WE DID THAT THING. WORLD CHAMPIONS. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/7KKjEaspFE
— U.S. Women's National Team (@USAWLax) September 29, 2024
Cece Webb Wins Gold with Team USA at World Lacrosse Box Championships
UTICA, N.Y. – Virginia women’s lacrosse sophomore defender Cece Webb won gold as a member of the U.S. Women’s team at the inaugural World Lacrosse Box Championships held Sept. 20-29 in Utica, N.Y.
Webb is one of 23 athletes making history as the first-ever U.S. Women’s National Box Lacrosse Team. The U.S. will be one of 10 nations competing in the women’s championship, the first time World Lacrosse has hosted a women’s box world championship.
The U.S. squad sailed through pool play, outscoring its opponents 99-11. The Americans defeated Ireland 30-1 in the quarterfinals and England 28-2 to reach the gold medal contest against Canada. Canada held a 7-5 lead with eight minutes remaining in the contest, but Team USA scored five unanswered goals to win the game.
Webb appeared in every game of the tournament except for the first match of pool play. The defender saw time in the draw circle, including taking the very first draw to start the gold medal game.
Played inside a multi-sport rink, box lacrosse has a distinct set of rules from the field game. The playing surface is enclosed by boards, usually made of wood or plastic, and each team has six players on the floor—five runners and one goaltender. Each game consists of four 15-minute quarters.
Webb did not appear in a game last season for the Cavaliers but had a highly decorated prep career as a two-time USA All-American and an All-USA Today High School Player of the Year nominee. She has twice been invited to participate in the National Team Development Program.
Sept. 20 – USA 32, Netherlands 3
The United States opened its campaign at the women’s box championships with a resounding 32-3 win over the Netherlands. Fourteen different players appeared on the scoresheet for the United States, with nine players recording two or more goals. The United States enjoyed a 64-16 shots advantage in the game.
Sept. 21 – USA 11, Haudenosaunee 4
A relentless defensive effort led the United States to an 11-4 come-from-behind victory over the Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee jumped out to a 4-1 lead midway through the second quarter behind the hot goaltending of Chelsea Doolittle. Doolittle made 17 saves in the opening quarter and 33 in the first half. A pair of breakaways by Ally Kennedy in the second quarter cut the Haudenosaunee lead to 4-3 at the half. The U.S. went up 6-4 in the third and poured it on in the final quarter, outscoring the Haudenosaunee 5-0 in the final 15 minutes. The U.S. defense was lights out, constantly forcing turnovers and shutting down the Haudenosaunee offense. The U.S. continues pool play on Sunday against Hong Kong at 5:30 p.m. Webb played in the game, but did not record any stats.
Sept. 22 – USA 28, Hong Kong 2
The United States improved to 3-0 in pool play at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship with a 28-2 victory over Hong Kong. Thirteen different players scored goals for the U.S. and 17 had at least one point, including Webb who registered an assist for her first point in international competition. Following three games in three days, the U.S. will have an off day on Monday before completing pool play against England on Tuesday at 1 pm.
Sept. 24 – USA 28, England 2
The United States completed an undefeated pool play campaign at the women’s box championship with a 28-2 win over England on Tuesday. The United States jumped to a 6-1 lead after 15 minutes and went into halftime up 18-1.
Cece Webb took three shots on goal in the game.
The United States finished 4-0 and took the top spot in Pool A. The U.S. scored 99 goals in its four games and allowed just 11. The United States will play in the quarterfinals on Thursday against the winner of a play-in game. England will play on Thursday against Australia in a classic rivalry matchup in a quarterfinal.
QUARTERFINALS – USA 30, Ireland 1
Erin Bakes set the early tone and the U.S. offense never slowed down in a 30-1 victory over Ireland in the quarterfinal round. Ten different players scored goals in the game and the U.S. had assists on 25 of its 30 goals in the contest. The U.S. now sets its sights on Australia for Friday’s semifinal game (2:30 p.m. on ESPN+) as the tournament reaches the closing stages.
Australia is one of the U.S. team’s oldest rivals in women’s lacrosse. The two countries have met in World Lacrosse championship games 11 times — at the senior and U19 levels in field lacrosse — over the years. Australia defeated England 19-12 in a quarterfinal on Thursday. Cece Webb appeared in the game but did not record any stats.
Semifinals – USA 26, Australia 2
The United States is headed to the title game of the inaugural World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship after beating Australia, 26-2, on Friday afternoon. The U.S. will meet the winner of tonight’s game between Canada and the Haudenosaunee on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Cece Webb appeared in the game, taking one shot on goal.
Finals – USA 10, Canada 7
The United States surged past Canada for a 10-7 win in the gold medal match on Sunday afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center to claim the title of the first-ever women’s box championship. Cece Webb took the opening draw for Team USA, the first draw of a gold medal game in the sport.
The game started as a defensive affair with just one goal in the first 16 minutes, scored by Ally Kennedy. The U.S. kept Canada off the board until the very end of the half when Brooklyn Walker-Welch scored to make it 2-1 heading into the break. The scoring picked up in the third quarter, and Canada’s attacking connections paid off in the form of a 4-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged three goals in three minutes as the U.S. tied the game at 5-5.Canada then went on a 5-on-3 power play, and right when it looked like the United States had killed it off, Erica Evans broke free for a solo run in behind and buried her chance to give Canada a late lead. Less than 20 seconds later, Canada cashed in on all the momentum with a slick screen sequence finished off by Dacia Cordingley to lead 7-5.
With eight minutes left, the United States dug deep for an extra gear in attack. Livy Rosenzweig scored her second goal of the game just 12 seconds after Cordingley’s goal to stabilize the game. Then the U.S. received a fortunate bounce on a shot from Riley Ewing that deflected off Canada into the net to tie the game.
The foothold back into the game was all the United States needed, as Erin Bakes took a feed from Rosenzweig and bounced it into the net to give the United States an 8-7 lead.
Charlotte North seized momentum for good just 30 seconds later with a goal to make it 9-7. Canada tried its best to mount a late run of its own, but the American defense held strong and Ally Kennedy turned a turnover in the final minute into an empty net goal.
Rosenzweig tallied a hat-trick for the United States, and Kennedy and Bakes added two goals apiece. The team tallied seven assists on its 10 goals.