The World Championship is over

I am sitting on a train going from Canada into USA. I wanted to have a couple of days before I thought of what we actually gave accomplished in the World Championship. For those who have followed my blog this far knows that Sweden did not win any match, leaving us in the 19th spot. At this time I would however like to look at our World Championship in a more positive way. When I think about what we have achieved it must be positive. Why?
In our team we have ten players that played in the national team for the first time. This despite that our last major event was the European Championship just one year ago. This means that a majority of our players had never played with each other before we set out on this journey. Still in the eight games we played, we scored 36 goals, that is an average of 4,5 goals per game counting all games. The first goal ever to be scored by Sweden in a World Championship was made by Anneli Jonsson. That goal was scored in the game against Haudenosaunee. I repeat, it was scored against Haudenosaunee, the originators of the game. That first goal moment is not coming back.
Our goalie, Pernilla Malmgren has only played as a lacrosse goalie during this year. That is right, last year there was no thought in her mind that she was playing as a lacrosse goalie even in her club team. Yet she made save after save and although not all games went her way, she improved a lot over the tournament. I tried to look at some statistics, but not all games were available. In the ones I did find she made more than 10 saves in every game.
Talking about improvement, I dare to say that all of our players improved a lot even though it was more noticable four our newer players. They will all bring that back home and spread their knowledge to their respective teams. That is what is all about in the end. Bringing the knowledge back to home. Growing the game! With new strength we will do what we can to improve ourselves. That is what it is all about and looking back at the games that is what we will do. So even if we did end up in last place, the Swedish participation in the World Championship was a big success.
I read some Facebook posts earlier from some of the players who have returned home and started to think about their participation in the world championship. There is no sadness and no regret, there is only happiness and pride. I understand them. I am proud of being part of the Swedish national team of Lacrosse. I am proud of represent my country in a World Championship. Every team member make me proud, both the players and the staff. Thank you!

Last game of the tournament

Our last game was against Hong Kong. The fame started out with Hong Kong doing more of the offense and finding holes in the Swedish defense and we were quickly down to 0 - 5. Our offensive play started to improve and soon we had caught up to 2- 5. Sweden was playing the ball in offense when lightning struck nearby and play was interrupted with about 13 minutes to go in the first half. The game was moved indoors and resumed with a quick goal from Sweden. Unfortunately that is as close as we got. Hong Kong started to score the goals and even though our players fought until the end of the game we had to see ourselves beaten.

On the way back we shared bus with Ireland who had their game cancelled. Thanks for helping us keeping our spirits high helping us to remind ourselves what we have achieved in our first World Championship. More on that later....

Last chance for a victory

I have unfortunately missed two of our games due to team matters. We lost our last group game against Hong Kong. After getting reseeded in the lower tier group playing for places 16 - 19 with South Korea, Latvia and Hong Kong. The first game against South Korea yesterday was also lost.
Today we played against Latvia. In the first half both teams made mistakes but Latvia started off by winning more draws and more ground balls than Sweden. It took a while before we had a good attack, but still no goals and Pernilla did what she could in the goal. Latvia came out as the stronger team leading 6 - 0 in half time.
In the second half Sweden's play improved and finally there were some goals. We worked our way into the match. Sweden was the stronger team in the second half, but it was not enough to catch up with Latvia. End result Sweden - Latvia 6 - 10.
Tomorrow Sweden is playing in Hong Kong in the last game for both teams in these World Championship. One last chance to make sure we are not the only team without a win.

Half way through the World Championships

Last Sunday we had an evening game against Japan. I was unable to see all of it myself but I have understood from the team and Eric, our physio in particular, that the team improved in the defense along the match and only let 8 goals in. Japan have impressed many with their group play and have won easily against all of their opponents, so a strong effort from the Swedish team.
Yesterday was the team resting day with no games and we went to Niagara Falls. For many of us it is the first trip to Canada and going to Niagara Falls was spectacular. Many happy faces in the team as we went back.
The last group game is at 16:30 today against Hong Kong. We are battling to avoid the last place in the group. After the group play, Sweden will play in one of two groups for the 13th to 19th place.

Third straight loss

It was yet another loss for us today. Sweden went out as the stronger team and for the first 20 minutes Austria barely made it to their offensive half. Sweden played well and diciplined and whenever we lost the ball on offense, we got it back quickly. The goals kept on coming an Sweden was in the lead 4 - 0. When Austria went up in offense they still could not overcome the final obstacle, Pernilla in the Swedish goal. She made save after save until eventually Austria scored their first goal after a little over 20 minutes.

At that point the game turned around. Austria stepped up while Sweden fell behind. The secureness in play was now gone and Austria started to score goal after goal until they had taken the lead with 5 - 4 only a few seconds before half time.

Unfortunately the second half did not continue any better than the end of the first and Sweden never got back into the game. Final score Sweden - Austria 5 - 12.

Tomorrow evening Sweden will play against Japan, a game expected to be much tougher for us.

Loss against Finland

The second day at the World Champions was also a tough day for Sweden. Finland started off as the better team and quickly scored the first goals. Sweden managed to score a few as well and by half time Finland was up only by four goals. The defense play was ok, but Sweden did not manage to hold the ball for long in attack. Finland won more ground balls and more draws than Sweden.

In the second half Sweden did not get into the game and Finland scored a couple of goals quickly. In the end there was many Swedish players that improved individually, but as a team Sweden did not get into the game. End result 11 - 4.

Tomorrow Sweden will be playing Austria, who lost 23 - 2 against Japan.

Tough first game day at the World Championship

The first game day for Sweden was a tough one. It was somewhat expected when a team like Sweden, in their first World Championship, went up against a team like Haudenosaunee.

In the beginning Swedish defenses where not holding up and Haudenosaunee came through quite easy and scored goal after goal without Sweden having much posession at all. After eight goals and thirteen played minutes, the Swedish coaches took a time out. A talkthrough with the coach seems to be just what the Swedish needed because with renewed strength and after a good run by Anneli Jonsson, she ended up in a good shooting position. This was an opportunity she could not miss an Anneli was the first scorer ever for Sweden in a World Championship.

The goal was followed by a couple of minutes with Sweden in offense, but unfortunately no goals. Instead Haudenosaunee did a few quick goals and Sweden fell even further behind. Score after the first half was 17 - 1.

Haudenosaunee kept on wearing the Swedish team down in the second half and one more shot at goal was as close Sweden got to score one more goal. It was only in the last thirteen minutes when Haudenosaunee changed their plays that it calmed down. Only two goals scored by Haudenosaunee in tjose last thirteen minutes. Final score 28 - 1. Total number of shots 43 - 2.

Tomorrow at the same time Sweden will play Finland, a game expected to be much more even.