Underdogs for bronze medal

The JamLax Boys will have an opportunity to secure a medal at the 2026 Pan American Men’s Lacrosse Championship when they face Haudenosaunee in today’s bronze-medal match at Stadium East.

Jamaica will take on Haudenosaunee in the first of two games at 11 a.m., before Canada face reigning world champions United States in the gold-medal match at 2 p.m.

Jamaica booked their place in the bronze-medal playoff after finishing second in Pool A with two wins and one defeat.

The JamLax Boys opened their campaign with a dominant 22-2 victory over Colombia before falling 16-2 to the United States in their second outing.

Jamaica rebounded in their third and final pool match, turning back Puerto Rico 13-6 to secure passage to the bronze-medal contest.

The results also ensured Jamaica’s qualification for the 2027 World Lacrosse Championship, marking the island’s third consecutive appearance at the event.

Speaking ahead of the match, head coach Mark Wilson said he expects a stern test from Haudenosaunee, whom he described as one of the top three teams in the world.

He acknowledged that Jamaica will enter the game as underdogs but is hopeful that home support, coupled with the achievement of World Championship qualification, can inspire the team to victory.

“I think it would be incredible to medal on home soil. Obviously, we have a ton of respect for Haudenosaunee. This is their game and all respect to them and their accomplishments,” Wilson said.

“I can’t think of a better motivation to play really hard except for the fact that we’re here on home turf and I hope that’s something that can mitigate some of what they got,” he continued.

“It’ll take our best effort to keep pace with them and then have an opportunity to win the game at the end.”

Jamaica will look to Hayden Hiltz and Stone Evans to spearhead the attack as the team’s leading scorers.

Hiltz has scored seven goals in three matches, while Evans has contributed six. Elias McLaughlin, Isaac Newland and Karl Robison have also played key attacking roles, scoring five goals each.

‘We are here to compete’

Haudenosaunee booked their place in the bronze-medal match after a strong campaign in Pool B.

They opened with a 28-1 victory over Argentina before suffering a 17-5 loss to Canada in their second game.

They closed out pool play with back-to-back victories over Mexico (16-6) and the US Virgin Islands (22-2).

Koleton Marquis has been the leading scorer for Haudenosaunee with 11 goals, while Gregory Elijah-Brown and Daylin John have each netted 10 times.

Despite their impressive record, Calbert Hutchinson, president of the Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA), said it would be a major achievement if Jamaica can topple Haudenosaunee.

“We’re going up against the creators of this game for which we have utmost respect. But it’s going to be through the roof or out of this world for us to clinch the bronze medal in this regional championship,” Hutchinson said.

“This will definitely express or communicate the message that we want Jamaica to understand and to get. We’re hoping that they understand that we’re not just here to look pretty in our Jamaican colours but we are here to compete and to medal.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com