SYRACUSE, NEW YORK — Tel Aviv LC was one of several international clubs participating in the LaxAllStars.com North American Invitational last weekend at Onondaga Fieldhouse. Facing what was arguably the highest level of competition ever brought together at an amateur box lacrosse tournament, Tel Aviv improved each game as the Israelis look to build experience ahead of the 2017 European Box Lacrosse Championships, which will be held in July in Finland.
Adam Wolf scored three goals and three assists to lead Tel Aviv past the LaxAllStars.com House Team, 11-2, to wrap up the Israeli clubs’ weekend in the North American Invitational with a victory. LAS topped Tel Aviv on Thursday to open the weekend slate, but the Israelis would not be stopped in the finale, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and cruising to victory. Seth Mahler (two goals, one assist), Danny Bialosky (two goals), Josh Offit (one goal, three assists) and Charlie Ross (one goal, two assists) also had big days for Tel Aviv, while Jerryd Jensen (30:00, 17 saves, 2 GA) earned the win in goal while adding two assists.
Andrew Kruter and Kyle Bergman scored goals in an 8-2 setback to the Syracuse Stingers. Eight-year pro Neal Powless scored three goals to lead the Stingers, while former Buffalo Bandits goaltender Mike Thompson (15:00, 12 saves, 0 GA) earned the win with a first-half shutout against the Israelis.
Jensen made 23 saves but Tel Aviv’s offense could not get going in a 7-0 loss to the Nova Scotia Privateers in a first-round playoff game. Mike Burke scored three goals to lead Nova Scotia.
Offit scored twice and Bergman had a goal and an assist as Tel Aviv had the “host” Onondaga Redhawks on the ropes, but could not close out the win on Thursday. Tel Aviv led 3-2 with under 10 minutes remaining before the Redhawks torched Jensen for five straight scores. Onondaga finished with a 9-5 win.
Zach Penfil and Danny Bialosky each scored in a 5-2 loss against LaxAllStars.com to open the tournament. The Israelis led 2-0 before LAS dominated the second half of the game.
The Israel box program is back in action in April in Prague, with the national team participating in the third-annual European Box Lacrosse Invitational (E-BOX) and Tel Aviv taking part in the Aleš Hřebeský Memorial.
Caps (x5) – Danny Bialosky, Bradley Diamond, Aaron Feinberg, Chris Friedman, Ben Herman, Jerryd Jensen, Andrew Kruter, Andrew Landsman, Josh Offit, Zach Penfil, Charlie Ross, Adam Wolf
Caps (x4) – Kyle Bergman, Bryan Hopper, Seth Mahler