PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – Team Israel will join squads representing seven other countries when they compete in the fourth-annual Heritage Cup at Shipley School from May 24-27, 2019.
The Israelis are again expected to bring a hybrid squad, mixing prospects for next year’s U-19 World Championships with current members of the men’s national team. The formula has worked in recent years for the blue-and-white, who topped Puerto Rico, 6-2, to win last year’s Cup, after prevailing in 2017 on tiebreakers.
Most of the participating teams are comprised of predominantly “heritage players” who are eligible to compete for their respective national teams under World Lacrosse 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. With the upcoming U-19 World Championships and regional Men’s Championship events, national programs are testing their player pools in game situations far-and-wide as squads continue to take shape.
Israel will take on Greece, Philippines and Poland in pool-play before advancing to either the Championship or Consolation playoff bracket.
The blue-and-white will also compete in the Boys U-15 division, with games against the Iroquois Developmental Team, Puerto Rico and the Rising Sons which are representing the United States.
Israel will also be taking on the upstart Lithuania team in a Saturday night friendly at 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. The game is being held thanks to the support of the Sixers Youth Foundation and the Harris Family.
All Heritage Cup games are held at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. For more information, visit www.heritagecuplax.com.