[ltr]So, what happened Wednesday?
All of the days games were played in a stiff wind, and temperatures Israeli's are used to only in winter. At least the rain was never more than a drizzle.
U17 started the day against France, and took the first point. The two teams traded down wind goals until the French finally broke and scored upwind. Team Israel played tough zone-D and fought hard, but couldn't manage to break the French. Elad had 3 assists and 2 goals and Roy had 2 assists in the 9-7 loss.
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1095The German U17 team was strong putting up 4 before Team Israel could get a goal in. When the cap was set after the Germans went up 13-2, all seemed lost, but our boys refused to give up at all. They put in 4 goals in a row and 'won' the end of the game 5-2. It ended 15-7, with both Elad and Roy having one assist and two goals. Everyone came to dinner talking about the Israeli comeback... Next time we'll come all the way back!
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1080While the U17 boys were playing the French, the Girls were also playing France on a different field. Team Israel jumped, hopped, and skipped to a quick 9-0 halftime score. Everything was flowing together nicely. France showed us their fight in the second half. They took the first point of the second half and alternated scoring down wind until it was 13-5. After a time out to regroup a bit, our Israeli Defense (A hybrid zone, for those keeping track at home) forced a French miscue that Hemo caught in the end-zone for a Callahan. Israel never gave up another score, finishing the game at 17-5. Rachael and Hemo both had 6 assists and 2 goals, while Hannah and Yael had 5 and 3 goals respectively.
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1069In the afternoon, the Israeli girls played the U17 Finnish team. Like yesterday's game against the German U17 team, this one wasn't for the standings, but no one took it lightly, especially after Finland took the first point. Team Israel scored in chunks of three, taking the half at 6-2. The first half was highlighted by a 25 minute point that Finland eventually won. Even after we went up 12-3 nearing the end of the game, the plucky Finns refused to give up taking two points back before Team Israel was able to close it out at 14-5. Yael Nahum had 4 goals, and Hemo and Talia had 5 and 4 assists respectively. But Noy took the game with 6 points, 2 assists and 4 goals.
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1123Our U20 team opened the day against a very large and intimidating Swedish team. The game was very physical and aggressive with a lot of foul calls by both sides. The scoring was very back and forth in the first half with each team breaking the other and scoring down wind once. In the second half the Swedes were able to take two upwind points, which are essentially worth two if you look at upwind and downwind pairs. (Each team scoring upwind cancels each other out, but taking one down wind point gives you a +2 advantage in the pair.) In the end, there just wasn't enough time to come back, and Sweden took the game 13-10. Ofek Agmon (3 assists, 4 goals) and Nadav (5 assists, 2 goals) led the scoring.
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1032A team made up of players mostly from Germany and Belarus, with some Czech, Italian, Lithuanian and Irish mixed in for good measure faced Israel U20. Team Israel was in control from the beginning, our teamwork was too much for them to handle. Yuvkis, Nadav, and Ofek Agmon were pumping out the assists with 11 different players scoring goals in the 17-6 win. Those of you who go over the stats as obsessively as me might notice some odd things. Kessel was written up on the game sheet, but is out for the tournament with a broken bone in his wrist. Eran was credited with an assist, even though he has been on the side line with a cast on his foot for the past two days. It turns out that Shuker was wearing Eran's shirt on the field. It was either a shout out to his injured teammate, or he forgot to bring his white shirt to the field... Lets give him the benefit of the doubt.
http://eyuc2011.frisbee.pl/?view=gameplay&Game=1033Tomorrow, Israel U20 plays only one game, against France. If they can beat the undefeated French, and with some help, Team Israel has a shot at the quarter finals. Otherwise, it's a fight for 9th place, out of 13.
The U17 team plays Sweden and Italy tomorrow, who also play each other. With two wins and some help, there is a chance of making the semifinals. Otherwise, it's pool play for 5th, 6th and 7th. (most likely against Sweden and Italy)
The Girls play an unbeaten Italy tomorrow morning. Unless something crazy happens that I can't think of, the Girls will have an afternoon quarter final game. Because we are playing as a 'tyro' team, and are not eligible for the semifinals, even if we win we will be dropped down to the 5-6 game.
That's all for now, I'm being called to a Team Israel ice cream party. Tomorrow when the pools are settled, we will have a better sense of stats and potential rankings. Until then...
Go Teams Israel!!!
Abe[/ltr]