HALIFAX (CP) - Dan Dawson scored four goals and Nenad Gajic added three as Canada trounced the United States 18-5 to remain perfect Wednesday at the world indoor lacrosse championship.

The Canadians (3-0) broke open a 3-3 game with six unanswered goals in the second period, led by two each from Dawson and John Tavares. Canada's defence took over from there, limiting the U.S. (2-1) to just two goals in the second half.

In other action Wednesday, it was: Australia 14, Ireland 8; England 9, Czech Republic 7; and Iroquois Nationals 19, Scotland 4.

With the victory, Canada locked up top spot in Pool A - and with it, an automatic berth in Saturday's semifinal. The U.S. will have to play a quarter-final match against Scotland (1-2) on Friday afternoon. Australia (1-2) will take on England in the other quarter-final, while the Iroquois Nationals (3-0) clinched a berth in the semis by finishing first in Pool B.

Shawn Williams also had a pair of goals for the Canadians while Jeff Zywicki, Gavin Prout, Dan Carey, Scott Self, Taylor Wray, Chris Driscoll and National Lacrosse League MVP John Grant added singles in the romp.

Williams, Grant, Tavares and Zywicki had four assists apiece for Canada, which outshot the U.S. 20-10 in the pivotal second quarter and 76-44 overall.

Keevin Galbraith, Matt Zach, Scott Stapleford, Pat Dutton and Matt Alrich countered for the Americans, who were outclassed by a Canadian team boasting six of the top seven scorers in the NLL.

"There's a lot we need to work on," said U.S. coach Tom Ryan. "We didn't play our best for a full 60 minutes. We're capable of playing a much better game."

The teams enjoy an off-day Thursday.