Brian Langtry plays more than likely last game for US in bronze medal win over hosts

Team USA forward Brain Langtry leaned against the boards of Eden Arena after the United States’ victory over the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game of the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague.

The 10-year National Lacrosse League veteran registered his best offensive game of the tournament as the Americans defeated the Czech Republic 16-7. The Colorado Mammoth star scored twice and assisted on two others as the US (4-2) broke an early 5-5 to win their third straight bronze medal. Entering the game, the 35-year-old Langtry had added motivation to do well as his game would be his final time playing for the US team.

“Well, this is the last time I will wear the USA uniform so I wanted to give it a good effort,” said Langtry. “We came here to win silver or gold, but when that failed we knew we had to win today.”

The intensity of the game was obvious as the game was tightly contested for three quarters. It even included the first fight of the tournament as Jamie Plunkett was ejected after engaging Jack Reid. The Americans led 7-5 at half and dominated the second half by outscoring the Czechs 9-2 over the final 30 minutes.

The American effort received three-plus goal performances from Casey Powell (3+3), Bill McGlone (3+1), Sean Morris (3+2) and Drew Westervelt (4+1). Erik Miller took over for Jake Henhawk late in the second after the Czechs netted their fifth of the night. He finished the night with 22 saves, while Henhawk stopped eight.

The Czech Republic (2-4) finished an impressive fourth in the world, which included an upset of England in the quarterfinals. Jamie Plunkett (2+1), Petr Poupe (2+1) and Radek Skala (2+1) were the catalysts for the Czech offense. Kurtis Wagar held his team in the game with a 38-save effort.

Langtry came out inspired and assisted on the first goal and scored the second USA goal as the Americans led 2-1 early in the first. After a Czech goal was wiped out by a penalty, the Americans used the power play to open up a two-goal lead. Powell ripped a shot from the right wing that beat Wagar at 7:00 for a 3-1 lead. Poupe answered with a power-play goal for the Czechs at 10:21 to close the gap to 3-2 before the end of the quarter.

The Americans used the power play again, this time to take a 4-2 lead, as Morris scored at the 47-second mark. After a tap-in goal by Plunkett, Powell scored his second of the game for a 5-3 lead at 5:50. The Czech Republic trimmed the deficit to one on a goal by Jiri Kostal at 7:03 off a pretty feed from Adam Kostka. Plunkett netted his second of the quarter to tie the game at five at 12:35.

The Americans opened up the game by scoring seven of the next eight goals. The Americans got goals by Westervelt and McGlone to end the second quarter up 7-5. McGlone scored on a behind-the-net leap with five seconds to go.

Like the first quarter, Langtry got the offense going with an assist on an underhanded scoop goal by Brendan Mundorf (1+3) that beat Wagar at 4:54 for an 8-5 lead. The Czechs stayed close with a side-arm shot from Radek Skala at 5:41. McGlone helped the US reclaim the three-goal lead with a shorthanded breakaway goal at 7:40 of the third. His second of the game gave the Americans a 9-6 edge. The US used Morris’ second and Powell’s third for an 11-6 lead. McGlone then completed the hat trick at 12:37 to double up the Czechs, 12-6.

Plunkett’s third of the game got the Czechs back on the board at 1:42 of the fourth only to have Westervelt convert his third of the game just 24 seconds later. Langtry added to the lead as he scored his second on a diving behind-the-back shot at 7:09 from Powell. Morris became the fourth US player to score three goals with a rocket from the outside at 7:46 for a 15-7 lead. Westervelt tallied his fourth at 9:36 as the Americans increased the lead, 16-7, on the power play.

It was encouraging for the US to end the tournament on a winning note. For Matt Zash, his second world indoor championships was an improvement over the results in Halifax in 2007.

“We are satisfied with the effort and we are looking forward to four years from now,” said Zash. “I think a little more experience goes a long way with the Iroquois and the Canadians. We are nipping at their heals.”

By Craig Rybczynski

Rybczynski currently works as the play-by-play broadcaster and Vice President of Communications for the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Knighthawks. His role also includes managing the communications for the Rochester Americans hockey club and the Hamilton Nationals (MLL) media relations, as well as serving as Team USA's WILC media relations manager.