KRAKOW, POLAND – Israel’s Winter Service Trip teams finished with a 3-1 record in action against Team Poland and the Euro Stars at ComCom Zone on Monday.
The New Years games marked the first lacrosse action in the world in 2018, which is destined to be an exciting year for the international lacrosse community with the FIL Men’s World Championships being held in Israel in July.
On the mens side, Israel opened play with intensity and focus to defeat their competition. The blue-and-white jumped out to an 8-1 halftime advantage and cruised to a 15-6 victory over the Euro Stars.
Ethan Shacket led the charge with four goals, while Conner Brook added a goal and three assists. Simon Flaherty, Alex Horowitz and Nick Lipsher each scored twice.
Will Offerman, Lucas Podvey, Sam Meltser and Jack Tucker chipped in singles, while Josh Finglass and Spencer Krelitz each added an assist.
Corey Allen (15:00, 0 saves, 1 GA), Jeremy Morgenstern (15:00, 1 save, 0 GA), Zach Bernstein (15:00, 1 save, 3 GA) and Noah Hytken (15:00, 1 save, 2 GA) split quarters in goal. Morgenstern was credited the win.
The team kept rolling against the Polish men later in the night, finishing with a 13-4 victory. The hosts scored the first goal six minutes in, but it would be their only lead of the night as Israel answered back with six straight scores to take command of the game.
Horowitz finished with three goals and one assist, while Kai Solomon added one goal and one assist. Nate Biblowitz, Finglass, Lipsher, Meltser, Podvey, Matt Popeck, Erik Scheel, Shacket and Tucker added singles. Brook, Flaherty and Noah Soilson each had an assist.
Hytken (15:00, 0 saves, 1 GA), Bernstein (15:00, 1 save, 1 GA), Allen (15:00, 1 save, 0 GA) and Morganstern (15:00, 0 saves, 2 GA) saw limited rubber as the blue-and-white’s defense stifled the scoring opportunities for Poland. Bernstein was credited the win.
The women opened the day with an overtime thriller against the Euro Stars. The Stars team, which featured European players from five different countries, meshed quickly, opening with a 5-0 advantage. However, the blue-and-white battled back to tie the game 9-9 after regulation. The Stars scored the game-winner at 2:30 of the extra period to secure the win.
Joely Donovan (three goals) led Israel, while Zoe Torok and Emily Wesoky each scored two goals and one assist. Sam Crotty and Yael Gelman added singles.
Melanie Louis (25:00, 2 saves, 5 GA) and Jordan Kaner (27:30, 2 saves, 5 GA) both saw action in goal; Kaner was dealt the loss.
Israel followed with a 15-6 win over the Poland women. The blue-and-white jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never trailed. Wesoky led the charge with four goals and one assist, while Dorothea Volpp chipped in two goals and two assists. Val Diamond, Donovan and Torok each had three goals.
Carly Silver (17:40, 1 save, 2 GA), Sam Pickholz (17:40, 0 saves, 1 GA) and Ariana Waldorf (17:40, 0 saves, 3 GA) split time in goal; Silver was credited the win.
Earlier in the day, the Euro Stars topped Team Poland 9-8 (Men) and 11-8 (Women).
Additional caps (Men) – Robert Aronson, Alex Kaplan, Manni Lulavy, Jacob Rosen, Cole Rottenberg, Ben Tishgart, Gabe Weinstein, Zach Weinstein
Additional caps (Women) – Abi Alpert, Shayna Cohen, Shana Crotty, Hannah Gottlieb, Elana Litsky, Jessica Horenstein, Mackenzie Wicks