lead, though. He ripped home sidearm shot from the very high slot just 30 seconds later for his 23rd goal of the tournament. 

[PHOTO: United States celebrate with the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship Cup.]

Jawor and his American counterpart, Beck Hagen, held the fort for the next six minutes. Scotland had an opportunity to forge another lead when they went to the power play with 6:10 left in regulation time. Brayden Stearns ripped an overhand shot that ricocheted high in the air off the cross bar, then tracked down the rebound in the corner to give the Thistles another chance. 

Ruskoski's shot was knocked aside by Hagen's glove but the rebound came back out to him, so Ruskoski attempted a cross-floor pass to Maybee on the back door. That is when Landers stepped into the passing lane and made the pickoff that would make American junior lacrosse history. 

[PHOTO: (left to right) Alexander De La Ronde, Brayden Kuczma, Jaret Jawor, Mitchell Carik, Austin Longstaff, and Luke McNamara.]

2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship All-World Team 

Goaltender – Jaret Jawor, Scotland
Defender – Brayden Kuczma, United States
Defender – Mitchell Carik, Scotland
Transition – Austin Longstaff, Australia
Forward – Luke McNamara, United States
Forward – Alexander De La Ronde, Canada