USA routs Japan at World Lacrosse Championship, 19-5

Co-captain Kevin Cassese, the former Comsewogue and Duke star, scored three goals and three other Long Island players scored a goal each as USA routed Japan, 19-5, Tuesday in its pool play finale at the World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England.

Max Seibald (Hewlett, Cornell), Stephen Peyser (Cold Spring Harbor, Johns Hopkins) and Matt Zash (Massapequa, Duke) scored one goal each. Seibald added an assist and Peyser won four of six faceoffs. Mike Leveille, the former Syracuse University star, led the U.S. with three goals and two assists.

Team USA (4-1 in the Blue Division) has earned a bye into the medal round and could meet Japan again in Thursday’s semifinal. Japan faces the Netherlands on Wednesday in a crossover quarterfinal.

The United States’ only loss was to defending gold medalist Candada, 10-9, and the teams appear headed for a rematch of the 2006 championship game in Saturday’s final. Canada is 5-0 and also has a bye into the semifinals.