In a nail-biting showdown at the 2024 World Lacrosse Men’s Box Championship playoffs, Jamaica suffered a heart-wrenching 19-18 overtime loss to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) after Phillip Melecio netted the winning goal just 49 seconds into extra time, completing his hat-trick and sealing the victory.
The match was an emotional rollercoaster, marked by intense exchanges of goals and a lengthy injury delay. Jamaica surged late in regulation, scoring three unanswered goals to grab a 17-16 lead with just over four minutes remaining. However, USVI responded with two goals to reclaim the advantage, only for Tanner Sims to tie the game for Jamaica with under 30 seconds on the clock, sending the game into overtime.
USVI’s Dante Poli was a standout performer, tallying five goals and four assists. Melecio and Matt Williams each recorded hat-tricks, while Ryan Cochran contributed two goals and four assists. In goal, Patrick Crosby made 28 crucial saves to help secure the victory.
An outstanding performance
Jamaica was led by Tanner Sims, who had an outstanding performance with seven goals and one assist. Damon Edwards chipped in with a hat-trick and five assists, and Jemar Pottinger added two goals. Jacob Thompson also made 28 saves in a hard-fought battle.
With the victory, USVI notched their second win of the tournament and were scheduled to face Scotland in placement play on Thursday. Jamaica, meanwhile, were to take on Hungary as they look to bounce back from the overtime heartbreak.
