ITHACA, N.Y.  - Luke Robinson had dreamed of wearing the maple leaf since he first picked up a lacrosse stick as a young player in Canada. This summer, the Whitby, Ontario native not only fulfilled that childhood aspiration but helped Team Canada capture gold at the U20 World Lacrosse Championships on Jeju Island, South Korea.

The Big Red midfielder tallied 11 goals which was second-most on the team, and two assists for 13 points over the course of the tournament as Canada upset heavily favored Team USA to claim the championship, marking a life-defining moment for the rising sophomore.
 

"Being able to win gold was surreal," Robinson said. "Going into the tournament as underdogs to a very strong American team, we knew that it would be a tough game."

The path to gold wasn't without its challenges. Canada faced the United States early in pool play, falling by a single goal in a preview of what would become the championship matchup. Robinson contributed a goal and an assist in the loss, but rather than deflating the team's confidence, the narrow defeat proved to be a catalyst.

"After playing them in the first game of the round robin and losing by a goal, it gave us confidence knowing we were able to compete with them," Robinson explained.

Team Canada rallied to win its next two Pool A games, defeating Australia 13-4 and Haudenosaunee 13-8. Robinson was a key factor in both victories, scoring three goals in each contest. The midfielder then aided Canada with three more goals in its 21-1 drubbing of Jamaica during the quarterfinal round.

Beyond the competitive experience, the tournament offered Robinson his first opportunity to explore beyond North America and the Western Hemisphere. He personally spent several days in Tokyo before heading to South Korea, providing cultural experiences that complemented the athletic achievement.

"The experience was amazing. I have never traveled outside of North America before, and I was very fortunate to be able to explore Tokyo for a couple of days and see the Japanese culture," Robinson said.

On the field, Robinson found himself surrounded by veteran leadership and elite coaching that enhanced his development. The Canadian coaching staff featured legendary figures from the sport, including Head Coach Gary Gait, creating an invaluable learning environment.
 

"Having some of the greats of our game on our coaching staff was incredible," he noted. "The coaching staff had an endless amount of knowledge for the game, and I tried my best in a short period of time to take in as much as possible."

The chemistry Robinson developed with his new teammates proved crucial to Canada's success. Building trust and rapport in a compressed timeline challenged the midfielder to elevate his game quickly.

"I was fortunate to have guys around me who trusted me, and it gave me confidence throughout the tournament," Robinson said. "In terms of playing for Team Canada, it was a dream of mine ever since playing from a young age."

As Robinson returns to Ithaca for his second year with the Big Red, he carries with him more than just a gold medal. The experience of competing at the highest international level against elite competition has refined his game and broadened his perspective.

"Looking back on the experience, I feel as though I picked up a lot of game experience against high-level competition," Robinson reflected. "I think it made me a better player having to adapt to playing with brand new players in such a short period of time and execute at a high level."
 

The U20 World Championships cap a remarkable 2025 for Robinson, who adds a gold medal to go with the Cornell men's lacrosse National Championship to his resume. Robinson will look to translate his international success into  strong season for the Big Red when Cornell looks to defend its national title in 2026.