Lacrosse / Women's World Cup / Israelis Still Undefeated After Topping Hong Kong

OSHAWA, Canada − The playoff-bound Israeli women’s national lacrosse team outmatched Hong Kong, 19-4, at Oshawa Civic Recreation Complex on Sunday.

The win sets the stage for a showdown between Israel ‏(4-0‏) and Japan ‏(4-0‏) on Wednesday at 11:30 A.M. The winner will be seeded sixth in the 12-team playoff bracket.

Top division teams USA ‏(3-0‏) and Canada ‏(3-0‏) are the other two undefeated squads remaining in the FIL 2013 Women’s World Cup. They meet on Tuesday at 8 P.M. with the winner securing the top playoff seed.

Israel took command of the Hong Kong match early, as Jenna Block powered the offense in the opening minutes. Block fed from behind the goal to earn four quick assists as Israel built a 5-0 lead. She finished with two goals and four assists to earn Player of the Match honors.

Kim Dubansky ‏(four goals‏), Lauren Dykstra ‏(four goals‏), Ali Curwin ‏(three goals, one assist‏), Amanda Schwab ‏(two goals, one assist‏), Ifat Ribon ‏(two goals‏), Nicole Sawdaye ‏(one goal, one assist‏), Nikki Avershal ‏(one goal‏) and Sarah Meisenberg ‏(four assists‏) rounded out the scoring.

Julia Szafman ‏(60:00, 4 saves, 4 GA‏) earned the win in goal.

Through four games, Szafman and the Israel defense has conceded just 18 goals, good for second best in the World Cup ‏(Japan has allowed just 15 goals in four games‏).

Keiko Muramatsu ‏(three goals‏), Allison Lee ‏(one goal‏) and Ka Hei Lorrie ‏(one assist‏) led Hong Kong in scoring. Chung Shi Lo ‏(60:00, 4 saves, 19 GA‏) was credited the loss in goal.

The 12-team World Cup playoffs begin tomorrow, July 17th; Israel’s final “crossover” game against Japan tomorrow will determine their playoff seed ‏(6th through 8th‏).

USA, Australia, Canada, England and Wales automatically are seeded 1st through 5th; the top four teams receive byes to Thursday’s quarterfinals.