Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/15/16
From Press Release
The Israel women’s national team – featuring goalie Alex Freedman (Radnor/Middlebury College) – improved to 2-0 at the FIL World Cup with a 16-8 win over Czech Republic on Friday.
The game was tight until the final 20 minutes, when the Israelis went on a 7-1 run to break open a decisive lead. The Czechs, who are ranked 7th in Europe, led 4-3 in the first half and were as close as 9-7 in the second half.
Jessi Steinberg led the blue-and-white with six goals and four assists, while Ali Steinberg (three goals, one assist) and Courtney Miller (three goals, one assist) also had big days. Rachel Ozer (two goals, one assist), Alison Curwin (one goal, one assist) and Kim Dubansky (one goal) also cracked the scoresheet.
Freedman (30:00, 4 saves, 4 GA) and Blaire Nathanson (30:00, 0 saves, 4 GA) split time in goal; Nathanson was credited the win.
On Thursday, Israel jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back in their opening match of the tourney, topping 14th-ranked Netherlands, 17-3.
Steinberg scored her first of six goals to open the scoring just 46 seconds into the game; she added two assists. Curwin (three goals, one assist), Dubansky (two goals, two assists), Jayme Verman (one goal, three assists), Emma Lazaroff (two goals) and Steinberg (two goals) also had big days for the blue-and-white. Ozer scored once.
Nathanson (30:00, 2 saves, 1 GA) and Freedman (30:00, 1 save, 2 GA) split time in goal; Nathanson was credited the win.
Israel (2-0) takes on China (0-1) on Sunday at 2:00 PM local / 4:00 PM Israel / 9:00 AM ET.
The blue-and-white must go undefeated in their group to advance to the 10-team playoff bracket.
Schedule/Results
Thu, Jul 13 – Israel 17, Netherlands 3
Fri, Jul 14 – Israel 16, Czech Republic 8
Sun, Jul 16 at 2:00 PM – Israel vs. China
Mon, Jul 17 at 3:00 PM – Israel vs. Belgium
*Playoffs begin on July 18th