ASHKELON, ISRAEL — Lauren Norris will return to Israel’s sideline to lead the team at the 2017 FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup, which will be held from July 13-22 at Surrey Sports Park near London, England, while Kim Dubansky will join her staff as an as Assistant Coach.
Norris, a four-time Jewish All-American at Franklin & Marshall College, led Israel to a #8 world ranking in their debut at the 2013 World Cup in Canada.
“Lauren is committed to building the strongest possible team to represent Israel at the World Cup,” said Women’s competition chair Katie Mazer. “She has a passion for both our country and the sport, and her determination to spread the game of lacrosse to girls in Israel is essential to our long-term success.”
Norris previously served as head coach at Franklin & Marshall from 2009-2012, leading the Diplomats to the 2009 NCAA Div. III championship and Centennial Conference titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. She was also named IWLCA Coach of the Year in 2009, as the first coach ever to win the national championship in her first season. In four seasons at Franklin & Marshall, Norris led the team to a 68-10 record.
Norris also has experience as an assistant coach at High Point University (2012-2014), Dickinson (2005-2007) and Lafayette (2004). She played for Franklin & Marshall from 2000-03 and was a two-time All-American, three-time first team All-Metro Region player and a three-time All Centennial Conference first teamer. She was the first player in team history to score 100 goals and register 100 assists in her career.
“I am so honored to have the opportunity to coach this team again in the 2017 World Cup,” said Norris. “We’d like to take that next step as a program and advance to the Medal Rounds. We have done so much to further the sport in Israel and I am looking forward to continuing with this incredible mission.”
Dubansky, who served as an assistant coach at McDonogh School for three national championship seasons before moving over to Bryn Mawr for two, currently coaches and teaches at Roland Park Country School. She has split time between Israel and the U.S. since she first took part in youth lacrosse outreach programs across the Jewish State four years ago. The Baltimore native has played in every game in the history of Israel’s women’s program, wearing the blue-and-white at the 2012 European Lacrosse Festival in Netherlands, the 2013 FIL World Cup in Canada, and the 2015 ELF European Championships in Czech Republic.
Dubansky was a high school All-American at McDonogh School before playing for Johns Hopkins University. She makes her coaching debut at the Women’s level after serving as head coach to Israel’s entry in the U-19 International Festival of Lacrosse last summer in Scotland.
Israel’s roster will be composed of Israeli players, as well as Jewish players from abroad in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). The team will hold informal evaluation opportunities this month in Baltimore (Oct 10-11) and Connecticut (Oct 17-18) ahead of July’s formal tryouts in Israel.
Players who are interested in participating in the upcoming Showcase Events in the U.S., or would like to receive more information may contact [email protected].