Mexico led 4-3 after a back-and-forth first quarter with runs on both sides. Mexico scored first in the second before two Haudenosaunee goals tied the game at 5-5. The Haudenosaunee took a 7-6 lead with under five minutes to play in the half, and after Mexico scored, they snuck in a goal with 10 seconds left.

Avery Doran had three goals and an assist in the half.

The Haudenosaunee came out of halftime with renewed energy and reeled off a five-goal run in five minutes to lead 13-7, with two goals from Tallis Tarbell.

The Haudenosaunee closed the quarter strong with two goals from Doran and one from Tarbell 30 seconds into the fourth period to lead 16-8.

The Haudenosaunee celebrate their victory. Photo courtesy of World Lacrosse

Down eight goals with 14:30 to play, the result might have seemed like a foregone conclusion, but Mexico caught fire with a six-goal run.

Natali Acosta and Kendall Conrad each scored twice in the run, but the 13th goal came with under two minutes to play and the 14th goal came with a minute to play, as Mexico ran out of time.

Doran was named the player of the match with a crucial 7 goals and 1 assist performance. Tarbell added three goals and Gowanda’s Chloe Luther posted three goals and an assist.

Kimora Swamp and Sophie Powless finished with seven combined saves.

Acosta, Conrad and Torres finished with three, four and five points, respectively, for Mexico. Goalkeeper Bella McCullough made six saves in the second half.

Silver Creek’s Gracie Williams scans her options for the Haudenosaunee in the 11th-place match against Mexico at the U20 Women’s World Lacrosse Championships in Hong Kong, China, on Friday. Photo courtesy of World Lacrosse

For the tournament, Doran ended with 18 goals and 4 assists for the Haudenosaunee, Luther recorded 11 goals and 5 assists and Jianna Lazore had 3 goals and 10 assists. Paisley Cook finished with 63 draws won and a team-high 6 caused turnovers, while Kimaura Schindler also had 9 ground balls and 5 caused turnovers.

From the Lake Shore/Silver Creek squad, Addison Jimerson finished with 4 goals and 1 assist, Jacella Nephew scored 2, Gracie Williams had 4 goals and 4 assists, Ava Tallchief scored 3 goals and 2 assists and Laelle Jimerson was kept off the scoresheet.

Swamp and Powless split time in net and combined for 50 saves.

Mexico’s attack was led by the high-flying quartet of Elena Torres, Acosta, Conrad and Lola Aguirre. Torres scored 25 goals and added 6 assists and 36 draw control wins, while Acosta scored 17 goals, Conrad contributed 11 goals and 3 assists while Aguirre notched 15 goals, 5 assists, 12 ground balls and 6 caused turnovers to go with a 34 of 59 win rate on draw controls.

McCullough made 41 saves in six games. Macey Torres had 8 ground balls and 4 caused turnovers.