By Craig Rybczynski - July 21, 2010
Rochester Knighthawks Hall of Fame forward Tim Soudan recently unpacked his Team USA jersey and set it aside to one day hang among his other prized sweaters. It was just 12 years ago he was wearing the red, white and blue of the United States. It was the second straight World Championships for the Fairport native and his last. He still recalls the pride of representing his country.

“It was probably one of my fondest lacrosse moments,” said the 42-year-old original Knighthawk. “It was one of the biggest things you could do at the time. There was just club lacrosse back then and the pro league was not viewed as it is today. The pinnacle was playing for the US team.”

Soudan played for the United States in 1994 and 1998 and won back-to-back gold medals. He played with the likes of Mark Millon, Casey Powell, Sal LoCascio, Dave Petromala, Todd Curry, Butch Marino and Rob Shek. The experience was unlike anything he experienced in his 15-year professional career in the National Lacrosse League.

The two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts earned his first gold medal with a 21-7 victory against Australia in 1994 at the games in Manchester, England. Manchester is currently the site of this year’s World Lacrosse Championships. It was an unforgettable feeling receiving his first gold medal.

“It is a different atmosphere. You are traveling with these guys for the first time and competing,” said Soudan. “You have to come together in a short period of time. To win was unbelievable.”

His second gold was more difficult and dramatic with Team USA fighting off a furious comeback by Canada. Canada rallied from an 11-1 third-quarter and 13-10 fourth-quarter deficit. The United States had to outscore Canada in overtime to win 15-14 in Baltimore.

“It was a barnburner in ’98,” said Soudan. “They really turned it on. Their weakness in the past has been their long poles, but these days with guys like Brodie Merrill they have some of the best long poles out there. More Canadians are playing field lacrosse and adapting well.”

Evidence of this is Canada’s 2006 World Lacrosse Championship and their win over the United States this past weekend. Canada (5-0) heads into the medal round with the top record in the Blue Division at the 2010 FIL World Lacrosse Championships. Team USA is 4-1, losing its only game to Canada, 10-9.

With the anticipated rematch of the 2006 games likely to happen on Saturday, July 24th, Soudan said he will make sure to watch the Finals on ESPNU.

“I will definitely be glued to the TV,” he said. “Hopefully, the US will be there and redeem themselves.”