Gowanda High School graduate and Haudenosaunee Nationals attacker Miya Scanlan positions herself ahead of a draw after scoring her first goal in Thursday’s game against Japan at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship. Screenshot from ESPN+

TOWSON, Md. — The Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s lacrosse team fell 13-8 to Japan to open Pool E play at the 2022 Women’s World Championship at Towson University on Thursday.

Although it was not the result Gowanda High School graduate Miya Scanlan was seeking, the Jacksonville University product made her presence felt in her first world championship with a hat trick.

Scanlan scored three goals on four shots in the Haudenosaunee effort, but hat tricks from Mio Takahashi and Kokora Nakazawa powered Japan to victory in Pool E action. On defense, Gowanda High School girls lacrosse coach Lottie Gill picked up two groundballs and caused one turnover.

Scanlan’s first goal came with 6:55 left in the first half on a free-position shot. Scanlan was fouled after receiving a pass inside the arc and was awarded an 11-meter shot; she made no mistake from the line, firing a shot at the keeper’s feet which bounced over the left shoulder and into the top corner to cut Japan’s lead to 5-2.

In the third quarter, Scanlan once again was awarded a free-position shot, this time she was fouled while driving to the net. Once again, Scanlan hit her mark, bouncing a shot over the left leg of the Japanese goalie to cut the deficit to 6-4.

Scanlan’s final goal came with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, but it was finest of the day. Taylor Frink laced a pass from behind the net to Scanlan in the middle of the arc, Scanlan then spun out of two Japanese defenders’ reach and quickly fired a shot out of the spin that narrowly crossed the goal line to make it 12-7.

Japan scored once more in the final minute and then Lois Garlow scored in the final second off a pass from Frink for fourth assist of the game, but it was not enough as Japan triumphed 13-8.

The Haudenosaunee Nationals missed the offense from Jayln Jimerson who is sidelined with a foot injury.

In the other Pool E game, China defeated Switzerland 13-7. China was led by five goals and three assists from Shannon Brazier and Hanna Bond added five goals of her own.

Haudenosaunee is back in action today at 1 p.m. against China and the game will be aired on ESPN+ and Japan plays Argentina at 3 p.m.