HONG KONG, CHINA – James Madison lacrosse standouts Maddie Epke and Hannah Lewis took part in the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship in Hong Kong, highlighted by Epke helping Team USA win gold while setting a team record and earning a place on the All-World Team.
Epke and Team USA won all seven games in the tournament by a combined 211-20 margin to win the U20 World Championship, which included a 23-6 triumph against Canada in the gold-medal match on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The Guilford, Conn., native set a Team USA record at the event, recording 110 draw controls, smashing the previous record of 61, set back in 2019 by Maddie Jenner. She won Player of the Game honors both in the final, as well as in USA’s 34-2 victory against Puerto Rico in pool play, in which she recorded 21 draw controls. Epke was one of 10 players selected to the All-World Team.
In pool play, Team USA won by an average of 29.25 goals per game with victories against Germany, China, Puerto Rico and Israel, allowing just 14 total goals. During the knockout stage, USA rematched Puertro Rico in the quarterfinals, winning 31-6, before dispatching Australia by a 33-1 margin in the semifinals.
Lewis, who represented Puerto Rico at the U20 World Championship, helped her team to a fifth-place finish in the tournament, which secured its highest finish ever in the event. During PR’s 15-10 opening win against Israwl, Lewis was named Player of the Game after netting five goals on five shots. She finished 19th overall in points in the tournament, with 22 off 19 goals and three assists.
Lewis and Puerto Rico had just two losses in the tournament, both at the hands of Team USA. Puerto Rico recorded pool-play victories against Israel, China and Germany, while the No. 7 seeded squad claimed victories over No. 6 Wales (23-2) and No. 5 England (16-13) in the playoff rounds to finish fifth.
Epke, Lewis and the Dukes will get set for the 2025 women’s lacrosse season with fall ball play, which that schedule will be announced soon on JMUSports.com.
Photo courtesy of USA Lacrosse