Pictured (left): England midfielder Rachel Kirchheimer will be looking to win back-to-back World Cup bronze medals
By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986)
ENGLAND face Canada tomorrow (Saturday) with a bronze medal at stake at the FIL World Cup in Prague.
The national side dug deep to down Canada in the bronze medal game at the 2005 World Cup in Annapolis, United States.
Having beaten their opponents 11-6 in pool play, Lois Richardson's team then went on to clinch an 11-8 victory over Canada to capture the bronze medal.
But in the Czech Republic this last week, England have struggled to produce their best form.
Canada surprised them with a dramatic 10-9 in win pool play and then England were run close by Japan in the quarter-finals, before eventually putting their foot on the gas to keep their medal hopes alive.
And England know they will have a real fight on their hands against Canada who, only yesterday, pushed Australia, the defending champions, really close in a spirited 12-10 defeat.
A solid performance from England will be the key if they are going to sparkle as they did in front of a 3,200-strong crowd in the bronze medal game four years ago.
In that match attacker Katy Bennett - England's top-scorer at these Championships - top-scored with a hat-trick, while midfielder Lucy Lynch scored twice.
There were also goals in that match for midfielder Rachel Kirchheimer and Felicity Hermsen, both of whom alongside Bennett and Lynch are playing in this year's event, which concludes tomorrow with the gold medal game between Australia and the United States.
Important factors in England's bronze medal win in 2005 was the national side having won more ground balls and unleashed more shots than opponents.
This time around England will have to keep a close watch of five players who have been impressive in front of goal.
Attacker Dana Dobbie is Canada's top-scorer thus far with 16 goals and three assists, while fellow attacker Abbey Friend has scored ten goals and contributed an assist.
Julie Foote, also an attacker, has ten goals and seven assists, while attacker Brooke McKenzie has nine goals and five assists.
Midfielder Amanda Friend has seven goals and six assists, so expect England to come under threat from various angles.
England's top performer so far is Bennett who, with 13 goals and five assists, has had a solid tournament, with Kirchheimer second in the scoring list with eight goals alongside attacker Laura Merrifield, who also has an assist.
Hermsen and Lynch have seven goals each, with attacker Charlotte Finnigan on six goals.
Day 9 results so far, Friday 26th June
Today's matches
15th place: Denmark 17 South Korea 3 (h/t 11-3)
13th place: Netherlands v Austria
11th place: New Zealand 6 Haudenosaunee 18 (h/t 3-9)
9th place: Czech Republic 15 Germany 5 (h/t 7-1)
7th place: Japan 11 Scotland 7 (h/t 6-4)
5th place: Wales v Ireland
Tomorrow, Saturday 27th June
Bronze medal: England v Canada
Gold medal: Australia v United States
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Catherine Gaunt, Anita Thorose.
Defenders: Alex Harley, Georgina Hurt.
Midfielders: Emily Gray, Eleonor Garnier, Annabel Kiddle, Rachel Kirchheimer, Kirsten Lafferty, Lucy Lynch, Elizabeth McCosh, Camilla Paget, Alison Smith, Jennifer Waterfield, Hannah Barnsley.
Attackers: Katy Bennett, Charlotte Finnigan, Felicity Hermsen, Laura Merrifield.
Note to editors - for more information on English Lacrosse visit www.englishlacrosse.co.uk
For the official 2009 Women's World Cup site visit www.lacrosseworldcup2009.com
Also why not visit the official Manchester 2010 World Cup site as the excitement builds ahead of next year's men's tournament www.2010worldlacrosse.com
And our social networking sites - www.twitter.com/2010_lacrosse, www.2010worldlacrosse.blogspot.com and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6380164361&ref=ts
To contact English Lacrosse - The Belle Vue Centre, Pink Bank Lane, Longsight, Manchester, M12 5GL. Tel: 0161 227 3626 Fax 0161 953 2459 Email: info@englishlacrosse.co.uk
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