The New Zealand U20 Men’s Lacrosse Team concluded their debut campaign at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship in Jeju, South Korea, finishing 15th overall in a competitive field of 19 nations. The whole tournament was played in hot, humid conditions, which proved a daily challenge for players, coaches and support staff.
Led by seasoned coach Bob Carter, whose international experience includes roles with the Australian men’s box lacrosse team and high-performance programs, the Kiwi squad showed grit and growth throughout the tournament. Carter’s leadership was instrumental in guiding a largely domestic-based team, who first came together in July 2024. The team were also coached by Ash Barnes, Blake van der Maas, Cam Aislabie, Sam Nash and Richard Banks.
Placed in Pool C—one of the toughest groups—the team ‘s opening match was against South Korea, the host nation, and ended in a 10–4 loss. The game featured standout performances from Murdoch Bech, who led the scoring, and goalkeepers Kieran Snape and Caiden Taylor, who combined for five saves.
Next up was England, who placed 6th at the last tournament. The match started evenly, with the scores tied after the first quarter, however the strength of the English defense allowed only the Kiwi’s 18 shots, of which 12 were on goal. The final score 17-3 reflected the strength of the English team, with goals apiece to Ben Cowen, Scott Cathcart and Murdoch Bech.
New Zealand’s final pool play game was against Jamaica, ranked 9th. Jamaica came out firing, scoring 8 goals in the first quarter, to take control of the match early. Noah Perez gathered 3 goals, and Ben Cowen provided 2 assists, with the final score 18-6 to Jamaica.
Despite not securing a win in pool play, the team posted wins against Hong Kong China, and China in placement games, with their efforts earning them a 15th-place finish. They played all their games with heart, and represented their families, and their country well. The campaign was a valuable learning experience for the young squad, many of whom will continue to develop through domestic competitions and future international events. The coaches have noted a number are ready to take the step into the NZ Mens team now, with a number showing future potential.
Fantastic support was also provided to the team by manager Debra Cowen, physio KJ Durney and doctor Yvonne Howat.
Team awards were handed out on the last night of the trip with the coaches award winners being:
Attack – Sam Denize
Midfield – Murdoch Bech
Defender – Bastiaan Banks
Goalie – Cayden Taylor
MVP – Ben Cowen
A special mention goes to the supporters and families who travelled to Jeju to cheer on the team. Their presence provided a strong morale boost and created a sense of community far from home.
