World Games: Canada defeats Austria to capture bronze

Canada won its first medal on the world stage since being crowned IFAF flag football world champions in 2008 by winning bronze at The World Games in Chengdu with a 38-20 victory over Austria.

Europe’s top-ranked nation and a Canada team that sits two places lower in the world order at sixth were locked in a tight contest as they exchanged scores and were separated by only a point at halftime.

The catalyst for Canada to edge ahead and establish an unassailable lead was Lauriane Beauchamp twice breaking up passes in the end zone, allowing her quarterback Sara Parker to take full advantage and pass for the two unanswered touchdowns that sealed victory.

Austria’s dropped pass in the end zone on the Europeans’ first possession was punished as Parker found Emma Racine with a short pass for a 6-0 lead. Exchanging scores kept the contest tight at 20-19 in Austria’s favor at the interval, but Canada moved six points clear when Parker hit Alexane Fournier for a touchdown and a point after.

Then Beauchamp stepped up with the first of her defended passes and Parker targeted Clara Beaudoin for a 32-20 and edged closer to the bronze medal. Following another Beauchamp intervention, Parker tossed her sixth touchdown of the game to Laura Molimard and third place at The World Games belonged to Canada.