World Lacrosse Championships 5- Everything Thread

[Newmanistan]

The 20 nations which are participating in WLC5 are: (if you are not on this list, you missed the signup deadline)

1) Newmanistan
2) Delaclava
3) Sarzonia
4) Taeshan
5) Oreington Canada
6) Cassadaigua
7) Dancougar
8) Quintessence of Dust
9) Iglesian Archipelago
10) Secristan
11) Jaxandria
12) Albundania
13) Lanceo
14) Warner Channel
15) Tocrowkia
16) Steroga
17) Lovisa
18) Graziland
19) Tatuape
20) Qazox

Group Draw in about 12 hours.
Matchday 1 will be On Tuesday, August 4th. Cutoff times should be anticipated around 10am Eastern US Time. A full schedule will be posted with the group draw.

You may begin posting rosters and roleplaying now. List a style modifier between + and - 3, and basic RP permissions for your opponent. You will play your groupmates once at home and once on the road and there will be four groups of five, in which the top two teams in each group will advance to the playoffs, so declare your home stadium(s) as well.

Note: The World Lacrosse Championships is outdoor, not indoor lacrosse.

[Newmanistan]

The Official Group Draw:

Pot 1: Secristan, Sarzonia, Newmanistan, Dancougar
Pot 2: Cassadaigua, Taeshan, Tocrowkia, Lovisa
Pot 3: Qazox, Quintessence of Dust, (Newbies then start) Albundania, Delaclava
Pot 4: Graziland, Iglesian Archipelago, Jaxandria, Lanceo
Post 5: Oreington Canada, Steroga, Tataupe, Warner Channel

Group A:
Dancougar
Cassadaigua
Delaclava
Graziland
Warner Channel

Group B:
Newmanistan
Tocrowkia
Quintessence of Dust
Iglesian Archipelago
Oreington Canada

Group C:
Sarzonia
Lovisa
Qazox
Lanceo
Steroga

Group D:
Secristan
Taeshan
Albundania
Jaxandia
Tataupe

Top two teams per group advance to Newmanistan for playoffs.
Tiebreakers: H2H amongst tied teams, GD amongst tied teams, GF amongst tied teams, overall GD, overall GF, tiebreaker game

Schedule: (Home Team on Left)
MD1: (Aug 4)- 3 v 2, 4 v 5 Bye: 1
MD2: (Aug 5)- 1 v 3, 5 v 2 Bye: 4
MD3: (Aug 6)- 4 v 1, 5 v 3 Bye: 2
MD4: (Aug 7)- 2 v 1, 3 v 4 Bye: 5
MD5: (Aug 9)*- 1 v 5, 2 v 4 Bye: 3
MD6: (Aug 10)- 2 v 3, 5 v 4 Bye: 1
MD7: (Aug 11)- 3 v 1, 2 v 5 Bye: 4
MD8: (Aug 12)- 1 v 4, 3 v 5 Bye: 2
MD9: (Aug 13)- 1 v 2, 4 v 3 Bye: 5
MD10: (Aug 14)- 5 v 1, 4 v 2 Bye: 3

*- I will be gone most of the day on the 8th, so everyone gets it off.

Quarterfinals (Aug. 16)
Semifinals (Aug. 17)
Third Place AND Championship (Aug. 18)

[Qazox]

Qazox Quails Roster:
(Bold are starters)

Nelson Justesen GK
Hugh Steffy L Def.
Cody Engram C Def.
Jessie LaConte R Def.
Matthew Reames L Mid.
Matthew Halls C Mid.
Kurt Fijoira R Mid.
Jamie Breck L Forw.
Clinton Tsui C Forw.
Javier Coscia R Forw.

BENCH
Cody Philipps GK
Javier A'bouto DEF
Darryl Cappelli MID
Jessie Hannum FOR
Christian Clark Utility

RP Permissions:
(Style: 0)
Do whatever you want, excpet for injuries and GODMODDING scoring events.

Home stadium: NONE (asks to have all Home games in Newmanistan)

[Secristan]

THE DEFENDING CHAMPION SECRISTAN MILLIONAIRES

Those mildly familiar with us in the competitions that we have taken part in to date probably know that Secristan does not choose its team by talent, but instead awards positions to the highest bidders (meeting criteria, of course). In lacrosse, this is not the case. The players in which Secristan is sending to the World Lacrosse Championships are indeed the best, and most talented players in the country.

Modifier: +1.3

If my opponent RPs first, they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmode scoring events: Y
RP injuries: Y in only saying they are hurt
Godmode injuries: N
Eject/Penalize players: Y
Godmode "other" events: N

Home Stadium: Monopoly Stadium in Amherst

Coach: Steve Cameron, 49, East Penthoria Marlins
– Cameron likes to emphasize speed in all components in of the game. On the national team, the attackers will be the quickest, but even the middies and defense run very well. So while the Millionaires will be explosive, they will be better defensively then you may think.

STARTING LINEUP:

GK: Patrick Kearney, 25, Bridgefield Warlords

LD: Mark Keating, 33, Key South Islanders

CD: Steve Traulsen, 34, Homestead Sailors

RD: Jack Benjamin, 33, East Penthoria Marlins

LM: Shane Ellis, 30, Manchester Panthers

CM: Scott Pierce, 20, Amherst Tycoons

RM: Tim Pozniak, 29, Bridgefield Warlords

LA: John Dineen, 32, Stockton Firebirds
– Dineen has the hardest shot on the team, and perhaps in the entire tournament, once clocked at around 103 MPH. This will make him absolutely deadly, and even scary playing besides the finesse playmaker Scott Cushman. You will see these two hook up quite a bit. Not only does he have the shot, and he is frighteningly (for everyone else) accurate with it.

CA: Scott Cushman, 29, Manchester Panthers (Team Captain)
– Just an absolute delight to watch. The things that this man can do while carrying a stick are absolutely mind-boggling. He always knows where his teammates are, and passes with such precision. Scott also does a terrific job in confusing the other team, because they never know which teammate he is going to pass too. And to boot, he’s also very good defensively. MVP of WLC4. Trash-talker.

RA: Tom Sutterby, 30, Kleric City Mustangs
– Sutterby is more like Dineen then Cushman in that he had a blistering hard shot that also gets into the triple digits. But he is also a playmaker himself, so look for a ton of creative type passes between Sutterby and Cushman.

BENCH
G- John Printzky, 34, Stockton Firebirds
D- Adam Watanabe, 23, Amherst Tycoons
D- Robert Petrie, 22, Amherst Tycoons
M - Aaron Proctor, 25, East Penthoria Marlins
M - Mike Vincelli, 29, Cloverfield Hurricanes
A- Eric Hopkins, 28, Lakeland Sea Wolves
A- Michael Stark, 26, Ocala Sun Devils

[Sarzonia]

The roster for the Stars is as follows:

If my opponent RPs first, they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmode scoring events: N
RP injuries: Y (within reason; don't kill anybody, mmmkay?)
Godmode injuries: N
Eject/Penalize players: Y
Godmode "other" events: N
Style modifier: 0
OOC: I RP using real time in most of my RPs, so the players have only aged the few months it's been IRL since the last World Lacrosse Championships.

Coach: Harold Price (55). Named the inaugural coach of the Wilmington Sharks, he guided the team to playoff appearances in each of the league's three seasons, culminating in their 11-6 win over the Portland Thorns in the ILL championship game.
Defensive Coordinator: Rob Davies (42). Davies was named the Thorns head coach after five years as Joe Gibbs University's head coach. He brought a stifling defensive system from the college game that translated to the Thorns improving from the league's worst defence to the league's best.
Goaltenders Coach: Dave Peeters (45). Serves in the same role for the Thorns. He was the only coach on the Thorns staff retained by Davies after tapes showed the defence leaked like a sieve.

Roster: (No., Name, Team, Height, Weight. Starters in BOLD.)

Goalkeepers
1 Craig Larrabie (Portland Thorns) 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Larrabie, 31, led the league in goals against average (6.97) and wins (11) en route to a divisional round win. However, he had his one bad game in the championship against Wilmington.
18 Mark Tomscik, (Woodstock Wave), 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Tomsick, 23, makes up for his lack of height with quick reflexes and strong athleticism. He earned the starting job toward the end of the season for the Hawks and won each of his three games with a 8.23 goals against average. He should be the starter next season.

Defence
2 Dane Tarrabba (Wilmington Sharks) 5-foot-11, 157 pounds. Tarraba was named the Slash's team captain despite being younger than most of his teammates at 26 years old for a reason. He demonstrates strong leadership qualities for the Sharks and all but willed the team to its championship victory.
5 Paul Landry (Nicksia Nighthawks) 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. Landry's 24 years old and fast, but he's also very physical. He's often matched up against the opposing team's best attackman and often dispenses beatings.
7 Tom Swensen (Saugerties Sounders) 6-foot, 180 pounds. At 34 years old, Swensen is the oldest player on the Slash's roster. He's also the most savvy defender. He may not have the athleticism to keep up with the fastest attackmen, but he makes up for it by being able to read their tendencies and make timely checks.
8 Bill Harbour (Rypien Rough Riders) 5-10, 155 pounds. Perhaps the best all-around athlete on the Slash, Harbour often gives up height to his opponents, but never gives up heart. He's 27 years old.
9 Clay Cantner (Portsmouth Pirates) 6-foot-1, 172 pounds. This 33-year-old relies on positioning and his size to keep attackmen from dominating the crease. He also serves as the emergency third-string goalie.
12 Spencer Wallingford (Portland) 5-foot-8, 168 pounds. Considered a pest by many of his opponents, the 29-year-old can get under the skin of many a midfielder or attackman with his aggressive play.

Midfielders
6 Carter Whitlock (Wilmington) 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. Left-handed shot who has blazing speed and great endurance, this 27-year-old scored 27 goals, a league high for midfielders.
10 Dwayne Dyer (Lexington Leopards) 5-foot-11, 177 pounds. A master of the faceoff, the 31-year-old Dyer can organise the offence like few other players in the league. He played for Price until a midseason trade brought him to Lexington.
11 Pat Wade (Portland) 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Better known for his endurance and his defensive play, Wade, 25, still scored 11 goals before a midseason injury. He was eligible to come back for the playoffs, but the team held him out to get fully healed.
13 Jesse Barkley (Woodstock) 6-foot, 185 pounds. This 27-year-old shows ability to play both ways for the Wave with great endurance and solid speed.
14 Howie Cooper (Nicksia) 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. Elusive and quick, but does not possess blinding speed. The 24-year-old shows an ability to play on either flank, but doesn't do as well at center midfield.
15 Mike Nelson (Wilmington), 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. Nelson, 26 can play either forward or midfield and has played both because of injuries to the Sharks attackmen. He is long on speed, but relatively short on stamina.

Attackmen
16 Tim Cole (Portland), 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. Cole, 32, has a nose for the goal, scoring a league-leading 52 goals on the season. Depends on solid service and his size for positioning in front of opposing goalies.
17 Robbie Fernando (Lexington), 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Fernando, 28, is arguably the best forward in the league at creating his own shot. Led the team in scoring with 27 goals in 10 games played. Missed the first four games due to appendicitis.
20 Nate Longley (Wilmington), 6-foot-175 pounds. Longley, 22, is a promising youngster who is more mature than his age suggests. He has the best stamina and speed combination of any player on the team, owing to his youth and a cross country background in secondary school.
22 Fred Williams (Nicksia), 6-foot-3, 162 pounds. Tall and gangly, Williams, 24, has been instructed by his coaching staff to put on muscle. He still has a knack for putting the ball in the net, scoring 20 goals in seven games.
23 Matt Cornwall (Woodstock), 5-foot-8, 142 pounds. Fast and elusive, Cornwall, 25, is a guy who can not only slip between defenders and score on unsuspecting goalies, he can also duck a vicious hit. He scored 39 goals to lead the Wave in scoring.
27 Ben Christian (Rypien), 6-foot-2, 175 pounds. Christian, 26, led the Rough Riders with 29 goals in 14 games, using a combination of size and strength to overpower smaller defenders and surprising speed to get away from those equally as large as he is.

[Taeshan]

Taeshan National Team
The Flaming Falcons +highest
Position Name # Age
Goalkeeper Greg Fornfelt 79 26
Left Defense Ryan Yelaylee 42 26
Center Defense Zaxle O'Peerson 27 23
Right Defense Chrichenham Baker 19 29
Left Midfield Ollie Richenham 7 28
Center Defense William Kelly 15 26
Right Midfeild Xevenes Hutch 13 25
Left Attack Seth Thatcher 17 24
Center Attack Peirs Fohneger 2 30
Right Attack Rowan Qwarant 14 22
Subs
Goalkeeper Fred Geigar 56 26
Defense Alexander Fwenchie 81 23
Midfeild Derese Sanchez 9 27
Attack Jack Smith 45 28
Utility Miles Beckett 66 26

[Graziland]

Graziland's first National Lacrosse Team
Stadium: Wellington Liftball Field (only some minor adjustments needed for Lacrosse)
Style (-2)
Team is formed from the merger of the top 2 finishers in recent Liftball League: Jermainstone and Southlands

GK: Wyatt Amert (Jermainstone)
LD: Dean Smotz (Jermainstone)
CD: Winston Herdt (Southlands)
RD: Michael Foundation (Jermainstone)
LM: Dramat Englenton (Jermainstone)
CM: Highteen Englenton (Jermainstone)
RM: Finkle Current (Southlands)
LF: Tom Howard (Jermainstone)
CF: Winston Volert (Jermainstone)
RF: Manny Delgart (Southlands)

Bench:
GK: Jimmy Hughes (Southlands)
D: Grant Hughes (Southlands)
M: Dealth Windfoot (Jermainstone)
F: Holyoke Smith (Southlands)

Permissions:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: N
RP injuries: N
Godmod injuries: N
Eject/Penalize players: Y
Godmod other events: Y (as long as it's humorous/not THAT serious)

[Cassadaigua]

Here is our roster for World Lacrosse Championships 5.

Starters in Green
Bench players in Red

Coach: Melanie Kaplan, Age: 41

Goalies:
Jennifer Tipton, Age: 30
Cindy Heywood, Age: 36

Defense:
Heather Emerton, Age: 28
Debbie Miles, Age: 32
Amanda Primrose, Age: 31
Melanie Babnik, Age: 30
Alexandra Shuler, Age: 34
Meghan Shatford, Age: 22
Erin Pacek, Age: 21

Midfielders:
Lauren Mineri, Age: 25
Tara Lindfield, Age: 28
Ashley Norville, Age: 25 (Team Captain)
Pamela Alexander, Age: 19
Danielle Royce, Age: 24
Trista Bayliss, Age: 27

Attack:
Carrie Boardman, Age: 29
Courtney Bernard, Age: 30
Hannah Levenson, Age: 23
Julie Freier, Age: 28
Sarah McCreedy, Age: 29
Kathleen Lawrence, Age: 19

Style Modifier: +1.4

Home Stadium: The 47,391 seat Grande Mountain Stadium.

If my opponent RPs first, they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmode scoring events: Yes
RP injuries: No
Godmode injuries: No
Eject/Penalize players: Yes
Godmode "other" events: Yes, feel free to have fun just don’t kill anyone.

[Graziland]

"Damnit!" shouted Winston Volert "Why are these goals on the ground? This isn't football!" Winston had just sent his 23rd consecutive shot high. By 3 feet. It was a common problem among the attackers on this mixed team, a team that was suppose to represent Graziland in the sport of Lacrosse at the upcoming world championships.

Originally, the plan was to have the Jermainstone players play the Southlands players in a series of practice matches. However, between the freedom given the defenders by their long sticks, the doubled length of the field and the fact that the jumpers now didn't need to jump to stop shots (in lacrosse, they were apparently called "goalkeepers" just like in football) it became quickly apparent that no one was going to score any time soon. So the players (like proper liftballers they had no need for a coach), decided to break into position groups and take it from there.

The defensive players, on the other hand, couldn't believe all the freedoms they had. The pure defenders weren't even expected (or allowed) to go into the offensive end! This was definatly a much different game than they all thought, and the defenders and lifters loved it. It became fairly apparent that this was going to have to be a defensive team, and so the training would be based on keeping goals out rather than trying to score so many of them....

[Tatuape]

TATUAPE'S NATIONAL LACROSSE TEAM

An official press release of TATULA (Tatuapean Lacrosse Association)
Home Stadium: Pantheon, at Tatuape City (Greek Lacrosse's field with 45,000 seats)

Coach: Johnny Zeus

Starters
GK: John Aristotle (Greek Lacrosse)
LD: Mark Homer (Paideia Lacrosse)
CD: Clay Demosthenes (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
RD: Bob Aeschines (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
LM: Marshall Arquimedes (Greek Lacrosse)
CM: James Plato (Greek Lacrosse)
RM: Lynton Lysias (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
LF: Sam Socrates (Free Agent) (Team Capitan)
CF: Paul Pericles (Paideia Lacrosse)
RF: Gordon Gorgias (Paideia Lacrosse)

Bench:
GK: Carl Corax (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
D: Thomas Antiphon (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
D: Bob Parmenides (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
D: Greg Lycurgus (Rhetoric Lacrosse)
M: George Pythagoras (Greek Lacrosse)
M: Zed Xenophanes (Greek Lacrosse)
M: Tom Thales (Paideia Lacrosse)
F: Ed Epicurus (Paideia Lacrosse)
F: William Euclid (Greek Lacrosse)
F: Billy Heraclitus (Greek Lacrosse)

Style: 0
Permissions:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: N
RP injuries: N
Godmod injuries: N
Eject/Penalize players: Y
Godmod other events: Y (Be funny, please. Killing is not a option)

[Dancougar]

The first word in my dreams
I could clearly see
Planet Eden high beyond the skies

Beautiful and sad
is this story I'll tell
of the winged travellers eager

"So they're moving me up to forward, huh..." Max checked the letter he'd got from the Sports Ministry one last time. Molly was right beside him holding a similar summons to the national team. "So they've broken us up, the immortal blue and red. I guess that's starting to get pretty far behind us."

"And they say Roy never fully recovered from his injury, either," Molly said. "He can still play, but his fitness is gone... I was talking to Rick the other day, and it looks like he's still on as a reserve. But he's taking it pretty hard."

"I hear we're getting some fresh blood, though," Max said. The two were about to enter the locker rooms at Dyson College, the team's home field. Since finishing second at the previous WLC, there had been rumors that they might get to use the football stadium in nearby Port Vigilence for a game or two, but selling it out would be impossible, so the Sports Ministry balked on it.

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by the crack of a fist meeting someone's face.

"You bastard! Say that to my face again, I dare you!"

"I'll say it as many times as you like!"

'Twas one day
the wind guided him where to go
like an eagle high above he flew

Waving from down below
he flew out of sight
into the mystical darkness

Max and Molly ran into the room and there were two men locked in combat in the middle of the floor, while a few of the other players tried to pull them apart. Kamjin and Layla seemed to be enjoying the diversion and were just watching from one corner, while Rick was actively pulling one man off the other before he could land another blow. The man on the floor was bleeding from the side of his mouth but was thrashing around just as wildly while Ben and Kai-Fu restrained him.

Max ran to help Rick, and together they succeeded in pulling the two apart. The two continued to struggle until coach Bruno Worldly strode into the room with his assistance. "What the hell is going on in here?" he shouted. The two men who had been fighting went silent and shook off the others, sitting calmly on the floor.

"Just making sure this one's broken in before we let him use the place," said the first with a smug look. "Don't want him making a mess, now do we?"

"It's nothing we can't handle," said the second, who wiped the blood from his mouth. "Next time, I'll make sure I beat him up where you don't have to see it."

"Feh, big talk from such a little man," the other replied, even though he was definitely the shorter of the two.

"Enough, already!" yelled Worldly, looking at his notes. "Of all the people to send me as replacements... they had to pick two men who detest each other. Gordon Bowman!" He turned to the larger one. Then, turning to the other, "Isamu Dyson!"

"Whoa, did he call that guy Dyson?" whispered Max.

"He's apparently the grandson of the man who founded this place," responded Rick. "Hot tempered, hot headed, but he's good. The other guy is Gordon Bowman. I heard they used to be pretty good friends and unstoppable teammates. But now, they're..."

Kingdom of Dancougar National Lacrosse Team
WLC V: "Lacrosse Plus"

Starters
GK Kai-Fu Linn
D Sally LaClaudia
D Kamjin Kravshera
D Layla Laplamiz
M Gordon Bowman
M Isamu Dyson
M Molly Fallyna-Jenius
F Sterling Jenius
F Rick Gatherer
F Lisa Hayase

Reserves
M Ben Zakikaki
F Roy de Havilland
A seemingly infinite number of redshirts

Staff
Coach: Bruno Worldly
Assistant: Samantha Millome
Assistant: Beck Sedol

As for RP permissions... meh, if you RP before me, you dictate the flow of the game. Pick my scorers. You can injure named players as long as you let me determine severity. You can godmod the redshirts however you want. Although if you do know which franchise I'm ripping off for all of my lacrosse RPs - yes, it's been the same one since I started - you may godmod the named characters if you know who they're supposed to be.

[Qazox]

Shooting Quails

Well, last time out the Qazox suprised everyone and reached the quarterfinals. 2 years later, and we won't be sneaking up on anyone this time. However due to lack fo funding, we will have to play all our "home" matches in Newmanistan.

SCHEDULE:
MD1: (Aug 4)- vs. Lovisa (in Newmanistan)
MD2: (Aug 5)- @ Sarzonia
MD3: (Aug 6)- @ Steroga
MD4: (Aug 7)- vs. Lanceo (in Newmanistan)
MD5: (Aug 9)*- BYE
MD6: (Aug 10)- @ Lovisa
MD7: (Aug 11)- vs. Sarzonia (in Newmanistan)
MD8: (Aug 12)- vs. Steroga (in Newmanistan)
MD9: (Aug 13)- @ Lanceo
MD10: (Aug 14)- BYE

This is a favorable schedule, and with luck we should get at worst 5 or 6 wins, and qualify for the playoffs again.

[Newmanistan]

(At the moment this is a cut and paste from WLC 4. I'm going to making appropriate edits to player bios when I have time. I haven't had much of it lately).


In Newmanistan, Lacrosse isn’t a “smaller” or a “niche” sport. It is in fact, one of the most popular sports in the country, and stadiums fill to capacity with just as many people as their would be at baseball or football games. Due to this, the Empire expects nothing less then to win a championship. So far, they have been very successful appearing in the championship of all three WLC’s thus far, although they have only won the first.

Style Modifier: + 1.7

RP Permissions:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmode scoring events: Y
RP injuries: Y, only in saying they are hurt. I’ll take it from there.
Godmode injuries: N
Eject/Penalize players: Y
Godmode "other" events: N

Manager: Prince Michael
Age: 47
Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: Prince Michael is the brother of Empress Jessica and has made lacrosse his life. He had guided the team in the first three World Lacrosse Championships and commands the instant respect of his team. This isn’t just because he is royalty, although that probably helps somewhat. The Prince was a highly successful lacrosse player himself, and played in the NLL (Newmanistan Lacrosse League) as an attacker for six years, leading the league in scoring twice before he was made to give it up as opposing coaches claimed he was getting preferential treatment from the officials. Still, the man knows and understands the game like no other and even though he has already proven himself to the world, he takes complete pride in guiding the national team.

Player: Kevin Moreno
Position: G
Age: 22
Team: North Charlotte Wildcats
Bio: Is he a prodigy? Moreno, who’s agility is simply stunning, as bypassed all other competition to win over the starting job for this tournament, even over the previous starter, Jason Copeland who had been part of the previous three teams. He relies on his reflexes which often leads to highlight reel saves that were actually fairly routine for him. The only knock, if there is one, on him, is that he can get rattled easily by a “bad goal”, that it throws him off for a while and he needs to be settled back down. Then again, we might just be nit-picking to find a weakness to him.

Player: Pete Buckley
Position: LD
Age: 30
Number: 8
Team: Hastings Crusaders
Bio: Reads and anticipates the play as good as you could possibly want. He’s got average height, but Buckley is bulked up quite well. This gives him great strength to overpower attackers in nearly every situation. Pete knows this, and uses it on every possible chance he gets.

Player: Chris Mattison
Position: CD
Age: 31
Number: 4
Team: South Tier Seagulls
Bio: Mattison is speedy enough to be an attacker or play in the midfield, but his defensive awareness make him best suited to play in this spot. That speed and great reaction will help him always be in proper position defensively, and allows him to jump into an attack every once in a while if he sees an opening for himself. He’s led the NLL in goals by the defense the last six years. He’s not the type to be extremely physical, but he’s not a pansy either.

Player: Michael Leahey
Position: RD
Age: 29
Number: 3
Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: A very intelligent and physical defender. This may deceive those who are not as familiar with him, because Leahey’s physical frame doesn’t immediately strike you as someone who can hurt you. But once they’ve been hit a few times, they’ll become a believer. Though there is much more to him then that. Michael will completely take the person he is assigned to out of the game by smothering him with great defensive skills, especially in terms of knocking the ball lose and intercepting passes. The entire defense unit has played together in the last three WLC’s.

Player: Michael Kinser
Position: LM
Age: 22
Number: 13
Team: North Charlotte Wildcats
Bio: Debuted in WLC 3 after having a stellar first two seasons in the NLL. After winning Rookie of the Year four years ago, and on an up-and-coming team in North Charlotte, Kinser has only gotten better. He is the type of player who will make those better around him. The Prince looks for him to show a lot of improvement this year, and his familiarity with Moreno should only help.

Player: Chris Roberts
Position: CM
Age: 23
Number: 16
Team: Stroudsbourg Panthers
Bio: The gritty middie makes his debut for WLC 4, and is eager to make a strong impression. Kyle Foster, the previous starter in this spot, has struggled the last two years reamining healthy, so Roberts gets the chance. He’s not at all the same kind of player. While Foster was a flashy, finesse type, Roberts is more of physical presence who excels more on the defensive end. Not limited to that, he has a knack for being able to set up the attack, and should be a very strong addition to this team.

Player: Matt Knight
Position: RM
Age: 33
Number: 19
Team: Putnam Lake Eagles
Bio: Knight is probably best compared to a power forward in hockey. He will jump right in to any offensive chance, and like to crowd the area in front of the goal and set a screen or a pick. His shot is very accurate. Knight will not be the first guy the Rockets look to to score goals, but you cannot forget about him.

Player: Jason Green
Position: LA
Age: 27
Number: 28
Team: Olympia Gladiators
Bio: Green, for the longest time, has been in the shadows of the great Keith Taylor and Curt Farrell, and he has thrived in his opportunities thus far to be able to be on the same attack with them on the national team. Now that this trio will be in their fourth WLC together, the chemistry between them should be remarkably high.

Player: Keith Taylor
Position: CA
Age: 29
Number: 14
Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: A complete playmaker. Taylor is one of the greatest players in the world, as he is, already, a six time NLL MVP, with more trophies likely to come. He can find the back of the net with a level of accuracy that should be among the best in this tournament. Everything you could possibly ask for in an attacker is something in which Taylor excels in.

Player: Curt Farrell
Position: RA
Age: 29
Number: 10
Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: Taylor to Farrell or Farrell to Taylor are among the most frequently uses phrases within the Empire. These two have played together for the longest time, and will know where the other is on the field without even looking at them. This leads to a lot of razzle-dazzle finesse type plays between the two of them, and when they play some of the weaker teams in the tournament, look for them to deliberately try to put on a show, as they enjoy doing this. Farrell, himself, has two NLL MVP’s award to his credit, including the most recent one.

Bench:
– Jason Copeland- G (32, Centralia Cougars)- Starting Goalie in WLC 1, 2 & 3.
– James Lyons- D (29, Southport Tigers)
– Aaron Applegate- D (28, Tundra Falls Mariners)
– Steve Harrington- M (21, South Tier Seagulls)
– Daniel Cooper- M (19, Centralia Cougars)
– Matthew Ellerby- A (22, Loudon Leopards)
– Kyle Williams- A (21, Dover City Mountaineers)
– Edward Davis- Utility (18, Loudon Leopards)

[Newmanistan]

Cutoff time for MD1 (future cutoffs will be about 3 hours earlier then this).


Group A:
Delaclava 9-12 Cassadaigua
Graziland 10-6 Warner Channel

Group B:
Quintessence of Dust 11-13 Tocrowkia
Iglesian Archipelago 7-12 Oreington Canada

Group C:
Qazox 15-8 Lovisa
Lanceo 10-9 (OT) Steroga

Group D:
Albundania 6-10 Taeshan
Jaxandia 13-14 (OT) Tataupe

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

It seems the Flaming Falcons have gotten back on track. After two straight World Lacrosse Championships in which they had miserable appearances, after winning the 2nd Championship the Falcons have opened the 5th tournament by defeating the Albundian National team by a score of 10-6. Led by team Captain Rowan Qwarant the Falcons looked unstopable on the day and looked to be back to their old form.

Starting on the road can always be hard for a team, but the Knights pushed the pedal to the medal and attacked the Albundians throughout the game. True tio Taeshani form there defense was ggreat as well keeping the score low and in touch. Qwaramnt as usual would ead the scoring pumping in half of the Falcon goals. Peirs Fohneger scored two goals in the 3rd quarter, and Ollie Richenham, William Kelly, and Sub attacker Jack Smith scored his first career goal in the 2nd quarter. In the end it was a great start to the season, and sets up the rest of the year nicely. Up next is Tatuape who lost to Jaxandia in overtime 14-13 on day one.

[Graziland]

Graziland wins first World Lacrosse Qualifier, Disappoint Crowd

5 goals from Tom Howard spared Graziland's blushes against an admittedly poor Warner Channel squad in the nations first World Lacrosse Qualifier. Graziland dominated territorially, but besides Howard, had trouble finding the lower net. There also seemed to be some difficulty in the Jermainstone and Southlands players communicating, particularly in the defensive zone between Herdt and Smotz. They did seem to get better in the second half, having led only 5-4 at halftime and there were some grumblings among the crowd. The team will have to get better to defeat opponents of higher-caliber of this one, and one hopes the mistakes and miscommunitcations will be rectified as the tournament continues.

[Qazox]

Shooting Quails

A dominating 15-8 win over lightly regarded Lovisa sees the Quails off to a good start. Lead by 5 goals from Javier Coscia, Qazox jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never were seriously challenged.

Up next is a trip to Sarzonia, the group favorites.

Scoreline:

Lovisa   2-3-2-1   8
Qazox    5-4-2-4  15

Qazox Goals:
Javier Coscia- 5
Clinton Tsui- 3
Jamie Breck- 3
Kurt Fijoira- 2
Jessie Hannum
Christian Clark

SCHEDULE:
MD1: vs. Lovisa (in Newmanistan) WIN 15-8
MD2: @ Sarzonia
MD3: @ Steroga
MD4: vs. Lanceo (in Newmanistan)
MD5:  BYE
MD6: @ Lovisa
MD7: vs. Sarzonia (in Newmanistan)
MD8: vs. Steroga (in Newmanistan)
MD9: @ Lanceo
MD10: BYE

RECORD: 1-0, 15-8, +7 GD

[Newmanistan]

Time for the matchday 2 cutoff now.

Group A:
Dancougar 11-9 Delaclava
Warner Channel 5-11 Cassadaigua

Group B:
Newmanistan 14-10 Quintessence of Dust
Oreington Canada 7-17 Tocrowkia

Group C:
Sarzonia 13-11 Qazox
Steroga 6-9 Lovisa

Group D:
Secristan 9-12 Albundania
Tataupe 8-10 Taeshan


Tables posted after MD3.

[Tatuape]

AFTER GREAT DEBUT, TATUAPE IS DEFEATED

by John Lacan
Script for Le Écrit Radio, 448 AM

After a great debut win in overtime against Jaxania, Tatuape lost its first game to Group D leaders, Taeschan. Socrates scored 8 goals, but the Taeschan team was smarter and scored 10 (Kelly, Hutch,Thatcher, Fohneger and Qwarant with 2 goals each).

Tatuape team now needs a win in Round 3 to remain alive in this tough competion. Plato seeks an idea, but wants to look out the Lacrosse cave.

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

Win number two came yesterday for the Taeshan Flaming Falcons Lacrosse team, with a nice 2nd Matchday 10-8 defeat of the young new team from the nation of Tatuape. The Falcons won behind a nicely spaced array of goals, but the team faltered a little scoring the same ammount of goals as in game one, but letting the Tatuapens score 2 more then the Albundians. Overall this game was a better team played game then a game based soleley on the Captain.

That was due more to the fact that after scoring the first two goals of the game for the Falcons Rowan Qwarant was minorly injured and was taken out for the rest of the game so he could rest up for the third one. In his absence the other Falcons picked up the slack with four others pumping in 2 goals. Peirs Fohneger, William Kelly, Seth Thatcher and Xevenes hutch would each get on the board. It was a good game with a little bad sense, but not enough to damper hopes.

Next up is the first of what is expected to be a championship of Group D bout. The Falcons will take on the Secristan millionares defending World Lacrosse Champions at home in front of many screaming Taeshanis. Before then though the Falcons will have a week off, and hopefully can get ready for the Secristan match. They suprisingly lost their first game yesterday at home to Albundia so it doesn't look like it will be that hard.

[Dancougar]

Worldly sat on the bench with his head in his hands. Isamu had just broken out in the midfield and went on a long run into the offensive third. He had two players he could have easily passed to, but that would have been too simple, right? Gordon had made it 3-3 just moments ago and he wasn't about to be outdone by that guy. Spinning past one defender, he made for the target. The defenders closed him down, forcing him to divert his run, but he still didn't pass. Instead, he fired an off-balance shot that missed the goal entirely, rolled beyond the end line, and thus resulted in a turnover. The players jogged back upfield to defend.

Lisa pulled Rick aside. "You need to do something about them!" she whispered harshly. "You're the captain, aren't you?"

"Even if you say that..." mumbled Rick. Isamu was playing with a lot of energy and was creating space in the middle. He did have a goal to his credit. But when the turnover led to Delaclava grabbing the lead, and then they fell behind 6-4 at halftime, it was clear that something needed to be done. In the locker room, Worldy first chewed them out for looking flat, since they certainly weren't playing at the level of a recent finalist. He glared at Isamu, who seemed to ignore him. When that was finished, Rick approached him. "Isamu, hey... listen, about the first half..."

"They're going to tire out," Isamu said simply.

"Pardon?" asked Rick.

"Delaclava. They're pushing hard to keep pace, but they're going to burn out and we'll get 'em then," Isamu replied.

"You can't count on that," Rick answered. "We need to start working as a team. You've got some great stuff and you're breaking them down with your runs. But maybe if you spread the ball a little more, we might have an easier time."

"I'm telling you, man, I can tell these things," Isamu replied. "Don't worry about it."

"Hey!" Gordon snapped from across the room. Unlike Isamu, he'd played a solid first half and assisted on both of Rick's goals. "Your captain is talking to you. Show a little respect, huh?"

"Stay out of this, Bowman," Isamu shot back. "This guy's good, but he sees the game differently than me. I've gotten this far by learning to rely on my instincts, and I'll be damned if I'll turn my back on them now."

Gordon's brow furrowed, but Rick stepped between them, motioning for Gordon to leave them be. "I'm not asking too much, just be aware that coach isn't above benching you if you hurt the team. This isn't come kind of contest!" He leaned closer and lowered his tone. "Listen, if you really want to outdo him, beat him at his own game, huh? Create. Innovate. If movement is your weapon, you should use it to its full potential."

Isamu leaned back and smiled dryly. "You bastard, you know how to strike a chord."

In the second half, Isamu looked like a different player. He was still commanding attention, but at least now he was distributing. The Delaclavan defense was thrown into chaos when he started to turn it up in the fourth quarter. The WIngs got level, 8-8, and then he assisted on two straight goals to give them the lead for good. He slid into the middle and took command, although Rick noticed he tended to work the ball almost exclusively to the left, away from Gordon, who nevertheless continued to work hard on the attack to create safety valves for the forward line.

Speaking of forward line, Max seemed to fit right on. He was put on the right side, directly in front of his wife Molly, which took full advantage of their rapport. He scored twice. Rick and Lisa also seemed to be on the same page as they had been in the previous tournament, netting five between them in the comeback. As the game wore on, Rick found himself with more space to work with despite only expending a little more effort. He was surprised to discover that Isamu had been right - Delaclava did tire themselves out.

"A win is a win!" declared Worldly in the locker room after the game. "But remember how hard you had to work for it. No team is going to just sit back and let us have our way. Delaclava is only the beginning, and there are some things we'll have to go over. Morning tape session as usual!"

"I don't know what you said to him," said Lisa, "but it worked!"

"Well, I guess I'm learning," Rick admitted. "I was taught by the best, after all."

"Damn right, you were!" said Roy, giving him a hard pat on the back. He was out of shape after being laid up with broken ribs after the previous tournament, but he could be counted on to cause some trouble as a sub. "I gotta admit, though, that guy's pretty good. If he worked on his attitude he could be great."

Rick looked over at Isamu's locker, where he was tossing stuff into his duffel bag to head home. He wasn't attempting to mingle or chat with anybody. Gordon, also quiet, was at least willing to converse with anyone who wandered his way. "I wonder if they'll be all right, those two..."

[Qazox]

Shooting Quails

A closer than expected loss to Sarzonia, 11-13, keeps the Quails in contention, though there are many matches still to be played. A pair of hat-tricks from Clinton Tsui and Jamie Breck (giving both back-to-back games with a hat-trick) kept it close, but a late goal from Nate Longley, his 5th of the game ended any chance of overtime.

Scoreline:

Qazox    2-4-2-3  11
Sarzonia   3-4-3-3  13

Qazox Goals: (TOTAL)
Clinton Tsui- 3 (6)
Jamie Breck- 3 (6)
Javier Coscia- 2 (7)
Kurt Fijoira- 2 (4)
Darryl Cappelli
Jessie Hannum (1)
Christian Clark (1)

SCHEDULE:
MD1: vs. Lovisa (in Newmanistan) WIN 15-8
MD2: @ Sarzonia Lose 11-13
MD3: @ Steroga
MD4: vs. Lanceo (in Newmanistan)
MD5:  BYE
MD6: @ Lovisa
MD7: vs. Sarzonia (in Newmanistan)
MD8: vs. Steroga (in Newmanistan)
MD9: @ Lanceo
MD10: BYE

RECORD: 1-1, 26-21, +5 GD

[Newmanistan]

In Brief: Rockets win Lacrosse Opener

Newmanistan began the 5th World Lacrosse Championships looking rather sharp as they scored a 14-10 victory, outscoring Quintessence of Dust by a single goal in each of the four quarters. “It’s about as consistent as you can get,” His Highness Prince Michael said, “We played well in all facets of the game, but those Quodites are quite solid. I think you will see better things from them in the near future. We might not have heard much from them quite yet, but eventually they will make same noise and when they do, they will be a threat to advance out of the group.” Newmanistan had 5 players score at least two goals in the game in an impressive balanced attack and goalie Kevin Moreno game up with the big stops that he needed too, especially late in the first half. That’s a 1-0 record now for the Rockets as they pack their bags and head for Iglesian Archipelago.

The Rocket Report will have more in-depth coverage of the team's games in the next few days.

[Quintessence of Dust]

Sowweeee...forgot about this.

Lacrosse is one of the more popular summer sports in Quintessence of Dust. However, the national team has not entered the World Lacrosse Championship before because, well, we don't have a national team. Instead, the National Minor Sports Federation has decided to send a team of ethnic McBorks, in the form of the McBork Nationals. While formally affiliated to the nation of Quintessence of Dust, the McBorks are one of the few distinct ethnic groups in the nation and regard themselves as basically self-governing.

They live on the tiny island of McBorkiana, off the south coast of the Sponsons, and are believed to have descended from a mixture of Swedish and Scottish immigrants. Unlike the rest of the country, they are fiercely religious, being dour Presbyterian types who dress in black and ban all forms of music. While this makes them hugely kitsch among the country's alternative hip-hop community, it's not a compliment. They righteously flail their lacrosse sticks with great skill, however, and play with a frenzy quite out of character with their otherwise sombre pace of life. They can be considered somewhat similar to the Amish in the RL USA, though they do not disdain technology, and infact have the latest carbon fibre lacrosse gear.

Goalkeepers

1. Sander McHansson
30. Olov McLindholm

Defenders

4. Dylan McSandberg
22. Hannes McÅkesson
28. Haris McJansson
34. Matthias McNyström (captain)
58. Tim McHolmgren

Midfielders

21. Anders McÅberg
32. Elmer McHolmgren
40. Alexander McHansson
42. James McHåkansson
43. Håkan McDahlberg

Attackers

2. Peter McLind
17. Ivar McÖberg
18. Carl McLindberg
33. Frode McSandström
80. Carl McÅström

RP Permissions: Anything. However, my athletes should be RPed as very solemn and introverted until they start playing, and they won't trash talk, fight, or commit many fouls.

Style modifier: -3. Goals are the Devil's work. (Or 0 if it is too late to change this.)

Home matches: Are played on the grassy field behind the local church, on the island of McBorkiana. Even in the summer, it is very cold, and tends to rain a lot. There will be supporters, but they will also be deathly silent. They will be appalled by any rowdy visiting fans.

[Quintessence of Dust]

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer

McBorks accept defeats stoically

While sports fans across Quintessence of Dust nervously eye the coming Rugby World Cup and Olympic Games amid signs that the lustre may be starting to wear off the unexpected recent triumphs, one group of Quodites aren't so concerned. "Ve-a knoo thet zeese-a resoolts du nut refflect oooor lefel ooff skeell, boot ere-a joost Gud's joodgment," said Matthias McNyström, captain of the McBork Nationals, one of the more unusual national sports teams Quintessence of Dust has produced in recent years.

Hailing from the tiny island of McBorkiana, the Swedo-Scottish group retain an intensely religious life in complete seclusion from the secular mainland. "It's really a fascinating phenomenon," says noted sociologist and street rapper Emile "Dr Huff'n'Puff" Quirkheim, whose album Straight Outta Structuralism was certified platinum this week. "The McBorks are, so far as we know, completely unique in their complex dialogue and pastoral customs."

They are also fearsome lacrosse players, interpreting an arcane passage of the Book of Revelation to spend every day but the Sabbath practising lacrosse. Children as young as four regularly take to the island's sole playing field to practice their skills, and the adults are among the best in the country - leading the National Minor Sports Federation to invite the island to send a team to the ongoing World Lacrosse Championships in Newmanistan as funding cuts see the number of national teams from the mainland reduced - including the cancellation of planned participation in the Under-21 football cup.

The Nationals have nonethless lost their first games. Playing their inaugural international contest at home, Tocrowkia's Nordics became the first foreign visitors to the island of McBorkiana since a team of anthropologists in the late 1980s. "Ve-a vere-a beset by a strunge-a peuple-a ooff flexee heur vhu spent zee inture-a teeme-a cumpleeening ebuoot besebell," says Elmer McHolmgren, whose brother Tim is also in the team. "It ves a must truooblesume-a ixpereeence."

They then travelled to Newmanistan - the first time any McBork has left the island in over five years - to play the hosts, again losing to one of the tournament's strongest outfits. The nuances of international goal celebrations evidently unnerved the McBorks, who notoriously distain public (and private) displays of affection: "Eferyteeme-a zeey scured, zeey vuoold hoog iech oozeer es thuoogh ebuoot tu cummeet un ect ooff deprefeety." Nonetheless, Newmanistanian press reports indicate the team were impressed by the overall level of play shown by the National, especially centre forward Peter McLind, who ended the first half with a barrage of shots on goal.

"I pleyed my best, und zee hund ooff Gud gooeeded me-a, boot in zee ind it vesn't inuoogh," said McLind, who scored 4 goals in the opener against Tocrowkia and 3 against Newmanistan. Håkan McDahlberg and James McHåkansson, form a father-son combination in midfield, and spoke after the game to the press. Håkan said that, "Ve-a ves rubbed," while son James blamed the result on the recent sartorial indiscretions of his sister Annike, "Gud's joodgment fur oooor Unneeke-a veereeng a skurt."

The team next travel to Oreington Canada and then have a home game against Iglesian Archipelago, after which WLC organizers have given the team permission for a two day break so they can celebrate the Sabbath. It is not clear what action will be taken if the team qualifies for the quarterfinals, though the McBorks insist they are allowed to play on "speceeel und oospeeciuoos oocceseeuns".