Brampton’s Petterson scores two but Canada falls 7-5 to USA in World Lacrosse opener

Canada’s Brampton contingent helped the Reds play even with arch-rival USA in the first half at the World Lacrosse Championships opener Wednesday and Oshawa goalie Brett Dobson expressed his frustration with the final score by throwing hands at the buzzer, as the US drew first blood in San Diego, 7-5.

Brampton’s Jeff Teat set up Ryan Lee to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead in a heated rivalry game between the two best field lacrosse nations in the world – the two countries have won all 13 world titles to date – and former Brampton Excelsior Clarke Petterson scored twice to give Canada a brief lead, with the first half ending squared up at 4s.

Josh Byrne, who set up both of Petterson’s goals, also scored a pair for Canada in the match.

The USA clamped down in the second half, holding Canada to a scoreless third quarter while the offense pulled away with three goals, capped off by a power play goal for Brennan O’Neill’s third of the night to roll to victory and improve their overall record against Canada in this competition to 19-4.

O’Neill, a teammate of Oshawa Team Canada player Dyson Williams at Duke University and the NCAA’s reigning Player of the Year, was making his senior debut for the USA.

USA’s combo of Trevor Baptiste and TD Ierlan won 13-of-16 face-offs in what was a bit of a slugfest, with Dobson, a Whitby Warrior grad, and American goal scorer Ryan Conrad exchanging chirps and more at the final whistle, with coaches from both teams needed to separate them.

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The United States also won 21 ground balls compared to seven for Canada and limited the Canadian attack to 10 shots on goal.

Canada plays Saturday against Australia at 4 p.m. while the USA is back in action in Pool A on Friday, taking on Australia at 7 p.m. PT at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium.

Canada’s final round games are against Haudenosaunee Sunday and Australia Monday.