A couple of weeks ago, recent Muhlenberg graduate Jessica Shegoski wrote about the first half of her lacrosse trip to Europe and Israel, in which she helped Israel win the championship at the European Lacrosse Festival in Amsterdam.

Here is her report on the second half of the trip, which involved a series of clinics designed to introduce the sport of lacrosse to Israelis – as well as plenty of sightseeing.

July 1

Woke up this morning to another glorious, I mean FULL day of traveling. The team was split up on a couple different flights to either head home to the states, head home to Israel, or like me head to Israel to coach and play.

The first leg of our flight was Amsterdam to Bucharest (Romania). The airport was small in terms of United States standards. We had to deplane by walking down a set of stairs to a bus that took us to the terminal and had to take a similar bus back out to the tarmac for our flight to Tel Aviv. We got to Tel Aviv around 8:30 at night and caught a cab to our hostel to meet the two other teammates who had arrived ahead of us. The four of us hung out and walked the beach until everyone else who was staying at the hostel arrived around 2:00 am.

Since everyone felt gross from traveling all day, we all decided the smartest decision was to throw on bathing suits and jump into the ocean at 2:30 in the morning.

July 2

We had no clinics or games planned for today so everyone took complete advantage of being right on the beach. By 11:00 am everyone who was staying in the hostel [was] on the beach, and none of us left the beach for the rest of the day (except perhaps to grab food and more water). 

July 3

This morning there was a clinic south of Tel Aviv, and after coaching we all hung out on the beach. As we were sitting on the beach we all decided that we wanted to be All-American (literally) for the next day (July 4), so the girls headed to find clothing to wear and a special piece of clothing for the boys.

July 4 (Happy Independence Day America)

Clinic #2, this time in Netanya with a group of low-income and at-risk kids who were initially more interested in the soccer ball someone had instead of lacrosse. It was funny how sassy some of the little girls were, but they were very fun to teach and work with.  

Once the clinic ended it was off to the beach for us, the girls sporting their newly acquired American flag bikinis and the guys in their lovely American flag swimsuits.

July 5

Clinic #3 – This time we traveled to Kraft Stadium in Jerusalem to coach. This was the first clinic where the majority of the kids attending did speak English, which made coaching a little bit easier. After coaching all morning we were given the day to explore Jerusalem (where the majority of us had previously been on other trips).  

We headed towards the Jaffa Gate into the Old City and made our way to the Western Wall, where we placed our notes into the ancient cracks in the wall. (It is Jewish tradition to write a prayer or note on a small slip of paper and then deposit it in the cracks of the wall.)

After exploring most of the afternoon, we made our way back to Kraft Stadium (yes the same Krafts of Patriots football fame) to get changed for our games. The two men’s club teams (Jerusalem and Tel Aviv) played three games, and the women’s team had exhibition intrasquad games in between the men’s games. As the men’s third game was winding down, some of the women’s team joked that we wanted to play with them too and threw on full pads and tried to sneak our way onto the field. But it didn’t work.

July 6

Woke up early to get on the bus for our team retreat up north. Thank you to the UJA Federation of New York for sponsoring the retreat. Both the Americans and the Israelis boarded our coach bus early in the morning to begin our drive to Caesarea, a city built by Herod the Great that served as the capital when Palestine was under Roman control and was used through the time of the Crusades as a major port. After touring the ruins we got back on the bus to head to the northern port city of Haifa, where we quickly ate lunch and then went to the Bahi Gardens (the hanging gardens of Haifa), which house the shrine of the Bab. The gardens were beautiful and so amazingly well manicured.

Then it was off to the city of Akko, which is across the bay from Haifa and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.  After exploring Akko and all its back alleys and markets, we got back on the bus to drive to the kibbutz that we were staying at for the weekend. The guesthouse at Kibbutz Nof Ginnossar was basically a hotel and we were right on the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee, Israel’s largest freshwater lake). The guesthouse and the Kinneret are located in a valley, and because of this we were able to sit on the shoreline and watch the moon rise up and over the mountains.

July 7

Another early morning to explore more of northern Israel; our first stop was the Golan Heights. We all piled into Jeep Wranglers with extended beds and started our off-roading trip up the mountains that surround the fertile valleys of the Golan. While you drive through the Golan you experience something that you don’t encounter in the States: Barbed wire surrounds areas that are marked with signs that read “Caution: Mines.” This is because the area was disputed between Israel and Syria and is scattered with still-live mines and bombed-out bunkers.

After off-roading we headed to a kibbutz that I had visited on my previous trip to Israel. [Then] we headed to Mt. Bental, which holds a bunker that looks out on Damascus and to this day can be mobilized in the case of a threat.

After being outside in the heat all day we headed to the Majrasa part of the Jordan River and rafted down it.

July 8

Another early morning. We checked out of the guesthouse and headed to Karmiel to coach a bunch of clinics at a large summer camp. Watching the kids’ faces light up when they catch their first pass or learn how to cradle is well worth it.

We played a mock game of lacrosse, where the guys and girls mixed teams and played with modified girls’ rules. Some of the girls we had coached began a cheerleading section, which only egged us on to try moves that were a little silly but got the girls to laugh and smile. After playing some of the kids wanted autographs and hugs, which was a cool feeling.

After coaching we headed to Wingate, an IDF (Israel Defense Force) base. This base is Israel’s National Center for Physical Education and Sport and is the national training center for Israel’s Olympic team. While there we watched a combat solider go through a practice street-clearing drill with a semi-automatic weapon. We then went to the obstacle course that every solider has to pass during basic training. Some of us tried about half of the course but stopped when we were told we had to crawl through the sandy, rocky dirt, because we weren’t in pants.

July 9

Another clinic day, and this time only four or five people went, so the rest of us took advantage of the day and spent it on the beach.

July 10

Woke up to another beautiful day in Tel Aviv, and the girls decided that because it was a Tuesday we were going to head toward the shuk for the artists’ fair. The handmade goods that the artists made were beautiful. I believe everyone bought something as a reminder of this trip to Israel and the experience. After a successful time in the shuk, we went to Netanya to coach another clinic that afternoon.

July 11

Early wakeup call to drive to southern Tel Aviv to coach (this is my last clinic in Israel because I fly out at 5:00 am tomorrow).  The kids at this clinic spoke a good amount of English, which made it a little bit easier to coach. One of the girls thought it was funny to run up to us while coaching, tickle us and then run away giggling.

After coaching we all headed down to the beach until we had to get ready for our games later that day in northern Tel Aviv. At the games we had a huge group of people watching us, and there were even a couple of reporters there, which made us all happy because it meant that the sport and the program were gaining recognition in Israel. The men were playing for the Zimmerman Cup for the second year in Israel and the women held an exhibition intrasquad game in between the men’s games.

After everyone finished playing we finished up by celebrating and filming the last bit of footage for our “Call Me Maybe” video. 

July 27

I’ve been home for about two weeks now, and I still cannot believe that my time in Europe and Israel has come to an end. Being able to represent a nation that I have always been connected to and being able to teach a sport that I love to children was incredibly fulfilling.

The hope is to continue to build the program from the bottom up in Israel so that the two men’s club teams continue to grow (and more teams are added) and that it becomes a sport that is recognized and played throughout the country. Fingers crossed Israel will have a women’s team representing them in 2013 at the World Cup in Canada and a men’s team representing them in 2014 at the World Championship in Colorado.

The program is still in its infancy and can use all the help it can get. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated to help build the program and to help grow the sport of lacrosse internationally. Thank you in advance for all of your help to get me to reach my goal of furthering the sport.

Any and all donations can be sent to the below address, and in the notes section of the check please write Jessica Shegoski.

• Israel Lacrosse
• c/o Howard Borkan PC
• 1501 Broadway, 21st Floor
• New York, NY  10036

Recent Muhlenberg gradute Jessica Shegoski, who played four years of lacrosse with the Mules, reports on her experiences as a member of the Israel National Women’s Lacrosse Team at the 2012 European Festival in Amsterdam.

June 22

Today’s the day; time to represent Israel on the international level as a member of the first-ever Israel National Women’s Lacrosse Team. 

On the way to Newark Airport my dad missed the exit off of 287 onto the Turnpike, which should have been a red light to me that it would be a long day of travel. We boarded the plane, and once boarding ended, a thunderstorm that had been threatening all day began. What was supposed to be a 6:15pm flight to Amsterdam turned into an 11pm-ish flight. Supposedly a bolt of lightning hit the ground near the plane and took out an electrical mechanism in the belly of the plane. Unfortunately the closest replacement part was at JFK, and that was driven to Newark at rush hour on a Friday night (not the easiest thing to do).

I ended up sleeping the entire plane ride into Amsterdam and arrived mid-morning on June 23.

June 23

Finally arrived in Amsterdam ready to lax it up for the next week or so.

After such terrible luck on my flight into Amsterdam, my luck turned around in the airport. I was waiting for my ride to get to our accommodations (the Amsterdam Bos), and someone walked up to me and asked if I was with Israel Lacrosse because he saw my stick bag. Turns out he was one of the men’s festival team coaches and coaches full time at Kean University in New Jersey, so I didn’t have to wait alone. 

A couple minutes later our ride arrived and it was off to the Bos. When I arrived at my cabin none of the other girls were at the campsite (yes we stayed at a campsite, think sleepaway camp but with all adults … see photos for accommodations); some who had arrived earlier in the day had gone into Amsterdam while others were still on their way. I ended up going grocery shopping with some of the guys and hanging around until the other girls showed up.

Once all the girls got back in from town and flights it was time for the best part of the day, getting out swag (hello new stick, uniforms, warmups, etc.). We also did introductions; the team is made up of an amazing group of females.

• Liz: ex-George Washington player from the Baltimore area (roommate)
• Sarah (aka Ha): ex-Franklin and Marshall basketball and lacrosse player (roommate)
• Steph: NYU grad and Israeli army personnel (roommate)
• Carrie: Yale grad and Israeli army personnel (roommate)
• Andi: Bahamas native who got to Israel via England and Hotlanta
• Caitlin: ex-Tufts player from Massachusetts
• Alyson: ex-Hopkins player, sister of Caitlin
• Molly: ex-Columbia player, oldest sister to Caitlin and Al
• Mia: current American player from Beth Tflioh
• Miri: current Chapman player from Cali
• Alicia: current med student in Israel
• Tash: current master’s student in Israel from England
• Sarah: ex-Yale player from the mainline area
• Rachael: currently an Israeli (whose goal is to make the entire team move to Israel)
• Felissa: the baby of the team, current high school player from Pittsburgh who will be playing at Stanford
• Taylor: current Wheaton College (Mass.) player
• Jenna: ex-Yale player from Baltimore area
• Kim (Dubs): ex-Hopkins player who went to high school with Jenna
• Coaches: Bonnie Rosen (Temple) and Peter Freidensohn

June 24

Woke up with Liz and Sarah to a cold and rainy day (not the ideal practice weather but pretty normal for those of us lucky enough to play a spring sport in the Lehigh Valley). After complaining about how much we didn’t want to get wet or cold we all sucked it up, ate breakfast, and met the rest of the team to drive over to the practice fields.

After a solid and yes cold, wet practice the team headed to the men’s game against Norway, then it was back to the Bos, or da Bos as it became termed, to get warm and clean up for the huge program-wide dinner that we had that night.

I cannot begin to describe how amazing it feels to be part of an organization like Israel Lacrosse and to know that we are the pioneers for the many national teams to come. As an organization, we ended up cramming three teams worth of players plus coaches, trainers and supporters into a pub near the practice fields and had a fun dinner.

June 25

First day of games and we won out, which is amazing for a first-year program in the Festival Tournament, putting the team on a mental high going into the rest of the week.

June 26

Another full day of game play in Amsterdam. The team is gelling really well together. We lost one game today and knowing my luck we did so by only one goal, which only made me think about Muhlenberg and my girls on the team.

Tonight the women’s team went out for a team dinner at one of the local pubs. Some of us ordered dinner like little kids and got chicken nuggets and fries, while others were more adventurous and ordered the special, which was a locally caught fish.

June 27

Three more games today (all wins). After a great day of lax the team rushed home to da Bos to get showered and be tourists in Amsterdam. After a quick wardrobe change we all drove into Amsterdam together to explore the Anne Frank house (a historic point that was number one on almost every team member’s list).

The physical house and the rooms that the Frank family and their friends lived in were much more spacious then I had imagined. One of the things that I found interesting about the house was that when Otto Frank (Anne’s father) was consulted about turning it into a historical site, he was adamant about not setting the rooms up as they were, so the rooms are empty other than some TV screens running footage of friends and family speaking. There is a small diorama model that shows the setup of the full apartments, though.

After exploring the Anne Frank house the team went into Rembrandt Square to grab food prior to going to the European Premiere of the movie Crooked Arrows.

June 28

Last two games of the tournament to decide where we would be placed for the finals round. Luckily for us, we finished out the day and went in placed second for the festival tournament, which basically solidified our place in the championship game the next day.

Since we only had two games we had a lot more free time during the afternoon and at night. After our games, we split into smaller groups, dropped all of our gear in one of the cars and made our way to the bus station. I guess it was our lucky day on the bus because none of us had to pay our fare into Amsterdam. Turns out it was the bus driver’s birthday and he was giving away some free rides, or maybe our team was just too overwhelming ha ha.

Our first stop in Amsterdam was food and being that we are the Israeli team, of course, we all walked into a felafel place and satisfied our hunger. Once that was fixed we wandered toward the Palace to check it out. It was a beautiful structure that overlooked a larger central square.

We then wandered our way through a farmer’s/flea market that had beautiful flowers and food of every color. We continued to wander in the direction of the Jewish Quarter in Amsterdam and found the Jewish History Museum and one of the Portuguese synagogues. Then it was off to the famous red light district just to say that we had been there – it was interesting to say the least.

 June 29

Championship Day!!! Both of Israel’s festival teams were in the championship game today against Global Players. The men’s and women’s championship games were at the same time so unfortunately we couldn’t watch each other and cheer each other on, but it must have worked to the Israel Lacrosse program’s advantage because both teams won their respective tournaments!!

The men’s team won in regulation but we went into overtime. At first the refs told our coaches that there would be no overtime or decision and we would have to share the title (something that neither team wanted). To rectify this we went into a three-minute golden goal overtime, then if no one scored in those three minutes we would go into Braveheart to decide who won. For those of you who don’t know, Braveheart is a full-field one-v-one with goalies in cage.

Lucky for us, after having the ball in our defensive end we won it back and the baby of the team (Felissa) took a beautiful shot that went straight into the back of the net. At first I just stood on the field, not sure how to react (I was in shock), then I started running to the goalie (Liz) tearing up and the entire team ran together to celebrate.

action photos by Larry Palumbo, courtesy Israel Lacrosse

In Part 2, Jessica will write about her subsequent trip to Israel …