Israel 13, Czech Republic 12. What an incredible game of box lacrosse! While Czech fans and players are likely besides themselves at missing out on the WILC Semifinals, the Israeli team and their supporters must be thrilled to see their first-year WILC national program headed to the final four.
Photo Credit: Brian Delumpa
I had the pleasure of providing color commentary for this game on UniversalSports.com. Both Stephen Stamp (who did a killer job on the play-by-play) and I thought this was the best game of the tourney so far, and it lived up to the hype that Stephen and I put on the game before it started.
The Israel-Czech Republic game was really one for the ages, as it not only showcased the two best national box lacrosse teams from the European continent, but also had an extremely important impact on how teams would finish up. Even though the two teams had only met once before (in early April of 2015), with the Czechs hosting the friendly, and winning the game 13-9, there was definite tension and pressure in this contest from the get go.
Israel 13, Czech Republic 12
Israel struck first, early, and then, often. Bryan Hopper opened up the scoring, and he put in two quick goals for Israel to get his team an early lead. Both were great shots from the right wing, one a quick stick, and one just a beautiful rip. Noah Miller then added two goals of his own, and Jake Silberlicht scorched home a high to low blast to put Israel up 5-0 with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Neither team would score for the remainder of the quarter, and it was starting to look like Israel might just walk away with this game. That would have been a result no one could have predicted.
Jiri Kostal had a big game against Israel in April, and he opened the scoring for the Czechs in this game in the second quarter with a nice low shot that got through. With that goal, it looked like the Czechs were settling down and getting into a better rhythm. Of course Israel dismantled those ideas when Chad Culp and Kyle Bergman each scored to push the lead to 7-1.
For those who thought the Czechs might just lay down and quit, you clearly don’t know the Czechs. Four different players scored four very different goals for the Czechs as they cut the lead to 7-5. Kostal got another good one, Dominik Pesek scored a beauty of a diving goal, Jakub Vymola notched shorthanded goal and showed great poise, and Petr Poupe scored his first goal of the tourney on the power play.
Just when it looked like the Czech Republic had figured the Israel approach out, Zach Pall put away an absolutely beautiful unassisted goal where he spun around his defender and dove to score a highlight reel goal. The Israelis had been spot shooting for goals up until this point for the most part, and Pall’s goal gave them a much needed surge before the half.
Kostal got his third of the night to start the scoring in the third quarter to cut the lead back to 8-6, and then Pesek scored again off assists from Radek Skala and Poupe. Pall put the Israelis back up by 2 when he finished off some nice passing from Bryan Hopper and Chad Culp. Martin Mrlik put away another shorthanded goal for the Czechs off a Chet Koneczny pass to cut the lead back to one, 9-8.
Pall put Israel back up by 2 goals on the power play, but Jan Skokan’s outside bouncer and Jakub Riha’s solo transition goal tied the game up at 10, and all of a sudden, we were witnessing and unpredictable battle of a game. Israel was able to sweep to the middle less, but began generating better chances off passes. The Czechs tried some creative play, and at times saw lots of success. Penalties came hot and heavy at times, and both teams made some tough mental errors. It was just a back and forth affair, and we knew were in for a great finish.
Dan Deckelbaum and Chad Culp put Israel back up by 2, but I don’t think anyone thought it would last long. Pavel Dosly made it 12-11 less than two minutes later, and again, the contest was in complete question. Only when Noah Miller notched another goal to go up 13-11 did it look like Israel would likely win the game, and even then the Czechs were still able to pull back within one from yet another goal from Jiri Kostal.
With 3:11 left on the clock, it looked like the Czechs might tie it back up, but Higgins and the Israel defense held strong and thwarted a couple of good looking chances late to hold on for the huge win, which puts them through to the semifinals in their first ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.
Israel was great on draws early, but at the end of the game, they only held a slight 15-14 advantage there. Both teams took 65 shots in the game, and Israel held the ever so slight 62-61 advantage in ground balls. Zach Higgins made 39 saves in the win, and was a huge part of the Israel victory.
Zach Pall and Chad Culp each had sevent points for Israel, and Pall’s goals provided spark after spark of inspiration for his teammates. Jiri Kostal finished with four goals and an assist, and even though Dominik Pesek was keyed on heavily, he still finished with four points on 2 goals and 2 assists.
The Israelis face Team Canada in the semifinals, and the Czech Republic takes on Ireland. Israel has never played Canada before, and the Czechs and Irish are yet to see each other in this tournament, so it should be a thrilling game, well worth a watch!
