ASHKELON, ISRAEL – The Israel Lacrosse Association has announced that Alex Freedman has been named head coach of the Israel women’s national team that will compete at the 2019 FIL Women’s U-19 World Cup, held in Peterborough, Canada, from August 1-10.
Freedman, a native of Villanova, Pennsylvania, made Aliyah in 2016 and relocated full-time to Israel this year after graduating from Middlebury College. She recently led the blue-and-white to a 2-4 record and a fifth place finish at the 2018 ELF Women’s U-20 European Championships in Katowice, Poland.
“I am so excited to get to work preparing for Peterborough,” said Freedman. “The women’s under-19 program has made great strides forward since its’ inception in 2015. I cannot wait for the opportunity to show off all their dedication and hard work to the world.”
Freedman and her staff will hold informal evaluations through the calendar year, and are expected to announce the team’s roster in January following the sixth annual Winter Service Trip.
An inexperienced Israeli side made their debut in U-19 Women’s play in 2015 and is currently ranked 14th in the world. As many as 24 teams are expected to compete in Peterborough, including newcomers from Kenya, Puerto Rico and Taiwan.
“Our girls have been working incredibly hard to improve themselves as lacrosse players and athletes in general,” added Freedman. “They are some of the most self-motivated people I know and often times will train on their own multiple times a week to be better. I admire these girls so much and they inspire me as both a coach and an athlete to not put restraints on what is possible if you put the work in. I know that they will make the Israel Lacrosse Association, the state of Israel, their families, and themselves, proud next summer.”
Freedman, a goaltender who won a national championship and two league titles at Middlebury, competed for Israel at the 2017 FIL Women’s World Cup in England, helping the blue-and-white earn a #6 world ranking. She follows in the footsteps of Hannah Deoul, another Middlebury graduate who represented Israel on the sidelines and on the field in 2015.
She will work alongside Sarah Meisenberg, who will serve as the team’s General Manager. Meisenberg, who made Aliyah in 2013, was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and lacrosse at Franklin & Marshall before relocating full-time to Israel. She continues to play two sports, representing Israel on both the women’s lacrosse and flag football national teams.
For more information regarding Israel’s U-19 women’s program and the Winter Service Trip, please contact Sarah Meisenberg at sarah@israellacrosse.org.