Photo Credit: Larry Palumbo
COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO — Ari Sussman scored five goals and one assist to lead the Israel men’s national team past 10th-ranked Sweden, 19-4, to open the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships on Friday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Sussman scored Israel’s first-ever goal in the World Championship just 42 seconds in, and the blue-and-white never trailed, jumping out to an enormous 13-0 lead before Mattias Eklund finally but Sweden on the board with 4:16 remaining in the first half.
Eleven different Israelis scored goals, with Matthew Cherry (three goals, one assist), Jacob Silberlicht (two goals, one assist) Noach Miller (one goal, three assists), Daniel Leventhal (two goals), Kyle Bergman (one goal, two assists), Cody Levine (one goal, one assist), Benjamin Smith (one goal), Casey Cittadino (one goal), Lee Coppersmith (one goal) and Matthew Flapan (one goal) joining Sussman on the scoresheet.
Hank Altschuler (40:00, 2 saves, 1 GA) and Reuven Dressler (40:00, 6 saves, 3 GA) split time in goal; Altschuler was credited the win.
Sten Jernudd led Sweden with two goals, while Kevin Powers and Eklund scored one goal apiece. Johnny Axelsson and Sanny Falk each had one assist.
Jonathan Andreassen (80:00, 9 saves, 19 GA) was dealt the loss in goal.
Israel (1-0) continues its’ World Championship campaign against 17th-ranked Slovakia (1-0) on Saturday at 8:35 PM.
Additional caps: Richard Cheifitz, Adam Crystal, Michael Grosz, Yochanan Katz, Seth Mahler, Mathew Markman, Cole McCormack, Eytan Saperstein.
