Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/18/14
From Press Release
The Drexel men’s lacrosse team will compete in the Friendship Games in Tokyo, Japan next week
The Dragons will depart from Newark, N.J on June 27. While in Japan, the Dragons will play two games against international competition and will also conduct a lacrosse clinic during the goodwill tour. They will face the Tokyo Representative Team as well as the Japanese National Team.
In addition, the Dragons will play a scrimmage against Japanese Ivy’s, Waseda, Meiji, Tokyo and Hosei. The event is officially sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States Embassy of Japan, Tokyo Prefecture, Edogawa-District and the Yomiuri News Paper.
Drexel Head Coach Brian Voelker and Japanese Lacrosse Association Director Yusuke Sasaki began the planning of this trip two years ago. The two both attended Johns Hopkins University. “Lacrosse Makes Friends” is a slogan of the Japanese Lacrosse Association and the two have known each other for more than 25 years.
The Drexel players will have the opportunity not only to play on an international stage, but will have the unique chance to experience Japanese culture on their six-day trip. Members of the team will be staying with host families during a portion of the trip and will have ample time to sightsee around Tokyo and Kamakura.
In addition, the team will have the honor to play in front of Princess Takamado, who is expected to attend the games. The travel party will return to the United States on July 2.
Drexel finished the 2014 season with a 13-5 record and was the No. 1 team in the final Phillylacrosse.com Men’s College Rankings. The Dragons won the Colonial Athletic Association championship and defeated Penn in their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
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