ASHKELON, ISRAEL — The Israel Lacrosse Association has announced a 56-man player pool list ahead of tryouts for the Israel men’s national team which will compete at the 2020 U-19 World Championships in Limerick, Ireland.
The Association has also announced that Jacob Silberlicht and Seth Mahler, who served as Head Coach and General Manager, respectively, of last summer’s U-20 Euro team, will return to lead the blue-and-white in 2020. Mike Horowitz joins the duo as an assistant coach, while additional staff will be named at a later date.
Tryouts will be held December 28-29 in Ashkelon, and will be the first major event to be held at Israel Lacrosse’s brand new National Training Center.
The tryout list is composed of both Israeli players, as well as members of the Jewish diaspora, in accordance with the rules and regulations of World Lacrosse.
Forward
Abramovich, Ronen – Ashkelon, Israel
Anscher, Tal – Netanya, Israel
Ashtamkar, Lidor – Ramle, Israel
Bar David, Ido – Netanya, Israel
Borkan, Jared – New York, NY
Cook, Ben – Dallas, TX
Fruhling, Hayden – Bedford, NY
Klein, Sam – Scarsdale, NY
Lipsher, Nick – New York, NY
Lurie, Justin – New York, NY
Reich, Ashtin – Bayside, NY
Rottenberg, Jack – Orlando, FL
Sapoznikov, Liran – Ashkelon, Israel
Teitelbaum, Jake – Armonk, NY
Midfield
Abuhatzria, Ori – Sderot, Israel
Brooks, Noah – Longmeadow, MA
Burgunder, Samuel – Owings Mills, MD
Chazanow, Ross – Dallas, TX
Cymbler, Harrison – East Hills, NY
Douenias, Justin – Haifa, Israel
Foley, Ryan – Chicago, IL
Geva, Dolev – Ashkelon, Israel
Grossman, Jack – Brooklyn, NY
Habari, Gal – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Hannah, Nimrod – Or Haner, Israel
Jouri, Zach – Nazareth, Israel
Moshe, Jonathan – Rishon LeZion, Israel
Rihter, Lazar – Kiryat Gat, Israel
Schuster, Ilan – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Trojano, Sam – Ashkelon, Israel
Schwartz, Dan – Haifa, Israel
Spira, Saben – Chapel Hill, NC
Weiss, Ari – Memphis, TN
Yefrach, Ronel – Nehora, Israel
Yosef, Yakir – Netanya, Israel
Zimmerman, Andrew – Bedford, NY
Defense
Abraham, Jordan – Manalapan, NJ
Birnbach, Jacob – Andover, MA
Biton, Eyal – Bror Hayil, Israel
Chostaka, Joshua – Haifa, Israel
Dion, Caleb – Parkland, FL
Forgosh, Alexander – Orefield, PA
Guangal, Solomon – Ashkelon, Israel
Hazon, Omer – Sderot, Israel
Lehman, Yair – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Pak, Chris – Sderot, Israel
Sabet, Jacob – Montville, NJ
Smith, Hunter – Great Barrington, MA
Solomon, Kai – Monarch Beach, CA
Tessler, Evan – Dunwoody, GA
Yoffe, Daniel – Ashkelon, Israel
Goal
Albert, Andrew – Weston, CT
Burger, Zach – Tel Aviv, Israel
Gilyutin, Max – Brooklyn, NY
Goldman, William – Centennial, CO
Lederman, Yonatan – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Nydick, Jack – Livingston, NJ
Schwartz, Zachary – Reisterstown, MD
Athletes who are interested in attending the tryout under late registration or as an alternate may contact U-19 Men’s National Team GM, Seth Mahler, at seth@lacrosse.co.il.
Mahler, who has been a player for the men’s national team since its’ inception in 2012, continues in his role as GM for Israel’s junior side through the summer. The 31-year-old has resided up-and-down the coast of Israel since making Aliyah in 2013, and is directly responsible for the establishment of Israel’s first youth lacrosse programs in the city of Ashkelon. A graduate of Whittier College, Mahler served as head coach for the blue-and-white’s debut U-19 men’s national team at the FIL U-19 Men’s World Championships in 2016.
“Seth understands the culture, the players, the country and the sport to a level that is unmatched”, said National Team Chairman Bill Beroza. “Taking on this role exhibits his selfless attitude as far as serving the next generation of Israeli athletes and his experience makes him an exceptional mentor to Jake [Silberlicht].”
Silberlicht, who made Aliyah in 2014, continues as head coach of Israel’s U-19 squad this summer. As a player, the Hobart product captained the men’s national team that competed in the World Championships in 2018 and won a Gold Medal in the European Box Championships in 2017. He has been a member of the men’s national team since the 2014 World Championships. A former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, Silberlicht coaches and operates the successful Sha’ar HaNegev Seals youth program.
“Jake has not only demonstrated success on the field, but as a member of the Israel Defense Forces,” added Beroza. “He is a born leader, and those skills coupled with his experience in Israel and his knowledge of the game make him a perfect fit to lead this team. I’m confident he will create a winning record for us.”
Horowitz, a former standout goalkeeper at Muhlenberg College, most recently served as defensive coordinator for Israel’s men’s national team at the 2018 World Championships. He has also has previous experience coaching at U-19 Worlds, serving alongside Mahler as an assistant coach for the blue-and-white in Coquitlam in 2016. A former player for both Israel’s field and box teams, he is currently in his fifth year as an assistant coach at St Joseph’s University.
“Mike has given 100% to our program and brings a defensive mindset and talent to our staff,” commented Beroza. “He has demonstrated his ability to turn programs into winners at St Joseph’s University and is a tremendous compliment to bring a winning formula to our staff and our team.”
Israel finished fifth at last summer’s U-20 European Championships, and is currently ranked #6 in the world at U-19 field lacrosse.