Day 7 of the FIL tournament will prove to be exciting as a competitive match ensues between New Zealand and Japan.
Last time around, New Zealand finished 15th and Japan finished 4th. This year, the level of play on both sides of this matchup have dramatically increased since the last time we saw them compete.
New Zealand, although not as experienced as Japan and the rest of the blue division in FIL play, have certainly proven themselves to be a top contender. As stated in another one of In Lacrosse We Trust’s articles about the tournament, New Zealand does a pre-game ritualistic dance that is supposed to bring them strength on the field.
There is no denying that the growing success of New Zealand as an entire program is due to the intense bond and unparalleled chemistry between the players. They are a team that capitalizes on the weaknesses of their opponents and looks to improve after every game. Their standouts include John, Mike, and Andrew Clayton, who are consistently scoring for New Zealand, which allows them to slide past their opponents. New Zealand’s stellar offense and somewhat scrappy play give them an edge when competing.
Japan is one of the top teams in FIL play, and one of the most successful in the blue division. They are a disciplined team that works well together and has an incredible talent in terms of overall speed. Japan plays an incredibly fast game, and their offensive skills and speed are going to be used to their advantage against New Zealand. Some Standouts for Japan include Andrew Lay, Mikisuke Sekine, and Wataru Tsugu. These offensive players help keep japan on top in terms of offense, and they’ve been contributing quite a bit since FIL play has started. Japan’s record is 1-4, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t showing up to play a tough match.
It’s going to be exciting to see which team comes out on top once play starts, and to see which one of these contenders utilizes their strengths to overcome their opponent.
The game is set for 12 pm MST on field 10
