HAIFA, ISRAEL — Haifa LC announced goaltender Ted Bergman, as well as midfielders Nate Archer and Gaston Chemi will represent the club as franchise players for their opening season of the Israel Premier Lacrosse League.
“I’m looking forward to working with some of these up-and-coming talented athletes this summer,” said Haifa bench boss Bill Beroza, who also serves as head coach of the Israel men’s national team. “We will have both a very young team and a very international roster. We’re going to work hard and we expect to compete for the Championship.”
Bergman, a Philadelphia native who is entering his Junior season at Wesleyan University, has seen extensive action for Israel’s developmental program, spending both his winters and summers in Israel for the last two years. Bergman’s biggest start to date for Israel came in March, when he held his own against the MLL’s New York Lizards in an exhibition game in Hewlett, NY.
Archer, a celebrated high school player from Alexandria, Virginia, red-shirted his Freshman season at Cornell due to injury. He saw limited action in his return on Sunday for the Birthright/USA All-Stars and is expected to be 100% by Haifa’s season-opener.
Chemi, who competed for the Argentina men’s national team at both the 2010 and 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships, made Aliyah last Fall and currently resides in Haifa. While he intends to continue competing for Team Argentina internationally, Chemi has been a crucial member of Israel’s lacrosse community and the development of the sport in Haifa.
Haifa opens their 2015 schedule on July 6th against Ashkelon LC in a neutral-site game in Ashdod. Faceoff is sceduled for 7pm at Ashdod Sport Club.