World Lacrosse Championships 38 - Everything Thread

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

Lacrosse used to be an iconic part of the Kytlerian psyche. The first sport at which the nation competed internationally, the first (and last) at which they won a title, a sport that genuinely stood for what the country was about. A rich person's sport in some places, for the Kytlerians it was something everyone would sometimes play in school and quite a few from any socio-economic background would go on to take seriously.

Isolation should have had less effect on the country, but in recent years organisation within the sport was falling apart. A shortage of imported materials for equipment manufacturing was the first culprit, making the sport suddenly unaffordable for lower-income groups. Then, possibly relatedly, a wealthy clique ended up slowly taking over the running of the sport. By the end of isolation, the Kytlerian Lacrosse Association was an utter nepotistic mess, to the point that they even failed to produce a roster for their return to the WLC until mid-tournament:

[box]**THE KYTLERIAN WLC38 ROSTER**

GK #1 James Horton (Sillham)
GK #12 Andrew Fairbanks (Zube)
GK #21 John Rodgers (Bay City)

DF #2 Roderick Hampstead (Bay City)
DF #3 Keith Hamilton (Zube)
DF #4 Graham Taylor-Bone (Borlfield)
DF #12 James Andrews (Zeiven)
DF #14 Timothy Hamilton (Zube)
DF #18 Tommy Foster (Bay City)

MF #5 William Groves III (Sillham)
MF #6 Andrew Thompson (Roddens)
MF #7 George Smith-Ruffier (Zeiven)
MF #16 Angufams Dings (Alaer)
MF #17 Paul Hancock (Alaer)
MF #20 Frederick Mueller (Zube)

FW #8 Vincent Corr-Sharpe (Bay City)
FW #9 Edward Windsor (Borlfield)
FW #10 Dominic Foster (Bay City)
FW #11 James Spark (Zeiven)
FW #13 Tom Murphy-Richards (Alaer)
FW #19 Niall O'Connell (Edencliff)[/box]

The Kytlerian national sport was now a national embarrassment, but surely even this leadership couldn't survive THIS?

A national election looms in the near future. In a telling sign of both what lacrosse was in this country and what it now is, a headline manifesto commitment of the centre-left WPP as they attempt to regain power from the centre-right NUP was for the government to take charge of the sport's administration and to subsidise the domestic production of lacrosse equipment.

[The Jovannic]

Further Agony for "Unlucky" Jovannicans: Third Loss by one goal against Praxedes

Maybe it wasn't the tournament for The Jovannican Lacrosse team this year. The Jovannicans came into the match with over 65 percent possession, but could not convert the new-found possession to goals as Praxedes hung on tightly to the Jovannican defence and stuck in an overtime goal to further frustrate fans and players alike. The 9-10 overtime defeat left The Jovannic in second last place with 4 points, only ahead of Isle Noire by 18 goals. It was somewhat ironic that The Jovannic still had a positive goal difference of 4, while they had lost 4 games and won only one. The next match is extremely vital to the survival of our team. We will have to defeat Kohnhead to have a decent chance of qualifying and then defeat Murderbum as well, hoping that Praxedes does not win both their games against Sylestone and Kohnhead. While this may be a challenge to conquer, our team may have the spirit to qualify with their backs against the wall. Oh, well at least we hope so!

All Hail The Jovannic!

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

House of Assembly, Parliament House, Belle Haven
(first day of final annual session of the fourth legal year of the 31st Parliament of the Commonwealth, September 7)
Mr Speaker (David Kosik) "Order, Order. Thank You. Pursuant to Standing Order 8 (a) of the House, the fourth session of the fourth year of the duly elected 31st Parliament of the Commonwealth will now come to Order. All outstanding business carried over from the third session remains upon the table of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Order 11 (e) under the Ten Minute Rule, the Chair recognizes the Prime Minister."

Prime Minister (Rebecca Schoenlein--F [Coolville North]) "Mr Speaker, I beg leave of the Chair to address the Assembly under the provisions of the Ten Minute Rule."
Mr Speaker: "Without Objection, So Ordered"
Prime Minister: "Mr Speaker, I intended to keep my remarks limited to the usual session opening platitudes, but it has come to the attention of the Cabinet Office via the Embassy of the Kingdom of Banija within the last 45 minutes of the announcement of the death of Matthias Mutebi, formerly Katikkirro during the Banijan Drought Crisis, Civil War and the Equestriam War, along with the breakaway of the Busoga Islands; who suffered a fatal heart attack while under house arrest, aged 93.
The Commonwealth have worked hand in hand with the Kingdom through difficult times and to achieve celebratory moments--Mr Speaker, we include all members on the opposition benches in this praise, as the Leader and the other minority leaders have given unqualified support on this subject--but we state as the official policy of the Government that we express our sympathy to his family, and our respects to the people of Banija. I beg leave to abandon the remainder of my time under the rules."

Mr Speaker: "Without objection.

[South Jeolerina]

MD6 Cutoff

Every matchday, we will provide some prompts together with the cutoff message. These prompts are used as a guide, and will not result in any benefits should you choose to RP based on these prompts.
For MD6, the prompt is as follows: With the 6th matches out and ongoing, the brutal elimination stages will come. 12 teams will leave after their 7th game, 4 more will join them at the Round of 20. And so on. Has there been a team that has caught your fans' attention? A team that has gotten the respect of your team? It can be a team you will support if your own team gets knocked out in the process.

MD1: Introduce your team! Talk about your nation's history with lacrosse, domestically, internationally. Your team's targets. Introduce some of the stars of your team here in South Jeolerina.
MD2: When the country's athletes come out to play, how does the country support the players? Maybe you can share some information about the fans and how they will show their support their national team at every big tournament.
MD3: It is time to showcase something about your country. What do people want to do the most when they visit your country? What should they be on the lookout for? Or is there a less well-known culture in your country that you want to show case? This RP can even take the form of a graphic, a postcard, should you have the abilities to do it!
MD4: There is always something about the midway point. How has the tournament been thus far? Have they been playing good games with their lacrosse ball and lacrosse stick? Or have they been traveling around this place? South Jeolerina isn't the most fantastic tourist place (that is Hallikshire, really), but the country has some things which people can enjoy. How do they find Jeoleris? Are they good hosts?
MD5: Rivals. Do you have a nation you consider as a rival? It could be a nation where "we will do better than you" applies, a nation your people don't want to see lifting the final trophy. How did this rivalry come about? Historical baggage? Current relations? Neighbours in your region? Record in other sports? Or even, from past WLC experience?
If you don't have a rival as your nation, think about some of the rivalries in your team. Do such things exist? Are there people who would constantly compete with each other?

Just to clarify, seeding will be done twice, at the Round of 20, and the Round of 16. Where possible, group stage rematches will be avoided, while taking into account seeding. Where that is not possible, ranks will be prioritised over possibility of rematches.

---

Group A
South Jeolerina 9–9 Qasden (10–9 OT) (Scorinated by Quebec and Shingoryeo)
Barhe 9–13 Taxonomic Kingdoms
Delaclava 5–18 HUElavia
Magnecia 5–4 Abanhfleft

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   HUElavia                    6   5   0   1   78   44   34   15 Qualified for Ro16  
2   Taxonomic Kingdoms          6   5   0   1   62   36   26   15 Qualified for Ro16
3   South Jeolerina             6   4   0   2   72   69    3   12 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16
4   Qasden                      6   3   1   2   46   41    5   10 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16  
5   Abanhfleft                  6   3   0   3   48   49   -1    9 
6   Magnecia                    6   2   0   4   40   53  -13    6 Can only qualify for Ro20  
7   Delaclava                   6   2   0   4   46   65  -19    6 Can only qualify for Ro20
8   Barhe                       6   0   0   6   54   89  -35    0 Eliminated

Group B
Kriegiersien 9–7 Melbergia
Natanians and Nosts 9–7 Venmere
Banija 18–6 Bollonich
Northwest Kalactin 10–7 The Kytler Peninsulae

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Banija                      6   6   0   0   94   43   51   18 Qualified for Ro16
2   Natanians and Nosts         6   5   0   1   62   48   14   15 Qualified for Ro16  
3   Kriegiersien                6   4   1   1   69   46   23   13 Qualified for Ro16  
4   Venmere                     6   3   0   3   53   47    6    9 Can only qualify for Ro20  
5   Melbergia                   6   3   0   3   53   60   -7    9 Can only qualify for Ro20  
6   Bollonich                   6   2   0   4   43   66  -23    6 Can only qualify for Ro20  
7   Northwest Kalactin          6   1   0   5   43   86  -43    3 Eliminated  
8   The Kytler Peninsulae       6   0   0   6   41   62  -21    0 Eliminated  

Group C
Sylestone 14–7 Praxedes
Kohnhead 7–4 The Jovannic
Murderbum 4–18 Baker Park
Isle Noire 6–7 Nyowani Kitara

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Baker Park                  6   5   0   1   76   42   34   15 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16  
2   Sylestone                   6   5   0   1   66   48   18   15 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16  
3   Kohnhead                    6   4   1   1   46   38    8   13 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16  
4   Nyowani Kitara              6   4   0   2   54   64  -10   12 Qualified for Ro20, but can qualify for Ro16
5   Praxedes                    6   2   0   4   58   68  -10    6 Can only qualify for Ro20
6   Murderbum                   6   2   0   4   60   86  -26    6 Can only qualify for Ro20  
7   The Jovannic                6   1   1   4   61   60    1    4 Can only qualify for Ro20  
8   Isle Noire                  6   1   1   4   45   60  -15    4 Can only qualify for Ro20

Group D
The Cordian Isles 7–7 Cassadaigua (9–8 OT)
Har Yarok 9–11 Ranoria
Quebec and Shingoryeo 7–13 Tropicorp
Beaverriver 9–14 Sarzonia

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Sarzonia                    6   6   0   0   84   47   37   18 Qualified for Ro16
2   The Cordian Isles           6   5   0   1   63   38   25   15 Qualified for Ro16  
3   Beaverriver                 6   3   0   3   57   46   11    9   
4   Tropicorp                   6   3   0   3   58   54    4    9   
5   Ranoria                     6   3   0   3   57   66   -9    9   
6   Quebec and Shingoryeo       6   2   0   4   57   79  -22    6 Can only qualify for Ro20
7   Cassadaigua                 6   1   1   4   50   72  -22    4 Eliminated  
8   Har Yarok                   6   1   0   5   52   76  -24    3 Eliminated

Notes: 
1) MD7 fixtures: Tropicorp vs Beaverriver, Ranoria vs Quebec and Shingoryeo. As such, at least 1 of Beaverriver/Tropicorp will earn more than 9 points, so Quebec cannot get higher than 4th by pure GD.

[Cassadaigua]

Team Cassadaigua- WLC 38

Team Nickname: Fillies and/or Dagans
Demonym: People from Cassadaigua are called Cassadagans, or simply, Dagans. However, if you call us something else like Cassadaiguans, I simply look at it as that is how your nation references us, and don’t get concerned about it.

Uniforms:
Home: Pink with black lettering and trim.
Away: Black with pink lettering and trim. (If clashes with an opponent- Will wear home uniform).

Roster
(Regular Starters In Green)
(Bench Players In Red)

Goalkeepers:
#1- Amanda Douglas (30)
#20- Crystal Ogilvie (29)
#21- Stefanie Donaldson (27)

Defense:
#6- Nicole Wohlers (24)
#7- Kristen Gratton (23)
#5- Hannah Tromblay (29)
#2- Krystine Douglas (22)
#3- Adrienne Martinque (23)
#6- Maggie Suarez (22)

Midfield:
#8- Kelsey Barker (33) (Team Captain)
#10- Lexi Looper (31)
#17- Sierra Morganstern (30)
#13- Becca Landover (25)
#14- Brittney Tremont (24)
#16- Courtney Schulz (23)

Attack:
#9- Stacey Proctor (31)
#19- Jenna Matthews (23)
#12- Shelby Chandler (31)
#25- Jenna Price (31)
#18- Rachel Harris (23)
#11- Jessica Crockett (40)

Coach: Sarah Cortez (50)
Asst Coach: Katie Jones (48)

Team Notes:
- Team is neutral in focus, both offensively and defensively, but a high modifier is used due to the scoring ability of the the attack.
- Team is not looking to be excessively physical, and will shy away from any cheap actions. Physical play is kept within the rules. However, if others get cheap will us, they will respond accordingly. They are not afraid to throw punches (or receive them) from male players (especially Gratton and Proctor), but will only do so in response to an opponent's actions, they do not instigate it. Instigating something with Proctor is not advised unless your player is exceptionally good at fighting.

Style: +3

RP Permissions
Choose my goal scorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but only say they were hurt. I will determine the severity.
Godmod Injuries to my players: No
Suspend my players: Yes, but no more then one more then you suspend of your own.
Godmod suspension events: No
Godmod other events: Doubtful, but TG me if you have something interesting you think I might like, and I may go along.

[Cassadaigua]

We're Already Eliminated,
by Chelsea Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

Top 10 Reasons Cassadaigua is already eliminated from WLC 38:

1) The Concord Heights Times has not been publishing comprehensive game reports about them.
2) An intern at the Concord Heights Times failed to provide a public roster to the competition organizers in a timely manner.
3) The Goddess of Scores, Margaret, especially hates when public rosters are not provided in a timely manner and has been offering punishments for doing so in this tournament.
4) They thought it would be more fun to be a spoiler.
5) They miss Jessica Crockett in the starting lineup.
7) Miss Everything, Jessica Crockett, told the team to play like crap out of spite. (ok, probably not).
8) The team sympathizes with the gridiron and basketball teams too much as they did not play in the last major tournament.
9) Other teams have played better. (Come on, it can't be that simple, can it?)
10) You just now realized that there was no six.
10b) The intern who failed to provide our roster "accidentally" deleted reason six from this article. Sorry.

[Sarzonia]

Sarzonia continued to roll through the group stages of the 38th World Lacrosse Championships, defeating Beaverriver 14-9 to improve to 6-0.

They will face The Cordian Isles with both teams having already guaranteed a spot directly into the Round of 16. Manager Jordan Helms said the Stars would use their usual starting 10 against The Cordian Isles.

"We're not taking our foot off the gas. We're fighting for the Group D title and the higher seed in the knockout rounds that goes with it," Helms said. "We know we'd still get a good seeding even if we lose, but we'd rather not leave anything to chance."

It's an aggressive mindset that has served the Stars well in the last two World Lacrosse Championships, and it's a mindset you expect from a defending champion. It's also the mindset you expect from a team that's gunning for a piece of history in trying to become the first team to win seven World Lacrosse Championships and win back-to-back titles for the first time in history.

Sarzonia have not lost a match since a 4-2 defeat to the then-defending champions Abanhfleft in WLC 36. That title marked the sixth one the Fleftics would win, meaning Sarzonia were no longer the most successful team at winning titles in history. The Stars steamrolled the Fleftics 27-10 in the final in the previous edition to prevent them from winning a third consecutive title and return the Stars to the top of the world lacrosse mountain. For right now, the team's focus is squarely on The Cordian Isles, whom goaltender Matt Henning said the team would not take lightly despite their being unranked.

"Look at their record," Henning said. "They're a strong team with a stingy defence that's allowed fewer goals that we have. We're going to have to play well in all phases in order to win this one."

Attack Colin Grassley said he noticed The Cordian Isles won in overtime against Cassadaigua, beating the Sarah Cortez-coached Dagans 9-8.

"Cassadaigua haven't had the results they or anyone else expected," he said. "They're still a highly-ranked team, a tough team and they played us real tough. Beating them is no easy task."

The Stars aren't looking ahead to potential knockout round opponents, but the Stars clearly are aware of Banija, who won the Atlantian Oceania Lacrosse Classic during the AOlympics. The Stars' only losses since the beginning of the WLC 37 cycle have come during the AOlympics, where they finished fourth. Grassley said the team is using those losses as motivation for the WLC.

"Yeah, definitely," he said. "We're still pissed off about losing in the AOLC and we want to make sure we step up and win here."

[Sylestone]

The Sylestonean > Sport > Lacrosse > WLC 38

HAWTHORNS MAKE IT FIVE ON THE TROT WITH WINS OVER ISLE NOIRE, PRAXEDES

DONBESTER, SOUTH JEOLERINA - Following a win by a sole goal over a determined side from The Jovannic, the Hawthorns were up against debutants Isle Noire in what could be a defining match for a third-placed berth. From here on, wins in each game will assure the Hawthorns of top two, but none of their following opponents would necessarily be easy.

The Isle Noire goalkeeper had a great game all the way up into injury time, stopping almost every attack from the Hawthorns and limiting them to only six goals across sixty minute of play despite being, by far, the better side of the two. Isle Noire only led at one point in the game, when they were 5-4 up towards the end of the third quarter, but the lead never exceeded two goals throughout the entire match despite relentless pressure from the Sylestonean midfield.

Isabella Collingwood continued her good form from previous matches, scoring Sylestone’s first two goals, separated by a goal to veteran Amy Jones of Isle Noire to put Sylestone 2-1 up at the end of the first fifteen. Despite a brilliant shot from Amerique Wirre to equalise, captain Brianna King combined with her fellow midfielders to score two goals to give the Hawthorns a 4-2 lead with half the game gone.

But Isle Noire came out after the break, guns blazing, determined to put the Hawthorns right on the back foot. And they succeeded, putting three goals past a stunned Jack Barker in goals to take a 5-4 lead from being 4-2 down. Despite being at the wrong end of the run of play throughout the first half of the game, ten minutes had turned it all on its head.

With seconds to spare in the half, Christopher Cox equalised to put the score at 5-5 heading into the final fifteen. Collingwood scored her third of the match early on, but it was met with four minutes to spare by Pines Gwinell, taking the game to overtime.

It was there that the Hawthorns were able to extract a hold on the game. After an early Isle Noire goal, they took a 9-7 lead and despite a brilliant shot from Oskar Riango with minutes to spare, they held onto the two points to remain right on Baker Park’s tail.

But fucking hell. What a game.

The preceding one between Sylestone and Praxedes was far from as exciting. It was one way traffic the entire team, with the Hawthorns using their experience to their advantage as they bounded to a 14-7 victory, easily winning each quarter despite fierce fight from the unranked side. An early goal to star player Koray Samaras put Praxedes ahead early, but the Hawthorns still took that quarter out, 4-2. In the second, Harry Mills achieved a clean sheet as the Esportivans took a 7-2 lead heading into the second half of the game. Praxedes would need a miracle to come back from this.

The Hawthorns kept a hold of their lead in the third, scoring four more to Praxedes’ two as they continued to climb to bests never seen before. And despite the final quarter finishing with three goals apiece, this was the first time that Sylestone had ever achieved five wins on the trot. A record worth smiling over, that’s for sure.

Now, they needed to lose to Nyowani Kitara by fourteen goals or more to even have a chance of dropping out of the top three. Technically possible… but it’d be a bloody miracle if it happens. For them, not us, of course.

Lineup vs Nyowani Kitara @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina

Mills; Dammer - Myers - McGill; Fiedler - King (c) - Rosenhain; Bungaree - Cox - Collingwood

Schedule:

MD1: Kohnhead 7-4 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD2: Sylestone 9-5 Baker Park @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD3: Murderbum 15-24 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD4: Sylestone 9-8 The Jovannic @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD5: Isle Noire 8-9 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD6: Sylestone 14-7 Praxedes @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD7: Nyowani Kitara - Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Weekend 2021
Baker Park close out WLC pool play against newcomers
by Lee Throckmorton, National Reporter

The National Lacrosse Team will return to Hangastan for their final match in the World Lacrosse Championships here in South Jeolerina against first time entrants Isle Noire.

Group C remains the only one of the four pools of 8 teams that has none of them having clinched a top 2 spot or having been eliminated from advancing to the knockout stage; the bottom of the table has Murderbum and Praxedes on 6 points while The Jovannic sit on 4 points along Isle Noire; the top half is equally as close, with BP & Sylestone tied on 15 points, followed by Kohnhead on 13 and Nyowani Kitara on 12. The Hawthorns and NK face each other and the Brains square off with Praxedes, leaving The Jovannic against Murderbum in the other Matchday 7 contest.

The Commonwealth have defeated their previous three opponents by an average score of 14-6, and Isle Noire have proven tough opponents despite having the lowest goal total in the group, balanced by a defense that has only given up 10 per match.

In the other groups, Banija and defending champions Sarzonia appear to be on a collision course, as they remain the only sides who have yet to lose thus far. World number 1 Abanhfleft are in the danger zone at the moment, sitting fifth in Group A needing a win while looking up at 7th ranked HUElavia and 11th ranked Taxonomic Kingdoms, while sixth ranked Cassadaigua cannot advance out of Group D, where another first time participant, The Cordian Isles sit second behind only the Stars.

[Taxonomic Kingdoms]

There aren't a lot of sports bars in the Taxonomic Kingdoms, and the ones that do exist often show things like cockfighting or snail racing. Synchronized swimming is popular in Chromista and Protozoa. Eating contests are popular in Bacteria.

There are even fewer sports bars that show sporting events filmed on Earth, but there are a few. If you walked into someplace like Ringside Grille in Hong Kong, or the Last Stop Tavern in Charon's Ferry -- bars that catered to a primarily human clientele -- you might think the HUElavian lacrosse team were hated rivals. People were angry that they had beaten the Hermit Crabs, and some of them talked trash about it. But that attitude was mostly limited to human communities in the Virias, and a few cold and flu goddesses that had gotten a little too chummy with their human neighbors.

In Animalia, the HUElavian team was respected, and for exactly the same reason: because they had beaten the Hermit Crabs.

The Crabs themselves respected any team who gave them a challenge. Lacrosse wasn't a full-time career or a life-long dream for them. It was a fun pastime and a way to make friendly contact with the mortal world. You didn't have to win every game to accomplish those goals.

[South Jeolerina]

MD7 Cutoff

Every matchday, we will provide some prompts together with the cutoff message. These prompts are used as a guide, and will not result in any benefits should you choose to RP based on these prompts.
For MD7, the prompt is as follows: It's the end of a really long group stage! Talk about a team that you think, will be your biggest challenge to the title. It is similar to what we asked in MD5, but in that case, we were looking for a team which has some history with your side. In this case, however, we are talking about the team which you think, has been doing well for the past 7 matchdays, and you think they will be one of the title contenders.

MD1: Introduce your team! Talk about your nation's history with lacrosse, domestically, internationally. Your team's targets. Introduce some of the stars of your team here in South Jeolerina.
MD2: When the country's athletes come out to play, how does the country support the players? Maybe you can share some information about the fans and how they will show their support their national team at every big tournament.
MD3: It is time to showcase something about your country. What do people want to do the most when they visit your country? What should they be on the lookout for? Or is there a less well-known culture in your country that you want to show case? This RP can even take the form of a graphic, a postcard, should you have the abilities to do it!
MD4: There is always something about the midway point. How has the tournament been thus far? Have they been playing good games with their lacrosse ball and lacrosse stick? Or have they been traveling around this place? South Jeolerina isn't the most fantastic tourist place (that is Hallikshire, really), but the country has some things which people can enjoy. How do they find Jeoleris? Are they good hosts?
MD5: Rivals. Do you have a nation you consider as a rival? It could be a nation where "we will do better than you" applies, a nation your people don't want to see lifting the final trophy. How did this rivalry come about? Historical baggage? Current relations? Neighbours in your region? Record in other sports? Or even, from past WLC experience?
If you don't have a rival as your nation, think about some of the rivalries in your team. Do such things exist? Are there people who would constantly compete with each other?
MD6: With the 6th matches out and ongoing, the brutal elimination stages will come. 12 teams will leave after their 7th game, 4 more will join them at the Round of 20. And so on. Has there been a team that has caught your fans' attention? A team that has gotten the respect of your team? It can be a team you will support if your own team gets knocked out in the process.

---

Note: There were some differences in the GF/GA/GD for the tables, as previously, OT scores weren't taken into account. They have since been corrected and taken into account for this set of tables.

Group A
Abanhfleft 2-14 South Jeolerina (Scorinated by The Licentian Isles)
HUElavia 9–3 Magnecia
Taxonomic Kingdoms 12–4 Delaclava
Qasden 4–4 Barhe (6–5 OT)

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   HUElavia                    7   6   0   1   87   47   40   18 Ro16  
2   Taxonomic Kingdoms          7   6   0   1   74   40   34   18 Ro16  
3   South Jeolerina             7   5   0   2   87   71   16   15 Ro16  
4   Qasden                      7   4   1   2   52   47    5   13 Ro20  
5   Abanhfleft                  7   3   0   4   50   63  -13    9 Ro20  
6   Magnecia                    7   2   0   5   43   62  -19    6   
7   Delaclava                   7   2   0   5   50   77  -27    6   
8   Barhe                       7   0   1   6   59   95  -36    1   

Group B
The Kytler Peninsulae 10–12 Kriegiersien
Bollonich 9–9 Northwest Kalactin (12–9 OT)
Venmere 4–12 Banija
Melbergia 7–9 Natanians and Nosts

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Banija                      7   7   0   0  106   47   59   21 Ro16  
2   Natanians and Nosts         7   6   0   1   73   56   17   18 Ro16  
3   Kriegiersien                7   5   1   1   82   58   24   16 Ro16
4   Venmere                     7   3   0   4   57   59   -2    9 Ro20  
5   Melbergia                   7   3   0   4   60   69   -9    9 Ro20  
6   Bollonich                   7   3   0   4   55   75  -20    9   
7   Northwest Kalactin          7   1   1   5   52   98  -46    4   
8   The Kytler Peninsulae       7   0   0   7   51   74  -23    0  

Group C
Nyowani Kitara 9–15 Sylestone
Baker Park 21–2 Isle Noire
The Jovannic 14–13 Murderbum
Praxedes 4–17 Kohnhead
 
#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Baker Park                  7   6   0   1   97   44   53   18 Ro16  
2   Sylestone                   7   6   0   1   84   59   25   18 Ro16  
3   Kohnhead                    7   5   1   1   64   44   20   16 Ro16  
4   Nyowani Kitara              7   4   0   3   63   79  -16   12 Ro20  
5   The Jovannic                7   2   1   4   75   74    1    7 Ro20  
6   Praxedes                    7   2   0   5   63   85  -22    6   
7   Murderbum                   7   2   0   5   75  101  -26    6   
8   Isle Noire                  7   1   1   5   49   84  -35    4   

Group D
Sarzonia 14–8 The Cordian Isles
Tropicorp 12–9 Beaverriver
Ranoria 18–4 Quebec and Shingoryeo
Cassadaigua 8–9 Har Yarok

#   Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts   
1   Sarzonia                    7   7   0   0   98   55   43   21 Ro16  
2   The Cordian Isles           7   5   0   2   73   53   20   15 Ro16  
3   Tropicorp                   7   4   0   3   70   63    7   12 Ro16  
4   Ranoria                     7   4   0   3   75   70    5   12 Ro20  
5   Beaverriver                 7   3   0   4   66   58    8    9 Ro20  
6   Har Yarok                   7   2   0   5   61   84  -23    6   
7   Quebec and Shingoryeo       7   2   0   5   61   97  -36    6   
8   Cassadaigua                 7   1   1   5   59   83  -24    4

Overall ranking of top 20 teams are as follows:

##  GR  Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
 1  B1  Banija                      7   7   0   0  106   47   59   21 Ro16  
 2  D1  Sarzonia                    7   7   0   0   98   55   43   21 Ro16
 3  C1  Baker Park                  7   6   0   1   97   44   53   18 Ro16  
 4  A1  HUElavia                    7   6   0   1   87   47   40   18 Ro16
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5  A2  Taxonomic Kingdoms          7   6   0   1   74   40   34   18 Ro16  
 6  C2  Sylestone                   7   6   0   1   84   59   25   18 Ro16  
 7  B2  Natanians and Nosts         7   6   0   1   73   56   17   18 Ro16  
 8  D2  The Cordian Isles           7   5   0   2   73   53   20   15 Ro16  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9  B3  Kriegiersien                7   5   1   1   82   58   24   16 Ro16
10  C3  Kohnhead                    7   5   1   1   64   44   20   16 Ro16  
11  A3  South Jeolerina             7   5   0   2   87   71   16   15 Ro16  
12  D3  Tropicorp                   7   4   0   3   70   63    7   12 Ro16
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  A4  Qasden                      7   4   1   2   52   47    5   13 Ro20  
14  D4  Ranoria                     7   4   0   3   75   70    5   12 Ro20  
15  C4  Nyowani Kitara              7   4   0   3   63   79  -16   12 Ro20 
16  B4  Venmere                     7   3   0   4   57   59   -2    9 Ro20  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
17  D5  Beaverriver                 7   3   0   4   66   58    8    9 Ro20
18  B5  Melbergia                   7   3   0   4   60   69   -9    9 Ro20 
19  A5  Abanhfleft                  7   3   0   4   50   63  -13    9 Ro20  
20  C5  The Jovannic                7   2   1   4   75   74    1    7 Ro20 

There will be no cutoffs on 13th September.

For the Round of 20 on 14th September, the fixtures are as follows:

Qasden (13) vs The Jovannic (20)
Ranoria (14) vs Abanhfleft (19)
Nyowani Kitara (15) vs Melbergia (18)
Venmere (16) vs Beaverriver (17)

Teams will be reseeded for the Round of 16 on 15th September. As such, the cutoff for the Round of 20 will likely to be around 11-11.30am UTC. For teams who are having a bye on the 14th, RPs will still be graded and counted to that cutoff, should an RP be posted.

[Kriegiersien]

Smooth Sports

your source for interesting sports you have never heard of


Today: Lacrosse.


And it is World Championship time again. Kriegiersien won 12-10 against The Kytler Peninsulae in the last Group match and is now in the round of 16.
The Kriegiersiens dream of the title, but who are the real Top Teams here?

Banija and Sarzonia are Top of the table, unbeaten and the teams with the biggest claim for the title. The way only leads over them.
Banija with their in depth game study and world renown radio coverage in all the big sports and title defender Sarzonia with their winning attitude are both hard to come by.

After that, the contenders are lining up:

Baker Park and HUElavia are clinging on to former success, but aren’t looking that strong and convincing.
Taxonomic Kingdoms are full of godly players. Literally. So you should never count out gods, even in crapb form.
South Jeolerina ist the host and with that never to underestimate. You never know if they let the Cup leave the country again.
Abanhfleft, Kriegiersien nemesis and rival in all non Olympic sports, are lost their focus and only could come back over the backdoor. Again.

The pure female team of Cassadaigua would be a contender, but they forgot to count themselves in correctly and are already out.


So the money is on Sarzonia or Banija, but now the crunch time begins and maybe some of the teams can surprise. It is worth to follow the matches and especially our mixed Kriegiersien team of course. Go lads!

[The Cordian Isles]

Locker Room, Pregame
Skoglund: Niklas, Hans, Nelly, Selma, Gustav, Ella, Johan, Oskar, Brit, Tore, you're our starters for today.

This team is going to be hard to beat. I don't care that they're the second-lowest in this group. They're the sixth-best team in the world, and they'll be playing like it, I guarantee you. Key for today is communication. D and mids, if they're switching around, you switch coverage. Nobody on their team gets open today, is that right?

Team: Yes, coach!

Skoglund: Is that RIGHT?

Team: YES, COACH!

Skoglund: Good, I thought you'd lost your voices for a second. Offense, you guys are going to always stay in motion today. If they want to cover you, they have to catch you. Pass, pass, pass, send it to the open man, make them scramble.

Groven: Hey coach, they want us on the field.

Skoglund: Alright, let's go!

As the team walks to the field, shouts can be heard to the theme of "let's go, guys"

End of 1st Quarter

The teams are tied at 2, it's been a battle.

Skoglund: First group, you're taking over. We're going to keep fresh legs out there today.

The second group, who've played every minute since the 4th quarter vs. Tropicorp, sit down on the bench, visibly exhausted.

Skoglund: We're tied with the 6th team in the world, how do you feel?

Mike Hustad: F***ing great!
Everybody in!
in a whisper Guys, the world is watching right now. Let's show them what we can do.
CORDIA ON 3!

Team: 1-2-3 CORDIA!

At the half, in the locker room

Cordia has a 5-3 lead.

Skoglund: First group, you guys are going out there again. Great quarter, that's all I need to say, isn't it.

End of 3rd Quarter

That was a mistake. The Dagans have taken a 6-5 lead. The team is pretty obviously dejected.

Skoglund: Second group, you're going. This game is not over, not even close to over. We thought it was against Tropicorp. We came back and pulled off a win. There will be no dejected faces on this sideline.

Hustad: CORDIA ON 3!

Team: 1-2-3 CORDIA!

12:17 left in the 4th

Hans Rue has the ball behind the net. A long pass to a now-open Ella Ringstad; she rips a shot. Goal. Tie game.

Ringstad: Hell of a pass. How do you do that?

H. Rue: The secret is to pray to Margaret. A lot. Preferably as you pass.

Ringstad: Why do I even bother.

H. Rue: That is a question that even I cannot answer.

5:52 left in the 4th

The Dagans are set up in the offensive zone, passing around the outside, poking and prodding for opportunities. With the shot clock running down, Jenna Matthews shot from out wide, typically not a scoring position. But Tore Volden didn’t see the ball until after it hit his thigh and bounced in. Cassadaigua has the lead 7-6.

1:18 left in the 4th

Volden blocks a shot, picks the ball up and tosses it to Oscar Meas. Meas passes out to Gustav Tande, who passes to Ella Ringstad sprinting into the offensive zone. Cordia has a brief 4-3 man advantage. A Dagan defender steps out to cover Ringstad, but Ringstad tosses a quick pass over her head to Niklas Aasen. The Dagans are scrambling; two focus on Aasen, leaving Nelly Rue open on the opposite side of the net. A quick pass, a hard shot, an open net; the goaltender had no chance.

Aasen: All tied up, let’s get another!

H. Rue: Sounds great, you should get right on that.

Aasen: (shaking head) Shut up.

End of 4th Quarter

Skoglund: We’re more than in this. We have the momentum. Let’s finish this game off.

Hustad: CORDIA ON 3!

Team: 1-2-3 CORDIA!

Hustad goes out for the coin toss. He wins the toss; this is a major subject of superstition in Cordian lacrosse. The team cheers.

The crowd is half-pink, half-royal. Conflicting cheers can be heard, so it sounds like the crowd is universally cheering for “Cassadia” and “Cordagua”. The teams take the field. Cordia wins the faceoff; Selma Lier picks up the ball and sprints into the offensive zone, causing confusion in coverage for the Dagans. This is where the Cordians thrive. None of the defenders pick up Lier, and she is able to get a shot off. It goes between the legs of Amanda Douglas. Goal.

There’s less an actual conversation than a general screaming of “oh my g-yes-nice shot”. Two minutes later, Lier scores another shot, the release blocked from Douglas’ view by a Dagan defender. Lier nets her second goal of the game.

The Dagans score in the final minute of the period, but it is irrelevant. They can’t overcome the two-goal lead and the Cordians pull off an upset win against the 6th-best team in the world.

Post-game, in the locker room

Skoglund: We’ve got Sarzonia tomorrow, so be ready. But no pressure in that game; we’ve already got ourselves a bye. It’s been a crazy tournament, and we’re still in it to win it.

The team doesn’t full-on celebrate, but the smiles reveal that they’re feeling pretty good about themselves right now. Nobody thought they’d get this far with the possible exception of Skoglund, and it feels pretty great to defy your own expectations.

---

[Sarzonia]

Sarzonia has a number of rivals in sport, some specific to a sport or to a subset of a particular sport.

There are some teams whom Sarzonia consider an archrival no matter what sport they play, including regional neighbours Delaclava, who always seem to be one match away from creating an instant classic no matter what circumstances exist. They also include fellow regionmates Banija, with whom the Stars in all incarnations seemingly have a fierce rivalry with no matter the sport. You can also include Cassadaigua, as the Fillies and the Stars have played each other in multiple sports, and have faced each other in knockout competitions over the years.

There are some teams who are fierce rivals in a particular sport, but they may not necessarily face the Stars in other sports. Taking over-35 football, aka "masters football," for instance, Kriegiersien and Sarzonia may have faced each other in several different sports, but in the four-edition history of the World Cup of Masters, the Stars and Kriegiersien have become rivals after meeting each other in the first two finals in World Cup of Masters history. Sarzonia defeated Kriegiersien 4-0 in the first final and lost to them in the second 5-3 in penalties after both regulation and extra time ended level at 2-2. Also, in lacrosse, Sarzonia and Baker Park have faced each other several times over the years, and those matches have always been hotly contested. Another prime example involves Aussie Rules Football, as Sarzonia and Baggieland have developed a fierce rivalry in that code after the Stars delivered Baggieland their first-ever defeat during the group stage and won the first Aussie Rules Footabll World Cup title on Baggieland soil. They also knocked out Baggieland in the quarterfinals of the third edition en route to Sarzonia's second title.

More recent teams that Sarzonia can consider rivals regardless of sport include Abanhfleft, who certainly are rivals of the Stars in lacrosse after the Fleftics ended Sarzonia's championship hopes in the knockout rounds until the last edition when Sarzonia finally knocked off Abanhfleft 27-10 in the final. They also include HUElavia, a team the Stars field hockey team battled in an extra time thriller in the 18th edition, among the sports that have seen Los Armarillos and the Stars battle it out.

Certainly, there are other teams that Sarzonia would certainly consider rivals even if the other teams involved don't feel the same way. One example of this would be Valanora, a team the Stars have faced in football, basketball and ice hockey. The Stars have lost to the Vanorians in three consecutive World Cup of Hockey knockout rounds, and the footballing history between the two countries includes several battles.

As for the current edition of the World Lacrosse Championships, the Stars are the No. 2 seeds behind the dominant Banijans. Both teams are undefeated at 7-0-0 going in, but Banija earned the No. 1 overall seeds based on their stingy defence and better overall goal differential. Baker Park also have a higher goal differential than do the Stars, but Sarzonia have the second highest goal total of any team remaining in the tournament after the Lions. Manager Jordan Helms said his team isn't looking past anyone at a possible collision course with Banija in the final.

"You've got too many good teams," Helms said. "The Fleftics may be down compared to where they usually are (Abanhfleft are 3-0-4 with a minus-13 goal differential), but they're a team you can't take for granted in the knockout rounds. We certainly don't." HUElavia are the other group winners, carrying a 6-0-1 record into the Round of 16 after winning Group A, which defensive coordinator Makeeyah Brantley described as "the group of death." She pointed to the fact that Los Armarillos also faced host nation South Jeolerina, Qasden, and the Fleftics. Former WLC runners up Delaclava also competed in Group A.

"Getting out of that group could either leave a team spent or could toughen them up for the knockouts," Brantley said. "Whomever we face in the Round of 16 we're going to have a lot of work to do to be ready for."

[Nyowani Kitara]

The Kitara People's Free Press
The voice for the working people of Nyowani Kitara

Nyowani Kitara qualify for the knockouts, get Melbergia in the Round of 20 at the WLCs

SOUTH JEOLERINA- The national lacrosse team has finished the group stages of the WLCs, unfortunately, with a 6 goal loss to Sylestone. However, there are many benefits. For the first time, we have made the knockout stages at the World Lacrosse Championships, as the four wins our national team achieved during group play was enough to get to the Round of 20.

"It's a great day for lacrosse here in Nyowani Kitara." Said Head Coach Laurin Schaufelberger. "We have come here with a singular purpose- to show the world that we can indeed compete on the biggest stages, and under the brightest lights, with the very best in the lacrosse world. And we have done that. We are not in that top tier yet- but nobody is upon their maiden entry to a world championship event. It takes time to build that culture and that talent base, and this is a marker for us- to show that we are building towards the future. It is now all about getting to the Round of 16, to show that we can even win a KO stage game as well."

Attacking player Uchi Ebele said that the team would be laser-focused on Melbergia. "We are not worried about this loss to Sylestone. While it is obviously not ideal, we need to put this behind us and move on. 4-3 is good enough to make the Round of 16 even if we didn't have this extra Ro20 stage, and we are going to show the lacrosse world that we are indeed good enough to continue moving on." The game, by most commentators, is considered to be a toss-up. Melbergia, of course, finished the knockout stages with a losing record, at 3-4. And while NYK was 4-3, we allowed 10 more goals than they did over 7 games, showcasing our inability to keep the ball out of the net.

In fact, of the top 20 teams- nobody conceded more goals than we did. And that led to us having the worst total goal differential of any team in the playoffs. But one of the squad's starting defenders, Orjy Ekenedilichukwu, spoke about how the team would clean up their act in the back. "It hasn't been the greatest tournament in the back, we understand that." He told reporters. "But we are working in practice on improving our play in the back, and we will have it improved by the Melbergia game. We are not going to go back there and allow 14 ,15 goals in this do-or-die play-in game. I promise the people, we are going to be much more tightened up, and we will do our country proud to get to the next round."

The game will be broadcast at 3 PM local.

Other News
- Banija and Sarzonia look like tournament favorites, with the archrivals both sitting pretty at 7-0 and on opposite sides of the bracket. Many Nyowani Kitara fans are claiming that there is "no way" that Banija wins a title this time around, and that Sarzonia are betting favorites for the trophy.
- The team is looking healthy, and no players are listed on the pre-game injury report for the Round of 20 for Nyowani Kitara. Fans are said to be buying tickets in decent numbers, as many are expecting and hopeful of what would be Nyowani Kitara's first ever knockout stage victory in any major tournament in any team sport.
- A rules analyst on Nyowani Kitara television, in his bracket predictions, predicted a "massive upset" in the quarterfinals, as he picked an up and coming Cordian Isles side to down Banija at the quarterfinal stage of this tournament, and stop them from progressing to what would be their third consecutive WLC semifinal(and fourth out of 5 if they indeed pull it off).

[Ranoria]

You Wanna Be The Best, You Gotta Beat The Best: Krauts Somehow Make Playoffs After 18-4 Win In Regular Season Finale, Slated to Face Top-Ranked Abanhfleft

Well, seeding wise, they're not quite that high this go-round, but you get the picture. At 4-3, we're not exactly blue-bloods ourselves, but making the knockout rounds is always something to be excited about! At 3-4, the Fleftics have had a down year, but they're regarded as one of the best teams in this tournament - as evidenced by coming in with the top preseason rankings. Our Krauts are an unknown and an unranked team, and better record or not are not expected to come out of this with a victory under their belts.

But hey, many were saying the same in World Baseball Classic 50, when the Krauts somehow managed one of the biggest upsets in Ranorian international sporting history after beating the Sherpa Empire in their first ever first knockout stage series. Like that team, these Krauts got into the postseason by the skin of their teeth, and who knows, they just might have enough fight left in them to make something happen.

If they win? Grab yourselves a sauerkraut sammich and get comfortable...we're in it for the long haul.

[South Jeolerina]

Round of 20 Cutoff

Every matchday, we will provide some prompts together with the cutoff message. These prompts are used as a guide, and will not result in any benefits should you choose to RP based on these prompts.
For Round of 20, the prompt is as follows: The true elimination begins! Talk a bit about your team's feelings. First time playing in the WLC knockout stages? What are their expectations? If this isn't the first time, maybe you can talk about your history in the knockout stages. Memorable matches that your team has played in the tournament.

MD1: Introduce your team! Talk about your nation's history with lacrosse, domestically, internationally. Your team's targets. Introduce some of the stars of your team here in South Jeolerina.
MD2: When the country's athletes come out to play, how does the country support the players? Maybe you can share some information about the fans and how they will show their support their national team at every big tournament.
MD3: It is time to showcase something about your country. What do people want to do the most when they visit your country? What should they be on the lookout for? Or is there a less well-known culture in your country that you want to show case? This RP can even take the form of a graphic, a postcard, should you have the abilities to do it!
MD4: There is always something about the midway point. How has the tournament been thus far? Have they been playing good games with their lacrosse ball and lacrosse stick? Or have they been traveling around this place? South Jeolerina isn't the most fantastic tourist place (that is Hallikshire, really), but the country has some things which people can enjoy. How do they find Jeoleris? Are they good hosts?
MD5: Rivals. Do you have a nation you consider as a rival? It could be a nation where "we will do better than you" applies, a nation your people don't want to see lifting the final trophy. How did this rivalry come about? Historical baggage? Current relations? Neighbours in your region? Record in other sports? Or even, from past WLC experience?
If you don't have a rival as your nation, think about some of the rivalries in your team. Do such things exist? Are there people who would constantly compete with each other?
MD6: With the 6th matches out and ongoing, the brutal elimination stages will come. 12 teams will leave after their 7th game, 4 more will join them at the Round of 20. And so on. Has there been a team that has caught your fans' attention? A team that has gotten the respect of your team? It can be a team you will support if your own team gets knocked out in the process.
MD7: It's the end of a really long group stage! Talk about a team that you think, will be your biggest challenge to the title. It is similar to what we asked in MD5, but in that case, we were looking for a team which has some history with your side. In this case, however, we are talking about the team which you think, has been doing well for the past 7 matchdays, and you think they will be one of the title contenders.

---

Round of 20

Qasden 5–9 The Jovannic @ Poolside Lacrosse Field, Poolside (cap. 12,000)

Ranoria 15–10 Abanhfleft @ Hamphire Park, Manclester (cap. 9,000)

Nyowani Kitara 9–4 Melbergia @ Denderliani Lacrosse Park, Hangastan (cap 7,500)

Venmere 4–9 Beaverriver @ Hangshire Sports Complex, Jeolerina City (cap. 18,000)

As such, the rankings of the remaining 16 teams, from the group stage, are as follows:

##  GR  Team                        P   W  OL   L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
 1  B1  Banija                      7   7   0   0  106   47   59   21
 2  D1  Sarzonia                    7   7   0   0   98   55   43   21
 3  C1  Baker Park                  7   6   0   1   97   44   53   18
 4  A1  HUElavia                    7   6   0   1   87   47   40   18
 5  A2  Taxonomic Kingdoms          7   6   0   1   74   40   34   18
 6  C2  Sylestone                   7   6   0   1   84   59   25   18
 7  B2  Natanians and Nosts         7   6   0   1   73   56   17   18
 8  D2  The Cordian Isles           7   5   0   2   73   53   20   15
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 9  B3  Kriegiersien                7   5   1   1   82   58   24   16
10  C3  Kohnhead                    7   5   1   1   64   44   20   16 
11  A3  South Jeolerina             7   5   0   2   87   71   16   15  
12  D3  Tropicorp                   7   4   0   3   70   63    7   12
14  D4  Ranoria                     7   4   0   3   75   70    5   12
15  C4  Nyowani Kitara              7   4   0   3   63   79  -16   12
17  D5  Beaverriver                 7   3   0   4   66   58    8    9
20  C5  The Jovannic                7   2   1   4   75   74    1    7

To avoid any group stage rematches until the Quarterfinals (since there are 5 teams from Groups C&D, it is impossible to avoid it in the 4 QF fixtures), we will reorder the Round of 16 fixtures where it makes sense.

Banija (1 - B1) vs Beaverriver (17 - D5) @ Poolside Lacrosse Field, Poolside (cap. 12,000)

The Cordian Isles (8 - D2) vs Kriegiersien (9 - B3) @ Manclester Field, Manclester (cap. 14,000)

Taxonomic Kingdoms (5 - A2) vs Tropicorp (12 - D3) @ Hamphire Park, Manclester (cap. 9,000)

HUElavia (4 - A1) vs Nyowani Kitara (15 - C4) Sutra Lacrosse Stadium, Dillkshire (cap 10,000)

Baker Park (3 - C1) vs Ranoria (14 - D4) @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester (cap 8,500)

Sylestone (6 - C2) vs South Jeolerina (11 - A3) @ Moose Center, Jeolerina City (cap. 9,000)

Natanians and Nosts (7 - B2) vs Kohnhead (10 - C3) @ Hangshire Sports Complex, Jeolerina City (cap. 18,000)

Sarzonia (2 - D1) vs The Jovannic (20 - C5) @ Denderliani Lacrosse Park, Hangastan (cap 7,500)

[Sarzonia]

For some teams in the 38th edition of the World Lacrosse Championships, the knockout rounds are a new, scary place. Or they're a place of excitement and unfamiliar grounds.

While the Sarzonian national lacrosse team has had a few tournaments in years past when they failed to qualify for the knockout stages, they can almost consider playing one-and-done lacrosse a birthright.

Sarzonia are familiar with playing in the knockout rounds in the World Lacrosse Championships over the years. They've won six titles, tying them with Abanhfleft for the most in WLC history. And now, they get set to battle The Jovannic, the 20th and final team to qualify for the knockouts in the current edition. Yes, the second seeded Stars are getting the worst seeds because the second lowest seeds remaining are Beaverriver, the fifth placed team from Sarzonia's Group D after that team pulled off a 9-5 upset victory over Qasden to send the 13th seeds and Stars regional rivals packing. Speaking of upsets, and speaking of the aforementioned defending runners up Fleftics, Ranoria, the fourth placed Group D side pulled off its own shocker in a 15-10 defeat of the newer powerhouse.

That latter result caught attack Colin Grassley's attention.

"Wait, what? Ranoria beat 'em?" he said incredulously. When informed that was the case, it at least took some pressure off the Stars to know that a potential finals encounter against the Fleftics wouldn't happen, and Abanhfleft would have to wait at least one more cycle to potentially win their seventh title. And it meant Sarzonia were still potentially in the fight for their seventh crown.

Even though the Ranoria-Abanhfleft result technically wasn't an upset as the Krautz were the 14th seed and the Fleftics carried the 19th, penultimate seed into the knockout rounds, the fact that the only other six-time world champion in the sport were now watching the proceedings on television or internet video wasn't lost on Matt Henning. The goalie said the Stars weren't taking anything for granted even though The Jovannic were only 3-1-4, meaning they'd already lost five matches and only earned two group stage victories.

"We've seen how quickly fortunes can change," Henning said. "Hell, I still remember the AOLC when we played Delaclava in the quarterfinals. Look what happened." The Stars carried a 6-0 record into that quarterfinal whilst the Phoenixes were the only winless squad at the fourth Atlantian Oceania Lacrosse Classic, which Sarzonia hosted. Sarzonia barely escaped that match with a one-goal victory in overtime after otherwise lapping the field, at least until they fell to Banija in the final. However, Grassley was quick to point out those results shouldn't have come as any surprise.

"Number one, Banija is a traditional rival for us," he said. "Every time we play them has the potential to be an instant classic. Number two, same goes for Delaclava. Those two teams are the kind of rivals where you throw out the record books when you play them. Anything can happen no matter how good or how bad the teams are."

Other matches of interest in the Round of 16 include No. 1 overall seeds Banija taking on 17th seeds Beaverriver in Poolside, third seeded Baker Park taking on Ranoria at Jisonira Lane in Donbester, No. 8 The Cordian Isles facing off against ninth seeds Kriegiersien in Manclester, fourth seeded HUElavia, another rival, battling Kyowani Kitara at Sutra Lacrosse Stadium in Dillkshire, sixth seeds Sylestone facing 11th seeds host nation South Jeolerina at Moose Center. Sarzonia's match against The Jovannic will be at Denderliani Lacrosse Park in Hangastan, which has a capacity of 7,500, the smallest venue of all the ones being used in the knockout rounds.

"It's a far cry from Franz Braddock Stadium, that's for damn sure," Grassley said of the tiny venue. The Sarzonian national lacrosse stadium has a capacity of 35,000 for lacrosse. "I'm pretty sure Stars supporters are working their phones and computers trying to get tickets."

[Kriegiersien]

The Schoenwetter Herald

Sport – Lacrosse World Championship XXXVIII

Kriegiersien will face The Cordian Isles in Manclester Field, Manclester in South Jeolerina in the round of 16.
It it is the fourth time in the row they survive the group stage since they debuted in WLC 35. But this can’t be satisfying, as the title has been proclaimed as goal in the next years from the president himself.

After losing the first two times against Terre Septentrionale (WLC XXXV) in the round of 12 and then Banija (XXXVI) in the round of 8 against Top Teams, the last WLC saw a shocking loss in the round of 12 against underdog Xabia, even though the team had gotten even stronger, more experienced and a wider range of players. Strength, speed, impression, devotion, all available through different players.

Now another unranked team awaits in the round of 16.

“We didn’t play a good group stage, our start was bad. But now I have the confidence that we will win. It has to be our aspiration to at least reach the round of 8. A medal is the goal”, said second coach Harry Gummibear.

“We are getting better every day, so I am confident that we can come far. First we have to beat The Cordian Isles, they are not a pushover, they know their quarters, but we will never get far if we can’t beat teams like them”, said Captain Brian Brain.

The match will be shown live on C-TV.

[Sylestone]

The Sylestonean > Sport > Lacrosse > WLC 38

HAWTHORNS MAKE IT FIVE ON THE TROT WITH WINS OVER ISLE NOIRE, PRAXEDES

DONBESTER, SOUTH JEOLERINA - The Young Hawthorns successfully dealt with a tough challenge posed by Nyowani Kitara, ranked 20th in the multiverse, to finish their group with a 6-0-1 record and six wins on the trot. It was an impressive feat from the Sylestoneans, whose longest win streak up to this point was only three wins in the latter stages of the group stage on home soil in the 36th edition.

The game itself was a good one, but the Hawthorns were certainly the better team of the two. The New Kitarans put up a strong fight, defending with all their strength and attacking with earnest, but they lacked the experience that Sylestone possessed, playing in their fifth World Lacrosse Championship. They led the whole game, beginning with a 5-2 lead in the first quarter and never letting it go. The forward lineup of Justin Bungaree, Christopher Cox and Isabella Collingwood may not be the strongest Sylestone have used in this tournament, but it got the job done.

And that, in the end, is what matters.

In the second, the New Kitarans clawed back to a two-goal deficit, scoring three to Sylestone’s two as the game remained on a knife’s edge at 7-5, Sylestone’s way, with half the game gone. One big quarter for the Hawthorns would assure them of victory, but anything can happen in lacrosse.

The third quarter had the same scoreline as the second, except the other way around as Sylestone took a 10-7 lead into the final quarter, knowing that if their defence remained intact, a win was on the cards. And it did, while the Hawthorns’ attack prospered, with Collingwood continuing her brilliant form with three of Sylestone’s four goals within the opening ten minutes, securing the victory. And while Nyowani Kitara were able to put two back, both through Uchi Ebele, the game was over as the Hawthorns romped to a 15-9 victory and an assured spot in the round of 16.

There, they would play hosts South Jeolerina in what appeared to be one of Sylestone’s toughest matchups yet. With more experience than the hosts, the Hawthorns are probably the favourites, but only just. Can they pull it off?

Lineup vs Nyowani Kitara @ Moose Centre, Jeolerina City, South Jeolerina

Mills; Davisr - Myers - McGill; Fiedler - King (c) - Rosenhain; Bungaree - Cross - Collingwood

Schedule:

MD1: Kohnhead 7-4 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD2: Sylestone 9-5 Baker Park @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD3: Murderbum 15-24 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD4: Sylestone 9-8 The Jovannic @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD5: Isle Noire 8-9 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD6: Sylestone 14-7 Praxedes @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
MD7: Nyowani Kitara 9-15 Sylestone @ Jisonira Lane, Donbester, South Jeolerina
Round of 16: Sylestone - South Jeolerina @ Moose Centre, Jeolerina City, South Jeolerina

[The Cordian Isles]

1/8 Final Preview

The Cordian Isles play Kriegiersen tomorrow. Here is what we think will happen and how these teams got here.

Cordia
Cordia started out the Group Stage going strong, with four straight wins against Ha'Yarok, Tropicorp, Quebec, and Ranoria. Following the second group's performance in the game against Tropicorp, they've been starting every single game. Next came a somewhat surprising 8-6 loss to Beaverriver that took the Cordian squad off its high horse and showed them just how hard this tournament can be. They bounced back with a 9-8 overtime win over 6th-ranked Cassadaigua, before falling into second-seeded, second-ranked Sarzonia 14-8 in the last game of the Group Stage.

Cordia plays a somewhat aggressive style, but despite this has had one of the stingiest defenses in the tournament, with only five teams, all ranked, allowing fewer goals than them in the first 7 games. This is largely due to the play of second-group defensive star Brit Loe, referred to within the Isles as "the Wall". Any player she chooses to guard will often be shut down for the remainder of that stint in the defensive zone, and her communication makes her the eyes in the backs of her teammates' heads. Johan Agdestein has also been a surprisingly skilled defensive player at only 18 years old. Sometimes it's almost like he can read minds; his game sense is just that advanced. His ability to break up passes and plays and deny players the inside has been invaluable to this team.

The Rue twins have driven the Cordian offense with incredibly clutch plays against Tropicorp and Cassadaigua, as well as being the main players responsible for running up the score against Quebec, and Ella Ringstad and Selma Lier have played well on both sides of the ball, with rockets for shots that make them a scoring threat in addition to a defensive one.

Kriegiersen
Kriegiersen has done this before, and it shows in their #9 world ranking. After adding even more players to their pool, their skill has gotten even better. However, they lost last cycle to unranked Xabia in the knockouts, and Cordia seems like the perfect nation to do it again.

Following two losses in their first three games, including a tough overtime blow from Natanians and Nosts, Kriegiersen won their final four to take 3rd in Group B, which include the undefeated Banija. Kriegiersen is certainly on a win streak compared to Cordia's two losses in the last three games, and with experience on their side, they're certainly looking like tomorrow's favorite despite being the lower seed.

Prediction
We'll be seeing a pretty balanced game from both sides, neither using an especially aggressive strategy. This writer would think a blowout for either side to be unlikely in the extreme. Both teams are believed to be of similar skill but nobody has seen the two on the same field and Cordia is currently unranked. In such a high-pressure game, where the teams are this close, morale and experience important, and Kriegiersen certainly has the edge there, as well as the natural shock of seeing zombies on the other side.

Final Prediction: Kriegiersen 9-7 The Cordian Isles

Cordia is certainly looking like a future power in the lacrosse scene, and we can certainly expect them to be even more competitive next cycle, but Kriegiersen has the advantage this year and I think that will be all the difference.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Daily 2021
Ranking versus Cinderella Run--the WLC down 16
by Lee Throckmorton, National Reporter

Previous editions of the World Lacrosse Championship have seen many newcomers make breakout performances which have carried over to sustained prominence in the sport--the Commonwealth made its debut ten editions ago with a surprise berth on the playoff round, while more recently, Bollonich and Taxonomic Kingdoms made their first foray into the sport in Baker Park during the last tournament.

Here in South Jeolerina, there has been a breakthrough class of first-timers led by the hosts, who will face off against Sylestone; Beaverriver will take on Banija; The Cordian Isles earned one of the top eight seeds and will face Kriegiersien; Tropicorp's initial venture into lacrosse has been a success and they will line up Taxonomic Kingdoms; and Baker Park will take on Ranoria in Donbester, the site of their only loss in pool play against the Hawthorns from Sylestone.

The BP side have improved every match since that 9-5 defeat, and are playing their best at just the right time, according to team co-captain Paige Cooper.

"We've worked really hard since the tourney began, the guys and gals have developed a good chemistry over the last couple of competitions. Mark (Ellis, NT head coach) said it was nothing to be ashamed of, losing to (Sylestone) and we just needed to play a complete four quarter game at both ends. I think we've done that, and I'm confident about our chances here."

Cooper and Ben Appleman are tied for the team lead in scoring, with 14 goals each, followed by midfielder Scott Locksley with 11 and Danielle Grimaldi with 10. The defense ranks with the best teams in the competition after the final two Group C matches saw only 6 totals allowed.

Ranoria advanced to the round of 16 after knocking off #1 Abanhfleft with a physical style that brings interesting challenges for BP; the Commonwealth will rely on their athleticism and hope to push the Krauts in transition from clears to find open chances. The BP player-up conversion rate is 62% (15/26) which will likely come into play as well.

[Ranoria]

Who's Next? Ranoria Trounces Top-Ranked Feftics 15-10, Ready For Dance With The Commonwealth

Well if you think about it, the Fleftics were ranked number one, and our next opponents from the Baker Park Lacrosse association came into the tourney as the 4th seed. Granted, they rattled off a 6-1 regular season, but let's focus on the stuff that makes us feel like we have a chance, right?

Led by Viggo Grayson, this team has allowed 80 points in 8 matches including their round of 20 victory. Nothing lockdown by any stretch, but they're pretty strong when it comes to preventing goals. Sam Frodin and Miranda Blanchett do more than their fare share defensively, with Orlando Rhys-Davies rounding out the back end as a defensive substitute. All four are more than willing to fight and inflict damage on the opposition, and it'll be an interesting matchup against Baker Park's athletically gifted group. Perhaps (certainly) not as interesting as the annual bouts between our Richardson University Governors and The University of the Commonwealth's Warriors, but that's okay - that just means there's an established tradition of rivalry and top-level competition between these two nations on sporting fields.

In all seriousness? We expect a loss, but regardless it can be considered a successful season when you're universally seen as one of the best 16 teams in a big multiverse - and that's assuming we lose! Go Krauts!

[Natanians and Nosts]

World Lacrosse Championship 38:A Recap

After not participating on the 37th edition,Natanians and Nosts is back on the World Lacrosse Championship.The team has put up an amazing performance,being second in its group,qualifying directly for the quarter-finals and with only one defeat,to eventual group leaders Banija.
The first match was a 9x8 overtime victory against Kriegiersien.The following match was a 16x7 defeat to Banija.The Banijan side counted with an amazing performance of Malick Guissé,who stopped and frustrated both Gabriel Martin Moura and Bruno Caeso North in their tentatives of scoring.
Then,the team defeated Northwest Kalactin by 21x9,where the team clearly dominated the game and Bruno Caeso North scored an amazing quantity of ten goals!Matchday four was a rough game against the Kytler Peninsuale, which saw Natanianss and Nosts losing until the third minute of the last quarter since the tenth minute of the fourth by 6x5.Bruno Caeso North scored to tie on the third minute of the last quarter,and the match was so kept untile the last two minutes,when Ion Victor César,Gabriel Martin Moura and José Túpac Tupsiak scored one goal each to make the game Natanians and Nosts9x6 The Kytler Peninsulae.
Then came Bollonich,whom we defeated by 9x3 with an amazing performance by Márcus Probus Lênin.Then another close victory,this time against Venmere by 9x7;which granted the team a spot on the round of 16 with one round to still be played.And for the last group stage match,Natanians and Nosts defeated Melbergia by 9x7,finishing second on the goup with six victories and one defeat to unbeaten,100% win percentage and number one of group stage overall Banija.The team also had the second best deffence.
Natanians and Nosts will play Kohnhead on the round of 16 and go to the quarter finals if it wins.

[Taxonomic Kingdoms]

The Taxonomic Kingdoms didn't usually meddle in Earthly politics, and didn't have strong opinions on most Earthly governments. They did have strong opinions on theocracies, in particular a deep-rooted hatred for monotheistic ones -- but they usually didn't take sides on secular issues like voting rights, freedom of speech, immigration policy, or territorial claims.

However, as the Hermit Crabs prepared to face the Tropicorp Techies, it was oddly quiet in the locker room and they slowly came to the realization that they disliked Tropicorp. "Hate" was probably too strong of a word. If they had to choose sides between God, Satan, and Tropicorp, they would certainly back Tropicorp without a second thought. But the Crabs still felt a little more awkward taking the field against the Techies than they had against their other opponents.

The problem was that Tropicorp saw the natural world as theirs to exploit or preserve instead of respecting nature's ability to govern itself. A lot of humanity had such attitudes, but Tropicorp was particularly obnoxious about it. Ciliopagurus Tenebrarum was in a bowling league with Cocoabo Calaniensis (a goddess of a cocoabo species), and he got to hear all her complaints about the number of her creations that were kept in captivity.