Hummingbirdz eye World Lacrosse Champs

Jamaica will take the field today against Puerto Rico in their final Pool A match at the 2026 Pan American Men’s Lacrosse Championship, knowing that a place at the 2027 World Lacrosse Championship is at stake.

The clash begins at 6 p.m. at Stadium East, following earlier matches: US Virgin Islands vs Haudenosaunee (9 a.m.), Argentina vs Canada (noon), and Colombia vs United States (3 p.m.).

The Pan Am Championship serves as the regional qualifier, with the top five teams advancing to the 2027 World Lacrosse Championship. Today’s fixtures will confirm four of those spots, with the fifth to be decided tomorrow on the final day of competition.

Head coach Mark Wilson said the team is motivated by the chance to qualify on home soil. “I think playing on home soil is very special for all of us,” Wilson said. “That is an exciting thing, and I don’t know if it adds pressure. I think it just adds expectation and really more than anything, adds motivation for us to perform at our best and succeed for the home fans.”

The Hummingbirdz opened their campaign with a dominant 22-2 win over Colombia on Monday but fell 16-2 to reigning world champions USA on Wednesday. Wilson said the team regrouped with a bonding day, including visits to the Bob Marley Museum, Lime Cay, and Devon House. “To get the team back focused and confident again, we really focused on energising ourselves and took the day for resting and took a team trip to the Bob Marley Museum, which was an amazing experience,” he said. “That was a great way to really think about what we’re playing for and experience some of that local history. After that, some of the guys went to Lime Cay, some went to Devon House, and I think that we’ll be ready to get right back at it tomorrow.”

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico also lost to USA, 23-5, in their opener but rebounded with a 17-3 win over Colombia yesterday.

The results leave USA atop the group with two points, while Jamaica and Puerto Rico are tied on one point each. Jamaica hold the edge with a plus-six goal difference compared to Puerto Rico’s minus-four. Colombia sit bottom after two defeats.

The two group winners will contest the gold medal match, while the runners-up play for bronze. Third-place teams will meet in the fifth-place match, and fourth-place teams will contest seventh. The team finishing fifth in Group B will place ninth overall.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com