LONDON, Ontario--The U.S. men's national lacrosse team shut out England in the second half and, a day before its widley anticipated game against Canada, tuned up with a 25-5 Blue Division victory in a 2006 International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championships round-robin match at TD Waterhouse Stadium.

Scott Urick (six goals) and Mike Powell (two goals, four assists) led 11 different scorers for the U.S. (2-0), which shot 57 percent for the game. But the defense -- consisting primarily of Nicky Polanco, Ryan Curtis, John Gagliardi and Pat McCabe in close -- was to be credited for holding England (0-2) scoreless for the final 45:37.

English attackman Matthew Beadle caught the U.S. off guard on a quick whistle to close within 9-5 with 5:37 remaining in the second quarter. England did not score thereafter.

In response, Urick finished a timely feed from Kyle Harrison (two goals, one assist) as time expired in the half to make it 10-5. Team USA ran the table in the third quarter with a 6-0 run, highlighted by Kevin Cassese scoring from 42 yards out, to put the game out of reach.

"England did a good job trying to slow the game down in the second quarter," said U.S. head coach John Desko. "I thought our defense adjusted very well, I'm happy with that."

"I would think any team we go against would have to think like that," Desko said of the slow pace that saw England assemble a temporary three-goal run in the second quarter to close within four, "unless they dominate faceoffs."

Harrison did that for Team USA, going 9-for-9, with the U.S. garnering 23 of the games 32 faceoffs.

Beadle was England's leading scorer with three goals, two of them on extra-man offense, as the U.S. continued its adjustment to international rules and had 16 penalties (totaling 11 minutes).

It was Team USA's 34th consecutive victory in the ILF World Championships. The U.S. meets host Canada, the last and only team to defeat it in ILF play (1978 gold-medal game), tomorrow at 4 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium. The quadrennial rivals will square off before an international television audience which will include live feeds by the Canadian Broadcasting Company and US Lacrosse partner CSTV.

England         1      4      0     0 --  5
U.S.                7      3      6     9 -- 25

Goals - E: Beadle 3, Gosnay, Dunwoodie; US: Urick 6, R. Powell 5, Walters 3, M. Powell 2, Jalbert 2, Harrison 2, Shanahan, Sweeney, Curtis, Cassese, Boyle.

Assists - E: Gosnay, Flowers; US: M. Powell 4, C. Powell 3, Boyle 3, Striebel 2, Harrison 2, Haugen 2, Colsey, Polanco.

Shots - E 19, US 44. Saves - E 9 (Stelfox 5, McCallister 4), US 4 (Garrity 2, Tierney 2). Face-offs- E 9, US 23. Ground Balls- E 19, US 38.