FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 12, 2018
NETANYA, ISRAEL – The official opening of the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship far exceeded expectations as the reigning 2014 silver and bronze medalists squared off in a shootout that could be considered one of the best games of all time. Let’s set the stage first – the Iroquois National team arrived Thursday in Netanya at 2 p.m. at the hotel. Marched in Opening Ceremonies at 6:30 p.m., and then faced off with perennial powerhouse Team USA at 8:30 p.m. The Iroquois Nationals won its first bronze medal at the 2014 FIL World Championship.
These circumstances did not deter the founders of the game from coming out strong in the first half, taking a three-goal advantage in the first seven minutes, started by Austin Staats. The United States returned with a three-goal rally of its own in the next four minutes, spurned by Matthew Danowski, who finished with two goals. The Iroquois’ Randy Staats scored two of the next four goals to take a 7-5 lead at the half into the locker room.
“We have been through a lot today, and there was little to no sleep for a lot of the guys, but I don’t know we came out with our best and I like what I see with the guys,” said Tehoka Nanticoke, of the Iroquois Nationals. “It was a very good first half we had, and then in the second the adrenaline wore off. I like the group we have and we have a lot of talent. This is our second true time together as a team, with our first time on Tuesday. We got the players.”
The last forty minutes of the game witnessed the United States going on a 12-2 scoring run to close out the game with a first round victory, 17-9.
“We are all adjusting to the pace of the game and the length at 80 minutes,” said U.S. Men’s Head Coach John Danowski. “(The Iroquois) shot the ball well and their goalie played unbelievable. I thought we were a little tight and that is to be expected in the first game. When we came out in the second half, we scored on our first four possesions and then everyone settled down.”
Statistical leaders of both teams were many. For the United States Ryan Brown led with four goals, and Rob Pannell earned a hat trick with three goals. The foursome of Danowski, Marcus Holman, Thomas Schreiber, and Jordan Wolf finished with two goals each.
“For us tonight it was us playing our brand of lacrosse and not getting carried away doing other things,” said Brown. “We really emphasized being a part of the pie and no one piece is bigger than the rest. Everyone doing their job whether it is clearing through, getting the second assist or being on the end of it.”
The Iroquois Nationals were paced by a hat trick from Lyle Thompson, with Tehoka Nanticoke and Randy Staats each putting the ball in the back of the net two-times each.
Israel and Jamaica squared off in Netanya Stadium prior to the Opening Ceremonies for the 2018 event. They played to a big audience with the game remaining tied, 2-2, with Israel using the host country energy for a five goal swing for a 6-2 advantage at the start of the third quarter. Israel rolled forward with a win over Jamaica, 11-3.
Israel’s Maxwell Seibald scored two goals back-to-back during five-goal run in a 1:42. At the 64thminute of the game, Israel’s Eric Cantor scored and was followed 2:03 later with the final goal of the game by Max Adler.
For Jamaica, Joel Brown, Hakeem Lecky and Clifford Kurker were the scorers.
On July 14, the United States and Australia meet, and the Iroquois Nationals face England. Host Country Israel goes up against Russia to close out Saturday. Jamaica will suit up again on Friday against Russia.
The 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship preliminary competition is set from July 11-16, with pool finals and crossover competition starting on July 15. After 169 games of competition, the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship gold medalist will be crowned on July 21 at Netanya Stadium. Tickets for the World Championship may be purchased at www.worldlacrosse2018.com/tickets.
Teams will compete in a total of six to eight games each during the 10-day event, with all teams playing to a final placement. 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship schedule.
The majority of the World Championship will be held at Wingate National Sport Institution’s six competition fields. With the limited capacity, the venue will provide an electric atmosphere for the World Championship, with sell-out crowds anticipated.
ESPN and ESPN+ will broadcast the games in the United States from start to finish with 10 days of play on ESPN2 and ESPNU for 14 games, and more than 160 games available on the ESPN+, the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service. The FIL Men’s World Championship will also be available in Canada on TSN and locally in Israel on Sport 5. Fans will be able to watch the games in more than 50 countries. The FIL Men’s World Championship Broadcast schedule and links is here.
To follow the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship, and get the most recent content from FIL’s FanHub that provides one location for fans to see and read all the content written about the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship visit the www.fanhub.worldlacrosse.sport. Content will be featured from media outlets, social media channels, the World Championship host site as well as original content from FIL’s media services team.
The FIL Men’s World Championship started in 1967 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the United States defeated Australia for its first of nine World Championship gold medals. In 1974, the second World Championship was held in Melbourne, Australia, with the United States claiming the title. Since then, the event has been held every four years.
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2018 FIL Men’s World Championship
Netanya, Israel, July 11-21
Wingate National Sport Institute and Netanya Stadium
Results:
Thursday, July 12
Germany def. Korea, 19-5
Poland def. Uganda, 16-4
Switzerland def. Slovakia, 10-6
Norway def. Netherlands, 14-6
New Zealand def. Spain, 9-5
Ireland def. China, 18-3
Latvia def. Mexico, 13-10
Italy def. Turkey, 16-8
Sweden def. Argentina, 13-5
Wales def. Bermuda, 8-4
Finland def. Austria, 11-7
Czech Republic def. Belgium, 15-8
Israel def. Jamaica, 11-3
USA def. Iroquois Nationals, 17-9
Wednesday, July 11
Hong Kong def. Luxembourg, 20-1
Pools:
Blue Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Canada
United States, 1-0
Iroquois Nation, 1-0
Australia
England
Scotland
Red Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Israel, 1-0
Russia
Jamaica, 0-1
White Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Japan
Uganda, 0-1
Bulgaria
Green Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Germany, 1-0
Korea, 0-1
France
Yellow Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Ireland, 1-0
China, 0-1
Denmark
Orange Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Sweden, 1-0
Argentina, 0-1
Hungary
Plum Division – Team, Record (W-L)
New Zealand, 1-0
Spain, 0-1
Croatia
Turquoise Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Finland, 1-0
Austria, 0-1
Colombia
Grey Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Czech Republic, 1-0
Belgium, 0-1
Phillipines
Gold Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Switzerland, 1-0
Slovakia, 0-1
Taiwan
Platinum Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Netherlands, 0-1
Norway, 1-0
Haiti
Bronze Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Wales, 1-0
Bermuda, 0-1
Puerto Rico
Tan Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Italy, 1-0
Turkey, 0-1
Peru
Purple Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Latvia, 1-0
Mexico, 0-1
Greece
Olive Division – Team, Record (W-L)
Poland
Hong Kong, 1-0
Luxembourg, 0-1
FIL Men’s World Championship History
Year – Teams (gold def. silver), Score, Location
2014 – Canada def. USA, 8-5, Denver, Colorado, USA
2010 – USA def. Canada, 12-10, Manchester, England
2006 – Canada def. USA, 15-10, London, Ontario, Canada
2002 – USA def. Canada, 18-15, Perth, Australia
1998 – USA def. Canada, 15-14 (OT), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
1994 – USA def. Australia, 21-7, Manchester, England
1990 – USA def. Canada, 19-15, Perth, Australia
1986 – USA def. Canada, 18-9, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1982 – USA def. Australia, 22-14, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
1978 – Canada def. USA, 17-16 (OT), Stockport, England
1974 – USA, Three-way tie for 2nd, Melbourne, Australia
1967 – USA def. Australia, 25-11, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
