Another day down, and another day of Ultimate is in the books.
The Junior Open team finished off their pool play against Japan this afternoon. A tight back and forth first half was filled with numerous long points and tough D. Towards the end of the half Max went down with a hamstring injury, putting a damper on proceedings and Japan took the half at 6-5. Team Israel was exhausted from the first half and couldn't match the Japanese energy during a 5 point run. The boys in Blue and White fought back, but couldn't catch up. 15-9 to the Japanese, and it looks like Max might be out for a while. We are going to re-evaluate his leg in the morning.
Despite the tough loss, Israel finished the group 3rd sending them up to Power Pool F. In this pool, and it's partner Power Pool E, the top four of six move on to quarter finals. The two losses, against Columbia and Japan count here too, but games against Sweden and Canada tomorrow and Britain on Thursday give Israel a real chance to continue on. In the overall division table, Israel is sitting in a 6 way tie for 8th place, just above their initial 13 seed. (How can 8th be just a hair above 13th? Think about it some more, and maybe I'll revisit if it's still not clear)
The U17's lone game of the day also finished their pool play. A kick ass zone D kept Great Britain in check during the first half. Israel took the half 8-1, but GB had re-focused and the second half was a hotly contested and even affair. Not enough to over come the first half, and Israel took the game 15-9 to finish 2nd in the group.
Now in Power Pool C, Israel has to play the top two teams from the other pool, France tomorrow and Germany on Wednesday. The top two teams (The fourth being the Italian team that finished first in our pool) move on to a semifinal with the winners of a crossover between the bottom two in this group and the top two in the placement pool. It's complicated, but it makes sure everyone gets a good number of games and answers the question of how to find a winner out of 9 teams. Israel is currently in 4th in the overall division standing, one spot under their initial seed.
The Junior Women opened Day 2 with a match-up against an Austrian U17 team. After yesterdays tough games against two top teams, the girls were a little down on themselves and let the Austrians jump out to an early lead. Frustration built on frustration, and nothing seemed to be working. Austria's D was smothering, not letting anything go up field. The 12-4 loss left the girls with a lot of long faces and bowed heads.
They regrouped, reset, and after a little confusion found the field for the much anticipated rematch with a British team we've developed a rivalry with over the past two years. At the World Championships in Germany two years ago, the 13th place game was a battle between these same two teams. It ended 14-13 to GB with both sides wanting a rematch. At last years European Championships GB and Israel met in their opening game, only to see GB blow the game open early. All season, Team Israel's veterans have been looking forward to a rematch with the Brits, and when the pools were announced, no one was more excited by this match up then them.
After the hype, the game opened with each team trading a couple points. After the initial realization that we were actually in this game, we let GB get back the lead, but then surged ahead again. With just a point to half at 8-6, GB turned on the jets and took half 9-8. Down, but not out, the girls made the adjustments and re-focused on what was at hand. The second half was more back and forth, with just a bit more forth than back, leading up to an exciting game point. 14-12 Israel, game to 15 and GB scored. Israel took the pull and moved up field. Roni, one of our first year players who has really stepped up during the tournament, (Really, they've all stepped up their game, but right now I'm plugging Roni) stumbled during a catch near the end zone and landed awkwardly on her leg. With the disc securely in her hand, but not getting up, other players and coaches called injury and stopped play. Roni slowly got up, and worked her leg a little making sure it all worked. Everyone was asking her if she wanted to come off, or if she was ok, when one of the GB players pointed out that she had to come out. (An injury call not resulting from contact with an opponent requires the injured player to sub out.) Roni literally stood their hugging the disc, not wanting to come out. With all of our hearts breaking for her, who would want to come out with the disc in their had mere feet from a winning goal, we were able to get her to relent. Chemo, who all year has been talking about wanting to beat GB in a well fought game, came in to replace her and promptly threw the game winning score. Pandemonium ensued.
The post game team meeting was emotional, as you might imagine after such an intense game. The players were reminded of what winning feels like, and the coaches were relived that the players would be able to go home with at least something. The transformation in the team over the past two days has been really great to see. Over the past days we've seen them learn and grow within the game at an amazing pace. Today they were picking up new strategies put out there by the coaches at an amazing speed. Keeping up this new-found confidence will bring about much future success.
Tomorrow morning the Israeli Women take on Russia in the final Pool game. If the other pool games (specifically GB-Australia) play out as expected, Israel should finish 3rd in the group with a win. 3rd place leads to a crossover game later in the afternoon for the right to play in the quarter finals. Anything else and it's placements games the rest of the way. Israel is in a 7-way tie for 9th in the overall division table, like the boys right around their initial seeding.
For those wondering where the stats are, the tournament isn't recording goals and assists this year, and isn't posting game reports at all. So this is what we have.
For those who like their ultimate highlights and recaps in video form, check out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31XLgUApGJwThere is a special prize on the table for anyone who can spot the Israeli Women's highlight posted by the same user. I'll give you a hint: Israel isn't in the title of the video, and most of what you see is your intrepid reporter standing on the sidelines.
Don't forget to check out twitter (@israelultimate) for real time updates, humor, witty banter, and non-sequiturs.
See you tomorrow.
Abe