Ref’s call still irks Withers, Currier
Disappointing experience for Lakers players at their first world field lacrosse championships
It was the greatest experience of their lacrosse careers and also the most disappointing.
Peterborough natives Zach Currier and Jake Withers are having a tough time accepting Canada’s controversial 9-8 loss to the United States in the 2018 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championship final Saturday in Netanya, Israel on a last-second goal.
Both players feel incompetent refereeing cost Canada a gold medal. There was uncertainty whether Tom Schreiber’s winning goal in the final second of play came before or after the clock expired. Currier says an off-side call with Canada leading 8-7 with three minutes left should never have happened. The turnover of possession led to the USA’s tying goal.
“I’m probably never going to let that one go,” Currier said. “Hopefully, I can find some peace somehow but that was a tough one, for sure.
“It’s over now and there Is nothing we can do about it now which is the worst part. We have to wait four long years until anything happens. You wish that an event like that would have the best refs possible because it was evident there were some lapses there.”
Withers said there was so much confusion over the clock, with time added on several occasions, officials should have taken the time to get it under control in the biggest game in the sport.
“After the game you sit there and reflect and think you should never let it come down to letting the refs dictate the outcome,” Withers said.
“We could have played a better game and distanced ourselves a bit to where it didn’t come down to that last play. It’s, obviously, disappointing it came down to that and that’s how the world games came to an end.”
There was consolation in the way Canadian supporters reacted. As the U.S. received their medals all Withers could hear was a chant of “Canada” from the stands.
“We had so much support not just from Canada but other countries,” he said. “It stuck out to me how special Canada is as a country not just in the game of lacrosse.”
Currier’s biggest beef was the off-side call.
“It was clearly not off-side. You can see on the video the ref doesn’t take a minute to decide or count. He just made a call and they got the ball and it was obvious it was the wrong call.”
Still, it’s an experience neither will ever forget.
“I would never have been to Israel if not for this tournament,” Currier said.
“It was eye-opening. I thought it was going to be a very dangerous place. When I got there it was beautiful. We were right by the water and it was very safe. We didn’t feel any threats the whole time we were there.
“The people were friendly. It was a beautiful spot. Sunny every day. I couldn’t have been happier to spend it with the people I did. They were all world-class people and great lacrosse players.”
“It lived up to and exceeded my expectations,” Withers said.
“Coming together with 23 guys and the entire coaching staff and everyone involved with Team Canada was spectacular. The family aspect of it and how we were able to come together as a group of men with no more than two weeks together to compete at the highest level and take the U.S. to two one-goal games we could as easily have won.
“It was an experience I’ll never forget. Hopefully, I can build off that and come back ready to play in Coquitlam in 2022. Hopefully, I get that opportunity again to right some wrongs and win a gold medal.”
Their Lakers teammate Matt Gilray, of Oshawa, also played for Canada.