Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/23/16
From Press Release
Israel Lacrosse has announced a 20-player roster for the Israel women’s national team that will compete in the 2017 FIL Women’s World Cup, which will be held at University of Surrey near London, England, from July 12-22. The roster was selected following a three-day tryout this summer in Be’er Sheva, Israel, and a set of fall exhibition games.
The team features goalie Alex Freedman, a Radnor High grad who served as a backup on Middlebury College’s NCAA Division III championship team this spring.
Said Freedman: “For me, my becoming an Israeli citizen was more of a ‘when that was going to happen’ than an ‘if’. I am most excited about representing Israel at the World Cup, not to be able to play lacrosse at the highest level our sport has to offer, but to show the world what being Israeli represents and how incredible Israel truly is.
“I have two most memorable moments in my lacrosse career to date, and one of those was winning the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship with Middlebury College. Matching that was competing in the first full-field women’s lacrosse game in Israel, in the winter of 2013, because seeing the progress and growth Israel Lacrosse has made from then until now is incredible.
“I am competing in honor of Jewish National Fund, a non-profit that holds a special place in my heart. I was able to intern for JNF for the past two summers and fully support their work to better the lives of Israelis through community building, water, land, and other projects throughout the country.”
“Selecting this team was incredibly difficult, as we were lucky to have so many talented women tryout. In addition to the level of talent present at the tryouts, these women are bright, successful, and of the greatest character,” said head coach Lauren Paul Norris following the roster announcement. “Getting to know them and see how each of them would make such a significant impact not only as a member of the team, but as part of the organization made the decision that much harder. It really came down to what we needed positionally, and balancing that with the right personalities, where the players were currently residing, and what strengths we needed on the field.”
Teams from 24 countries are expected to compete at the quadrennial Women’s World Cup. The blue-and-white have their sights set on improving their world ranking from their 8th place finish at Israel’s first Women’s World Cup appearance in 2013.
Alison Curwin, Kimberly Dubansky and Sarah Meisenberg return from the 2013 squad.
Three young players who represented Israel at the 2015 U-19 World Championship — Jenna Baverman, Gabriela Cheban and Shirel Fresh — will make their debut for the Women’s National Team.
The roster is composed of both Israeli players, as well as members of the Jewish diaspora, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). In conjunction with the Israel Lacrosse Tzedakah Program, each player will be competing in honor of a charity of their choosing.
2017 Israel Women’s World Team Roster:
Sarah Andersen
Midfield – Coronado, CA
Tzedakah: Sticks For Kids
Abby Baigelman
Forward – Netanya, Israel
Tzedakah: Israel Cancer Association
Jenna Baverman
Defense – Baltimore, MD
Tzedakah: Lev Lalev
Gabriela Cheban
Defense – Ashkelon, Israel
Tzedakah: Baltimore-Ashkelon
Alison Curwin
Midfield – Pittsford, NY
Tzedakah: Friends of IDF
Kimberly Dubansky
Midfield – Baltimore, MD
Tzedakah: Taglit-Birthright
Alexandra Freedman (Radnor High)
Goal – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Tzedakah: Jewish National Fund
Shirel Fresh
Forward – Ashkelon, Israel
Tzedakah: Baltimore-Ashkelon
Leah Israel
Defense – Bloomfield Hills, MI
Tzedakah: Jewish National Fund
Emma Lazaroff
Forward – Tel Aviv, Israel
Tzedakah: Neve Galim
Megan Lerner
Defense – Lutherville, MD
Tzedakah: Chai Lifeline
Sarah Meisenberg
Defense – Be’er Sheva, Israel
Tzedakah: Ramot Shalom
Courtney Miller
Midfield – Tel Aviv, Israel
Tzedakah: Friends of IDF
Rachel Minarovich
Midfield – Netanya, Israel
Tzedakah: Sharsheret
Blaire Nathanson
Goal – Ashkelon, Israel
Tzedakah: Family Nest Ashkelon
Rachel Ozer
Forward – Moraga, CA
Tzedakah: Ramah Movement
Ali Steinberg
Midfield – Suffern, NY
Tzedakah: Sticks For Kids
Jessi Steinberg
Forward – Suffern, NY
Tzedakah: Israeli Society for Autism
Amanda Tuck
Forward – Ashkelon, Israel
Tzedakah: IsraAID
Jayme Verman
Forward – Ashkelon, Israel
Tzedakah: Israel Guide Dog Center
Lauren Paul Norris
Head Coach
Tzedakah: Lustgarten Foundation
Kate Goldstein
Assistant Coach
Tzedakah: Leket Israel
Halsey Diakow
Assistant Coach / PR
Tzedakah: Friends of IDF
