BE’ER SHEVA, ISRAEL — Be’er Sheva LC did not disappoint in the franchise’s first-ever game, opening the 2016 Israel Premier Lacrosse League season in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 overtime win over Haifa LC at Mikha Reisser Field on Sunday.
Ian Kadish was named EL AL Player of the Game with two goals and an assist, including the game-winner at 1:25 of the extra period, while Brett Hackel (two goals), Nate Rottenstrich (one goal) and Marc Skolnick (one assist) also cracked the scoresheet for Be’er Sheva (1-0).
Joshua Bernstein put Haifa (0-1) on the board early, with an unassisted score just :50 in. Be’er Sheva did not get onto the board until nearly the end of the quarter to tie the game at 1-1.
The two teams traded the lead throughout the game, and a Haifa opening night win seemed imminent as they held a 4-3 lead, with a two-man advantage in the final two minutes. However, Be’er Sheva forced a turnover, and Haifa found themselves in penalty trouble of their own, as Rottenstrich scored the extra-man goal with 58 seconds remaining in regulation.
Jeffrey Handman (30:00, 6 saves, 2 GA) and Jake Reiner (31:25, 7 saves, 2 GA) split time in goal for the “Speed of the Negev”; Reiner was credited the win.
Bernstein (two goals, one assist), Alex Siegel (one goal), Eric Fischer (one goal) and Seth Mahler (one assist) led Haifa offensively. Fischer (30:00, 7 saves, 2 GA) and Andrew Landsman (31:25, 2 saves, 3 GA) split time in goal; Landsman was dealt the loss.
Be’er Sheva is back in action on Wednesday at 5:00 PM local against Ashkelon LC. Haifa meeets Kiryat Gat at 6:30 PM. Both games are held at Ashdod Sport Club as part of the Ashdod Lacrosse Festival.