MANCHESTER – A four-year long rebuilding project by the U.S. men's national team culminated Saturday in a 12-10 victory over Canada, the team that beat the U.S. in 2006, in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship final before 4,651 fans at the University of Manchester. Following the tournament, Cornell alumni Ryan McClay '03 and Max Seibald '09 were named to the All-World Team. McClay was a key component of the Team USA defense which allowed just 6.3 goals per game, while Seibald finished the tournament with nine goals and four assists.

Team USA's seventh world title did not come easy. The U.S. seized an 8-4 halftime lead with four unanswered goals in the second quarter, but Canada stormed back, blanking Team USA in the third quarter to tie the game at 8-8.

Zack Greer gave Canada its first lead of the contest, putting the Canadians ahead, 9-8, with 17 minutes remaining but Team USA attackman Brendan Mundorf scored off a quick flip from Ryan Powell with a low, right-handed release to tie the game at 9-9 with 12:18 remaining.

John Grant Jr. answered for Canada, putting his team up, 10-9, with 9:56 left, but just over one minute later, Ned Crotty, the team's youngest player and 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, knotted the game for the third and final time at 10-10.

Less than three minutes later, Crotty scored the go-ahead goal on a phenomenal bounce shot as he fell to the ground. The ball flung off the turf and found a space under the crossbar and above the stick of Canadian goalie Chris Sanderson.

Canada turned the ball over with about four minutes remaining and Team USA possessed the ball the rest of the way.

Despite pulling Sanderson from the game and doubling the ball with an extra field player, Canada could not regain possession, committing a number of fouls and spending a great deal of time chasing Seibald and Matt Zash.

After a series of penalties, Mike Leveille scored on an empty net with 1:16 left to seal the victory.

Midfielder Paul Rabil finished with three goals and was named the MVP of the 2010 FIL World Championships. Leveille added three goals. Mundorf and Crotty scored two apiece.

Grant led Canada with three goals and an assist. Greer added two goals.

Team USA goalie Brian Dougherty finished with 15 saves, his highest total of the tournament, while Sanderson made 10 saves in the loss.

FIL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL-WORLD TEAM
A – John Grant Jr., CAN (Top Attackman)
A – Brendan Mundorf, USA
A – Mike Leveille, USA
M – Paul Rabil, USA (Top Midfielder, Tournament MVP)
M – Max Seibald, USA
M – Leigh Perham, AUS
D – Brodie Merrill, CAN (Top Defenseman)
D – Ryan McClay, USA
D – Kyle Sweeney, USA
G – Chris Sanderson, CAN (Top Goalkeeper)