Puerto Rico loss leaves China’s play-off hopes hanging by a thread

“That’s where I thought we would end up in the first place, we’d like ninth or 10th and we’ll certainly strive for that,” Ted Sawicki, China’s head coach, said.

“That would be great. It would be a great start for China lacrosse and I think World Lacrosse would notice too, if we could do something like that.”

Puerto Rico took the lead in the first minute and China, ranked 14th in the world, were chasing the game from then, but remained in touching distance right up until the final quarter.

The Puerto Ricans won the first quarter 5-3, but lost the second 4-3. In the second half the world No 9, pulled away, outscoring China 8-4.

“I think the mistakes in the first half cost us, and we ran out of gas in the second half. They’re too disciplined of a team to try to catch up on,” Sawicki said.

“But our girls played great. We really didn’t have a lot of depth on the bench or turn to like they do, so that was a factor.”