July 24, 2010 – Some of the payback for booted Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler was redeemed today when the U.S. national team bested the Canadians 12-10. After waiting 8 years to regain the title, the Americans, aided by some suspect refs calls on Canada, waved their flag and hoisted the winner’s plaque in front of a full house in Manchester, England.

Anyone that knows lacrosse knows you can’t blame it on the refs. They just always inject themselves in their somewhere to try to become a part of the game. They were especially dramatic with a stick check of Paul Rabil’s cross late in the fourth. A dubious loose ball push on Canada with 0:34 left sealed it.

The U.S. came out strongest winning face-offs and shooting to a three goal lead behind Matt Streibel and two by “I’m the God of Lacrosse” Paul Rabil (hat trick). Ex-Delaware faceoff man Alex Smith dominated the early faces until Ex-Delaware attackman John Grant Jr. scored on one of his one-handed specials for Canada that landed him in the crease. Canada’s Mark Steenius made it 3-2 U.S. at the end of one.

In a game of inches, Canada’s Brodie Merrill missed a scoop allowing Max Siebold to go Ryan Powell to Ned Crotty (hat trick) to make it USA 4 Canada 2. Both Rabil and Grant narrowly missed goals, Rabil called for playing with a free hand and Grant whistling a behind-the-back sizzler to the post. Grant followed with a one-hand feed to Shawn Williams who make it 4-3 USA.

Grant again rang a post and continued to take a beating from U.S. defenders. He’s had to come off the field to have his bad knee attended to, but returned. Zack Greer tied it 4-4 for Canada before the USA unleashed four unanswered to take an 8-4 halftime lead.

The USA was aided early in the second half with more poor refs calls. Canadian faceoff man Geoff Snider was consistently called for procedure penalties and the USA had advantage. Mike Leveille hits a pipe and lands in the crease, but Canada’s Jordan Hill is called for a ward when replays showed he had both hands on the stick.

Canada got its first man-up early in the third quarter and John Grant Jr. put another behind-the-head card trick in after a furious front-of- the-goal flurry. Canada’s Garrett Billings pulled them within two, 8-6 off a Grant feed. Shortly after, Canada won a face and Kevin Crowley ripped from outside off a feed from Rhys Duch to make it USA 8 Canada 7. With 12 seconds left in the third, Kevin Huntley split defenders and knotted it up with another Canadian goal 8 to 8.

Canada took its first lead of the game 9 to 8 on a Zach Greer nifty. Then the fourth quarter began to fly. First Brendan Mundorf, who fancies himself (just ask him) as one of the best, finally scored after playing a generally bad game. USA 9 Canada 9. Twelve minutes left. John Grant Jr. (hat trick, 2 assists) next finishes his day (and maybe his career) with a beautiful one hander to give Canada its last lead 10-9. Ex-Dukie Ned Crotty spotted the next two goals before Mike Leveille iced it at about the minute mark. USA 12 Canada 10. Whinin’ Ryan Boyle was probably best remembered for stalling the ball and making the whole game anticlimatic, especially after the refs teetered on the Rabil stick call at the time out with a minute left.

Perhaps they could have used a lesson from American umpire Jim Joyce on how to not to avoid making a controversial call.