By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986)
ENGLAND coach Dave Elwood (pictured) remains focused on drawing on as many positives as his team can after a tough start to their American tour.
Elwood expected the national side to face a stiff challenge to beat some of the best college sides in the US - and so it is has proved with three defeats in as many days for England, their last loss at the hands of Lehigh.
Simon McGuigan (Stockport) and Ben Lyon (Sheffield Steelers) both scored for England while Tom Gosnay (Stockport) and Mark Reynolds (Wilmslow) contributed assists against Lehigh.
But their opponents won comfortably 12-2, England's third loss having been edged 11-8 by the Loyola Greyhounds in their opening tour match and then beaten 14-1 by a strong Johns Hopkins side.
"Like I've said all along, the games here [in America] are a bonus, the coaching clinics before the matches are much more important,' stressed Elwood.
'We got taught a lacrosse lesson against Johns Hopkins, they were a very good, very strong and well-drilled team.
'It was a very tough lesson for us, it was a tough test for everyone involved. We're looking to take the positives from all our matches.
'Our greatest chance of victory was probably against Lehigh, but we fielded probably our most inexperienced team.
'Of course we'd like to win, but the [coaching] clinics are invaluable to everybody.'
Goalkeepers Simon Jones and Ben McAllister both had solid matches against Lehigh, but the hosts were always in control having dominated the face-off.
Jones (Steelers) made seven saves and conceded eight goals, while McAllister (Stockport) made nine saves and conceded four goals.
England have four more matches on their eight tour, with Princeton up next followed by matches with Drexel, Hofstra and the New York Athletic Club.
International Results - American tour: Lehigh 12 England 2, Johns Hopkins 14 England 1, Loyola 11 England 8.
Remaining matches - GMT + 5 hours
Thursday - Princeton 7pm
Friday - Drexel 7pm
Saturday - Hofstra 7pm
Sunday - New Yotk Athletic Club
**Anyone wanting to watch highlights of the opening twos matches can do so by clicking on this link - http://www.e-lacrosse.com/content/videos/2009/2009hopeng.php
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