PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – As the days count down to the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships on home soil, Team Israel continued to build momentum towards their July 12th opener at Netanya Stadium by winning back-to-back Heritage Cups, notching a perfect 6-0 record at the third-annual Heritage Cup at Johnson & Wales University this weekend.
The blue-and-white clinched the Cup win with a 6-2 win over a shorthanded Puerto Rican squad on Monday morning. The FIL newcomers were strong on the weekend despite short numbers, competing with only a handful of substitutes due to NCAA conflicts and injuries. Israel jumped out to a 3-0 first-half lead before slowing down the game against tired Puerto Rico (5-1) side, crusing to victory. Jean-Luc Chetner led Israel with two goals, while Bryan Rotatori (one goal, one assist), Nick Lipsher (one goal), Isaac Paparo and Ethan Shacket added singles. Kyle Bergman and Ian Kadish chipped in one assist. David Metzger (20:00, two saves, one GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, one save, one GA) split time in goal; Metzger earned the win.
Israel qualified for the final by topping the Ireland, 7-4, in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Team Eire, the Irish development squad which represented the country in the Cup, had a strong showing, owning 2-0 and 3-2 leads over the Israelis in the first half. The blue-and-white owned the game from there, scoring four straight ghoals to take a 6-3 advantage. Rotatori (three goals, two assists), Bergman (one goal, one assist), Lipsher (one goal), Chetner (one goal) and Matthew Cherry (one assist) contributed on offense for Israel. Metzger (20:00, three saves, three GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, no saves, one GA) split time in goal; Max Silberlicht was credited the win.
The Israelis blanked FIL newcomer Peru in the quarterfinals, 8-0 on Sunday morning. The blue-and-white won both the first and second halves by 4-0 scores over Peru (0-6). Rotatori (two goals and Cherry (one goal, one assist) led Israel, while Tyler Brown-Ortiz, Chetner, Kadish, Lipsher and Shacket added singles. Bergman, Harrison Freid, Paparo and Jacob Silberlicht each chipped in an assist. Metzger (20:00, one save, no GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, no saves, no GA) split time in goal; Metzger earned the win.
Earlier on Sunday morning, Israel defeated Jamaica in a highly-anticipated partial preview of July 12th’s opening match at Netanya Stadium. While both teams are in preparation-mode, training and making final roster evaluations, the blue-and-white have to be happy with the 7-2 win to wrap up pool play over the speedy FIL newcomers. Israel led 2-0 early and 5-1 at halftime, commanding most of the game over Jamaica (3-3). Rotatori and Chetner each scored two goals and one assist for Israel, while Cherry added one goal and one assist. Bergman (one goal), Jonah Biblowitz (one goal) and Jacob Silberlicht (one assist) also contributed on offense. Metzger (20:00, one save, one GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, four saves, one GA) split time in goal; Metzger earned the win.
Israel rolled past Lithuania (2-4) and Hungary (1-5) to open the Cup on Friday. Against Hungary, Israel cruised to a 5-1 win as Rotatori led the Israelis with one goal and one assist, while Chetner, Cherry, Joey Kraft, Lipsher and Jacob Silberlicht added one goal apiece. Metzger (20:00, two saves, no GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, three saves, one GA) split time in goal; Metzger earned the win.
The blue-and-white shook off a slow start against the upstart Lithuanian squad, scoring eight straight goals to cruise to an opening game win, 10-3. Bergman, Kraft and Jack Tucker each scored two goals, while Jacob Silberlicht (one goal, one assist) and Cherry (two assists) also had big openers. Chetner, Rotatori and Jake Suesserman added singles. Metzger (20:00, two saves, two GA) and Max Silberlicht (20:00, two saves, one GA) split time in goal; Metzger earned the win.
Caps (x6): Kyle Bergman, Matthew Cherry, Jean-Luc Chetner, Andrew Kruter, Nick Lipsher, Justin Lurie, Seth Mahler, David Metzger, Isaac Paparo, Bryan Rotatori, Ethan Shacket, Max Silberlicht, Jacob Silberlicht, Jake Suesserman, Ben Tishgart
Caps (x5): Harrison Freid
Caps (x4): Jonah Biblowitz, Tyler Brown-Ortiz, Ian Kadish, Max Livingston, Benjamin Smith
Caps (x2): Jared Borkan, Joey Kraft, Matthew Sardis, Jack Tucker
Heritage Cup Final Standings
1. Israel (6-0)
2. Puerto Rico (5-1)
3. Ireland (4-2)
4. Jamaica (3-3)
5. Poland (3-3)
6. Lithuania (2-4)
7. Hungary (1-5)
8. Peru (0-6)
Israel Men’s National Team Spring Tour
Sat, Apr 7 in New York, NY- New York Athletic Club 13, Israel 12 (OT)
Sun, Apr 8 in Hewlett, NY – New York Lizards 23, Israel 6
Wed, Apr 11 in Kiryat Gat, Israel – England 7, Israel 6
Thu, Apr 12 in Jerusalem, Israel – England 8, Israel 6
Fri, Apr 13 in Ashkelon, Israel – England 11, Israel 10
Sat, Apr 14 in Herzliya, Israel – England 12, Israel 5
Sun, Apr 15 in Netanya, Israel – England 8, Israel 7
Sat, Apr 21 in Dresden, Germany – Israel 13, Germany 9
Sun, Apr 22 in Dresden, Germany – Israel 7, Germany 4
Fri, May 25 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 10, Lithuania 3
Fri, May 25 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 5, Hungary 1
Sun, May 27 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 7, Jamaica 2
Sun, May 27 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 8, Peru 0
Sun, May 27 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 7, Éire 4
Mon, May 28 in Providence, Rhode Island – Israel 6, Puerto Rico 2