The England U20 women’s team narrowly missed out on fifth place at the 2024 U20 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship after suffering a 16-13 loss to Puerto Rico in their final game.

Freya Moody once again demonstrated her tremendous quality, scoring six goals to take her tally for the tournament to 26. Carys Johnson scored a hat-trick, Rachael Ball scored a brace and Molly Light and Annie Mather each scored.

Puerto Rico, which had just celebrated a clear 23-2 play-off victory against Wales yesterday, started determinedly and built a five-goal lead after just seven minutes with goals from Victoria Rankin, Karina Herrera (2), Hannah Lewis and Maya Maldonado.

From then on, England calmed down and hit back with two goals in quick succession from Johnson.

Another goal for Puerto Rico from Isabella Henson-Vendrell from a free position early in the second quarter was followed by a third for England from Mather before Herrera scored her hat trick to give Puerto Rico a 7-3 lead.

Ten minutes from the end of the first half, England went one better, scoring three goals without conceding. Ball scored twice and Moody got on the scoresheet to take the score to 7-6 at half-time.

Head coach Vic Alexander’s words to the players at half-time must have been to keep doing what they were doing, as England took the lead for the first time in the game early in the third quarter after goals from Johnson and Light.

Puerto Rico had been quite productive throughout the tournament, scoring 87 goals in the six matches leading up to this match. The team gave England no time to settle down as Herrera scored two more goals to put her team back in front 9-8.

Moody equalised for England from a free position, but 30 seconds before the end of the third period Puerto Rico took the lead when Hannah Lewis scored her tenth goal.

Lewis began the fourth quarter the way she ended the third, scoring Puerto Rico’s 11th goal of the game. Maldonado, Lucia Nash and Herrera scored soon after, giving her team a five-point lead with just under 10 minutes left.

When it looked like England would have to settle for sixth place, Moody stepped up a gear and scored four goals in four minutes to bring England within three goals of Puerto Rico. But it was too little, too late and the North American team secured a 16-13 victory and fifth place.

Rewatch all seven of England’s games on World Lacrosse TV HERE.

Puerto Rico 16-13 England (2-5, 4-2, 3-3, 4-6)

Goal scorers England: Freya Moody (6 goals), Carys Johnson (3 goals), Rachael Ball (2 goals), Annie Mather (1 goal), Molly Light (1 goal), Grace Connor (1A).

MVP: Karina Herrera (Puerto Rico

England’s best point scorers

1. Freya Moody | 27 (26G, 1A)

2. Annie Mather | 21 (18 years, 3 years)

3. Rachel Ball | 15 (13G, 2A)

4. Carys Johnson | 15 (13 goals, 2 assists)

5. Charlie Bell | 14 (9G, 5A)

Final standings of the 2024 U20 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship

1. Canada or USA*

2. Canada or USA*

3. Australia or Japan*

4. Australia or Japan*

5. Puerto Rico

6. England

7. Wales

8. Italy

9. China

10. Ireland

11. Haudenosaunee

12. Mexico

13. Israel or Chinese Taipei*

14. Israel or Chinese Taipei*

15. New Zealand

16. Hong Kong, China

17. Scotland

18. Korea

19. Germany

20. Jamaica

*Games still to be played