PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – Team Israel will join teams representing seven other countries when they compete in the third-annual Heritage Cup at Johnson & Wales University’s Harborside Campus from May 25-28, 2018.
The Israelis are again expected to bring a hybrid squad, mixing development players with current members of the men’s national team which will compete on home soil at the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Netanya, Israel, this July.
The blue-and-white won the tournament on tiebreakers in 2017 in Providence after finishing fourth at the 2016 edition in Philadelphia.
Most of the participating teams are comprised of predominantly “heritage players” who are eligible to compete for their respective national teams under FIL criteria as non-passport holders. The primary focus of the weekend is to raise funds, awareness, and donated equipment to support the development of youth lacrosse in the eight participating countries.
While the nature of the tournament is charitable, the competition on the field is real. The stakes will be high when Israel and Jamaica open the 2018 World Championships on July 12th in a nationally televised game at Netanya Stadium, and the two squads meeting on May 27th will give at least a partial preview of what is expected to be a heavyweight battle.
Israel also meets a Hungary squad which is ranked 17th in Europe, and an upstart team promoting the launch of the sport in Lithuania, which is making their debut at the Cup.
All games are held at Johnson & Wales Harborside Campus, located at 1 Harborside Boulevard, Providence, RI. For more information on Israel’s entry in the Heritage Cup, please contact Men’s Program Director Seth Mahler at seth@lacrosse.co.il.
Group A
Israel
Hungary
Jamaica
Lithuania
Group B
Ireland
Poland
Puerto Rico
Peru
Friday, May 25th
6:30 PM – Israel vs Lithuania (Field 1)
7:30 PM – Israel vs Hungary (Field 1)
8:30 PM – Lithuania vs Hungary (Field 1)
Saturday, May 26th
7:00 AM – Ireland vs Poland (Field 1)
7:00 AM – Hungary vs Jamaica (Field 2)
8:00 AM – Ireland vs Puerto Rico (Field 1)
8:00 AM – Poland vs Peru (Field 2)
9:00 AM – Peru vs Puerto Rico (Field 1)
9:00 AM – Jamaica vs Lithuania (Field 2)
Sunday, May 27th
10:00 AM – Puerto Rico vs Poland (Field 1)
11:00 AM – Israel vs Jamaica (Field 1)
11:00 AM – Peru vs Ireland (Field 2)
12:00 PM – Quarterfinal 1: A1 vs B4 (Field 1)
12:00 PM – Quarterfinal 2: B2 vs A3 (Field 2)
1:00 PM – Quarterfinal 3: B1 vs A4 (Field 1)
1:00 PM – Quarterfinal 4: A2 vs B3 (Field 2)
2:00 PM – Semifinal 1: QF1-winner vs QF2-winner (Field 1)
2:00 PM – Consolation Semifinal 1: QF1-loser vs QF2-loser (Field 2)
3:00 PM – Semifinal 2: QF3-winner vs QF4-winner (Field 1)
3:00 PM – Consolation Semifinal 2: QF3-loser vs QF4-loser (Field 2)
Monday, May 28th
7:30 AM – 3rd Place Game (Field 1)
7:30 AM – 7th Place Game (Field 2)
8:30 AM – 1st Place Game (Field 1)
8:30 AM – 5th Place Game (Field 2)