Mark Millon and Darren Lowe scored in overtime for the United States in a 15-14 win over Canada on Friday in the final of the lacrosse world championship, the premier field lacrosse competition.

Many of the top players for several teams in the tournament, including both the United States and Canada, are veterans of Major Indoor Lacrosse League and National Lacrosse League action.

Canada rallied from an 11-1 third-quarter deficit, reeling off nine straight goals with 16:53 left and scoring three times in the final 1:28 of regulation to tie 13-13 and force overtime.

"We were nervous at the start," said Nielsen. "We had an awful first quarter and that stayed with us into the second. We started picking it up in the third and in the fourth they couldn't stop us."

Paul Gait scored the equalizer with 12 seconds left.

"I was trying to explain to the guys that once we got rolling, they couldn't stop us," said Canadian coach Frank Nielsen. "We got on a roll, we tied the game, and I didn't think they'd stop us."

But the Americans rebounded in overtime, which consisted of two four-minute extra periods. Millon, a member of the NLL's New York Saints, gave the United States the lead with a low 30-footer with 1:12 left in the first period.

Ryan Wade won the next faceoff for the Americans and raced downfield to feed Lowe who scored from the edge of the crease just 10 seconds later.

The U.S. has won five straight titles and seven of the eight world lacrosse championships. Canada is the only other country to win, claiming the title in 1978.

"It's mentally tough to see one team with all those championship wins beside them and only one other team on the list," said Nielsen.

Canada's two losses in the tournament were to the U.S. The Americans had won the round-robin match 14-12 after erasing an 8-3 deficit.

"Our weakness is scoring goals," said Nielsen. "That may sound silly but in the games we lost to the U.S., we did so because of our shooting."

Tom Marechek scored with 2:24 left in the second overtime to make it 15-14.

The Canadians had several good chances in the final overtime, but Sal LoCascio stopped four shots in that period and 32 overall.

Canada nearly tied the game twice in the dying moments. After the Canadians hit a post with 30 seconds left, Tavares broke out of the Canadian end and was joined by Merachek. But Marechek never saw Tavares who was in the open and his shot with six seconds left failed to beat LoCascio.

"If that ball gets to Marechek he scores," said Nielsen. "We hit a post in the last 30 seconds, it just wasn't in the cards."

Chris Gill led Canada with four goals. Paul Gait had three goals and two assists, and his twin brother Gary, scored three times with an assist.

Marechek added two goals and three assists and Tavares scored twice with two assists.

"We expected those guys to come up big," said Nielsen. "Our so called superstars were dominant in the big game."

Goalie Chris Sanderson stopped 20 shots.

Nielsen said he was proud of his team and the character it showed in coming back.

"The heart those kids demonstrated, the enthusiasm, the drive, that's what Canadian Lacrosse is all about," he said. "Canada played one hell of a game."

Nielsen added that the Americans' experience in one game finals helped them.

"We have a lot of players who haven't played international lacrosse before. They all come from leagues where they play best-of-sevens to decide a champion. Give us a best-of-seven and we kick their asses."

In other games on Friday, Australia routed the Iroquois Nationals 17-5 for third place. England claimed fifth place with a 21-6 victory over Germany.

Scotland took seventh with a 10-9 overtime decision over Japan, and the Czech Republic finished ninth after a 12-8 win against Sweden. Wales ended in last place among the eleven teams.

BOX SUMMARY
                1  2  3  4  5  6     TOT
Canada          1  0  3  9  0  1  --  14
United States   3  5  4  1  2  0  --  15

CANADA                        UNITED STATES
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Paul Gait      3 - 2     5    Mark Millon    4 - 1     5
Tom Marechek   2 - 3     5    Ryan Wade      2 - 2     4
Chris Gill     4 - 0     4    Darren Lowe    1 - 2     3
Gary Gait      3 - 1     4    David Curry    2 - 0     2
John Tavares   2 - 2     4    Bill Miller    1 - 1     2
Jamie Bowen    0 - 3     3    Michael Watson 1 - 1     2
                              Casey Powell   1 - 1     2
                              Blake Miller   1 - 0     1
                              Jesse Hubbard  1 - 0     1
                              Rob Shek       1 - 0     1
                              Char Lockwood  0 - 1     1

                     SAVES                         SAVES
Chris Sanderson         20    Sal LoCascio            32

The Outsider's Guide contributed to the news report. Statistics courtesy of US Lacrosse Online.