BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — The Israel men’s national team continued their tour of the Northeast US this past weekend with against arguably their toughest competition to date, earning a win against fourth-ranked Towson University, and holding their own against Team USA and Johns Hopkins University.
Israel opened their Baltimore showcase weekend under the lights at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field on Saturday evening. The game was tight early on, with the score tied 1-1 after one quarter, however, the Blue Jays went on a 3-0 run and scored eight of the next nine goals to take a 9-2 third-quarter advantage. Bryan Rotatori led Israel with two goals and one assist, with Ari Sussman adding one goal and one assist. Ryan Hunter, Ian Kadish and Zachary Pall chipped in singles. Jake Levine had one assist. Eric Schneider (30:00, 8 saves, 5 GA), Ted Bergman (15:00, 3 saves, 4 GA) and Eric Fischer (15:00, 4 saves 3 GA) split time in goal; Bergman was dealt the loss.
The blue-and-white held their own in their first-ever meeting with #2-ranked USA, falling 10-4 at US Lacrosse Headquarters’ Tierney Field on Sunday morning. The Israelis led 2-1 in the first half before the Americans scored seven eight goals to take command of the game. Sussman led Israel with one goal and one assist, with Kyle Bergman, Hunter and Kadish each chipping in singles. Adam Fishman and Daniel Kravit chipped in one assist apiece. Ted Bergman (25:00, 4 saves, 4 GA) and Fischer (25:00, 6 saves, 6 GA) split time in goal with Fischer dealt the loss.
Fishman (two goals, one assist) and Rotatori (two goals) led the charge for Israel as they secured their first win of the weekend, and only their second of all-time against an NCAA opponent, topping Towson, 9-6, at Tierney Field. Israel jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never trailed; the Tigers cut the deficit to 3-2, 4-3, and 7-6, but the blue-and-white pulled away each time. Kadish and Kravit each added one goal and one assist, while Kyle Bergman, Dan Leventhal and Josh Offit chipped in singles. Fischer (25:00, 4 saves, 2 GA) and Ted Bergman (25:00, 3 saves, 4 GA) split time in goal; Bergman collected the win.
Israel is back in action in the New York area on Thursday night at Adelphi University.
Caps (x3): Kyle Bergman, Ted Bergman, David Better, Eric Cantor, Casey Cittadino, Eric Fischer, Adam Fishman, Matt Flapan, Chris Friedman, Ryan Hunter, Ian Kadish, Evan Kalish, Max Kaufman, Daniel Kravit, Andrew Kruter, Drew Lazar, Daniel Leventhal, Jake Levine, Seth Mahler, Josh Offit, Zachary Pall, Matthew Popeck, Bryan Rotatori, Eric Schneider, Jacob Silberlicht, Ben Smith, Nick Steinfeld, Ari Sussman, Doug Utting
Caps (x1): Matthew Cherry, Daniel Deckelbaum, Eric Schneider