Ontario takes gold in men's U19 lacrosse at Indigenous Games

Team Ontario took gold in the final match of men's under-19 lacrosse at the North American Indigenous Games on Friday, defeating Team New York by a score of 12-4.

Ontario men's under-19 team beats New York in final lacrosse game of North American Indigenous Games

Tim Fontaine · CBC News · Posted: Jul 21, 2017 10:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 22, 2017

Members of Team Ontario pose after taking gold in under-19 men's lacrosse at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games. (Tim Fontaine/CBC)

Team Ontario took gold in the final match of men's under-19 lacrosse at the North American Indigenous Games on Friday, defeating Team New York 12-4.

The cheering from the audience was often thunderous at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena near Brampton, Ont., one of three venues for lacrosse at the NAIG.

"We worked hard for the full sixty minutes," said Ontario player Travis Longboat, 18, from the Six Nations of the Grand River. "It felt really good to win in front of everyone I know."

Longboat was named most valuable player in the game.

"I just played my game and did what I could," he said.

Commanding lead

Ontario took a commanding lead early in the game, ending the first period ahead 3-1. By the end of the second period, the score surged to 7-1 for Ontario.

Team Ontario's Travis Longboat, 18, was named most valuable player in the gold medal under-19 men's lacrosse game at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games. (Tim Fontaine/CBC)

NY attempted to bounce back in the third period, scoring twice, but it was too little too late.

"We've been working hard for this," said Curt Styres, coach for Team Ontario. "A lot of the guys have been working hard all summer, it's been fantastic."

Grandson of lacrosse legend Gaylord Powless playing at Indigenous Games finals

Styres offered praise for the opposing team.

"It's a game of bounces and today the ball bounced our way," he said. "That was a good team we played again, New York, there's a lot of tremendous athletes on that team."

Eastern Door and the North women take gold

Earlier, Team Eastern Door and the North that captured the gold in women's under-19, beating Team Ontario 4-3.

For five days, lacrosse teams from across the continent battled it out at the Games. The category was kicked off on Monday with an historic match between Ontario and British Columbia's under-19 women's teams — the first time females have been allowed to compete in lacrosse at NAIG.