40th World Lacrosse Championships- Everything Thread

[Banija]

The first knockout stage cutoff! Who will Fly into the quarterfinals?

Round of 16 Scores

Banija 14–9 The 14 Stars (Matchup scorinated by South Newlandia)
Qasden 10–9 Republic of Ludwigsburg
South Jeolerina 5–20 Kriegiersien
HUElavia 14–3 Kyhun
Abanhfleft 12–9 Hannasea
Soldera 13–8 Great Orange
Delaclava 13–13 Baker Park (14–16 OT)
Sarzonia 14–2 Cassadaigua

Quarterfinal Matchups

#1 Banija v. #8 Qasden @ Kabonero III Field(cap. 48,000) in Istria, Moravica

#13 Kriegiersien v. #5 HUElavia @ Kabonero III Field(cap. 48,000) in Istria, Moravica

Above two winners play in semifinal match at Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

#3 Abanhfleft v. #6 Soldera @ The Eagle's Club(cap. 48,600) in Dodoma, Bunyoro

#10 Baker Park v. #2 Sarzonia @ The Eagle's Club(cap. 48,600) in Dodoma, Bunyoro

Above two winners play in semifinal match at Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

[Sarzonia]

Woodstock Daily Mail
Stars trample Fillies 14-2, await Baker Park

From Staff Reports

BUSUKUMA – There will come a day when the Sarzonian national lacrosse team’s winning streak comes to an end. One day, a team other than Sarzonia will hold the World Lacrosse Championships trophy aloft and stride to the top podium to receive gold medals around their necks.

Sarzonia went out to face Cassadaigua with a mission to ensure that any team with designs on knocking them off their lofty perch as three-time defending WLC champions would have a monumental task. They proved that with a 14-2 demolition of the Fillies in the Round of 16 at WLC 40 behind a three-goal, four assist performance from attack Colin Grassley.
Matt Henning made seven saves in the cage for the Stars (7-0), who extended a WLC-record 35-match winning streak with the sweeping win. He shook his head when manager Jordan Helms asked him if he wanted to sit out the final quarter with the Stars leading 11-2. Helms left Henning in to finish the match.

“Cassadaigua were sending on their depth players, so I wanted to send ours on,” Helms said of his aborted decision to send Henning to the bench with the match well in hand. “There’s no need for us to rub it in on anyone.” He said his focus was on ensuring the team concentrated on the task at hand rather than worry about seeding.

When a reporter pointed out that Sarzonia were the No. 2 seeds behind top seeds Banija, had the third highest goalscoring output of any team in the WLC behind Banija and Sarzonia’s next opponents Baker Park, and the second lowest total of goals conceded behind Banija, Helms said he was only concerned with one number.

“I’m only interested in which team is No. 1 after the final horn sounds in the championship,” he said. He pointed out that Sarzonia were also the No. 2 seeds in the previous WLC before defeating Banija in the final. The Stars will face off against Baker Park in the quarterfinals at The Eagles’ Club in Dodoma after they defeated Delaclava in overtime 16-14. Grassley said the Stars were “disappointed” they wouldn’t get a chance to face the Phoenixes, whom the Stars defeated in the WLC 16 final years ago. However, he said they were eager for a challenge against Baker Park.

“Baker Park is one of the traditional powers of this sport,” he said, pointing out the fact that Baker Park have now qualified for 11 consecutive quarterfinals. “Delaclava did all they could to stop their streak at 10, but now that they’re here, we know we’ve got a job to do.” That job will include holding down a high-powered offence that scored 91 goals in six WLC group stage matches and were the strongest 4-2 team in the field.

No. 1 seeds and host nation Banija against eighth seeds Qasden after the hosts defeated The 14 Stars 14-9 in their Round of 16 match. Qasden slipped past Republic of Ludwigsburg 10-9 in their Round of 16 contest. No. 13 seeds Kriegiersien pulled off the upset of the tournament with a 20-5 beatdown of No. 4 seeds South Jeolinera. They will face fifth seeded HUElavia, which defeated Kyhun 14-3.

In Sarzonia’s bracket, six-time WLC champion and third seeds Abanhfleft beat Hannasea 12-9 while No. 6 seeded Soldera are the last unranked team remaining in the tournament after they defeated Great Orange 13-8. If Sarzonia defeat Baker Park, they will either face off against Abanhfleft with both team striving to add yet another trophy to their mantles or they’ll face a Soldera team that have rounded into form after an opening loss to the Stars, winning five of their next six matches after holding Sarzonia to its lowest margin of victory thus far.
However, Helms said the team isn’t interested in potential semifinals or finals matches.

“We’ve got a tough one against Baker Park,” he said. “If we don’t win that one, nothing else will happen for us.”

[Soldera]

It's a funny thing, the concept of team chemistry.

Some teams can gather the biggest stars their sport has to offer and bring together talents that, on paper, should be nigh on impossible to beat. In some cases, these superteams complete their missions and win championships. In other instances, however, the teams clash as superstar egos collide and players not used to assuming lesser roles or doing so-called grunt work end up falling short. Then there are the teams that may not look all that great individually, but work so well together that they can overcome a talent gap. Some of those teams even win championships and beat the more talented teams in the process.

No one knows yet what's going to happen with this Solderan national lacrosse team, but after an opening three-goal defeat to longtime sport hyperpower Sarzonia, the Snakes have overcome their own lack of fitness and experience to rebound to win three of their last four matches in the group stage to qualify as Group D runners up behind Sarzonia. They've taken their next big step and defeated Great Orange 13-8 in their first-ever knockout round match. They will play another traditional powerhouse in Abanhfleft, which defeated Hannasea 12-9. If the Snakes somehow defeat a team that has six WLC championships and the Stars defeat a Baker Park team that currently sits at 2-8 lifetime in the quarterfinals, it will set up a Group D rematch in the semifinals. It would also mean that Soldera would have to go through two teams that have combined for 14 WLC titles out of the 39 that have been contested to get to an unlikely final.

When Matt Chastain was asked to ponder how his team evolved from a collection out-of-shape beer leaguers and too-young amateurs into a team that has developed the sort of chemistry no one thought possible, he shook his head.

"You can do things Xs and Os-wise that put your players in a position to succeed," he said. "You can hide deficiencies or push your strengths, but you can't coach chemistry. That's the part I'm most impressed to see."

Soldera developed that chemistry by not only winning four of their last five matches to get to the quarterfinals of their second-ever WLC, but also by staying competitive with the highest ranked teams in Group D. It may not have been a group of death per se, but having the No. 1 ranked and No. 7 ranked teams in the lacrosse-playing multiverse meant expectations in Branwen and across the rest of Soldera were extremely low. And yet, they were the only team to remain within striking distance of the Stars into the latter half of the fourth quarter, as Sarzonia pulled away in the final five minutes to earn an opening 13-10 victory. The Snakes also bit Kriegiersien, routing the second highest ranked team in the group and the seventh ranked team overall by 16-9. They also defeated No. 17 Quebec and Shingoryeo 13-12, officially eliminating the Quebecois from knockout round contention in the process.

All of that doesn't mean squat against Abanhfleft, as the Fleftics may have entered a relative down period after absorbing a massive beatdown at the hands of Sarzonia in the WLC 37 final, losing 27-10. However, Chastain said the team's six world championships means the Snakes can't take anything for granted.

"They have the kind of pedigree teams other than a Sarzonia can only dream of having," he said. "I'm not going to say we don't have a chance because anything can happen, but their place in history speaks for itself."

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Laxxer get past Delaclava, Stars on deck
by Jeff Wallace, Sports Desk
The Western Observer

Dodoma, Banija--Danielle Grimaldi took it upon herself to push the Baker Park National Team through to the quarterfinals of the 40th World Lacrosse Championships, scoring 5 times in regulation and adding another pair in overtime to lead the Elks past Delaclava 16-14 at the Mugisha III Stadium in Busukuma.

The Phoenixes gave as good as they got, coming back from 3 goals down twice to tie the match before finally seeing their offense flame out in the extra session. Grimaldi's seventh score came with 1:03 remaining to double the BP lead and effectively end the Delaclv resistence.

The defending champion and number 1 ranked team Sarzonia will be the next hurdle to surmount for Shannon Fries's team; winners of 35 games in a row in the competition, the Stars dismantled Cassadaigua 14-2 and have won the last five times against Baker Park when the sides have met. You have to go back to AOLC 2 to find the last Elk victory in the nine game series, with close lower scoring tilts generally the rule.

Asked what she thinks will be the key to knocking off the champions, Fries was quick to hone in on one area.
"Attitude. Mental toughness. We need to not worry about the peripheral stuff, the winning streak, the trophies. None of those things are going to amount to anything when we step between the lines and they blow the whistle. We have the ability, we have the system, we just need to focus on scoring more and allowing them one fewer goal than we get."

The winner will face either Abanhfleft or Soldera in the semi-finals in Herzegovina City, with the BP coach knowing that her team is hovering in a gray area in terms of the defensive side. "We've allowed nearly 2/3 of the total against us in just two games (the Fleftic group stage defeat and the previous match) and I certainly think we'll need to get closer to the average number we had in the group (just a bit over 7 per game) if we want to beat any of these last seven teams. Giving up three goal leads is not acceptable here, and we've stressed over and again the need to be disciplined and smart with the ball in transition. If we get to the fourth quarter and it's tied or a one goal spread either way, I like our chances."

[Banija]

"It's all about Survival"- Banijans advance to the WLC Quarterfinals with 14-9 win over The 14 Stars in the Round of 16

MYNDA, AKSUM- The Banijans came into the knockout stages, absolutely rolling. Getting a 22-2 win over a 4 win Great Orange squad on Matchday 7 of the group stages. there was a lot of confidence that this would be a high-flying team for the group stages. "Look, we want to be playing our best lacrosse as we hit the knockout stages." Said the Head Coach, Allen Budaye. "We have a certain place where we want to go in this sport, and of course, while we prep ourselves with a strong group stage, we know the standard for Banijan lacrosse. Our story is written in how we perform at the knockout stages. We know that once we get to this stage, it's a different animal. Only the really good teams are left. Not everybody's gonna make a run, but on any given day, anyone can beat anyone. And that applies to The 14 Stars."

Banija came out to a sold out Electra Stadium, with a packed home crowd hoping to cheer Banija to a WLC Quarterfinal on home soil- something that we have never reached in this country. After a booming national anthem, of course, the game tipped off. The first half marked a close, physical battle- some nervousness from Banija, maybe due to the extra pressure and weight of expectation of playing at home. And, of course, simply solid execution of their own gameplan by an upstart 14 Stars squad, who knew that they were capable of coming here and causing all sorts of chaos. The 14 Stars actually took an early 2-0 lead in the first 6 minutes of the game. Two goals from one of their attackers turned the atmosphere at Electra from excitement to nervousness- would Banija, who has fallen agonizingly short of the ultimate goal so many times in this sport, fall to a 2-4 squad here in the Round of 16?

Echoes of WLC 28 ran through the heads of Banijan fans. What happened at that tournament? Again, a top seeded Banija fell to a 16 seed with a losing record in the Round of 16, on home soil. But Allen Budaye and co. were determined to make sure that they would not suffer the same fate of their bretheren. "Here's the thing about this national team." Allen Budaye said. "Uniquely, among Banijan sports, even moreso than the World Bowl- we carry the weight of the failures of our brothers in the past. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is what it is. Just another challenge. We have to not worry about that during the game, not allow the pressure to get to us. We have to live in the moment- the past is the past, and it cannot be changed. We have to focus on executing the gameplan that we have in front of us."

Fortunately, we were able to claw back to a 3-2 lead by the end of the first quarter, by doing exactly that. The second quarter was a little more open and high-scoring, and at halftime, the game was a toss-up. Tied 7-7 at half. But as Budaye is so adept at doing, he used halftime to make those adjustments, so that Banija could have an absolutely killer third quarter. And he was certainly able to do so. The Banijans blitzed The 14 Stars in the second half, dominating in the midfield, and then our attack finishing with power and authority. A game that could have gone either way at the beginning of the quarter, ended up going definitively in the way of the Banijans after that quarter. Outscoring them 5-0 during the quarter made sure that the score was 12-7, and realistically, extinguished any hopes that The 14 Stars had of a comeback. The fourth quarter was another even one, but with the Banijans already building their lead, it didn't matter that much.

The final score? 14-9. "A hell of a win for this team." Said veteran middy and captain, Birta Tiyana. "It was a tough match, both physically and mentally. The 14 Stars really came out here and had a legitimate shot at an upset bid, so credit to them. But we had both the skill, and more importantly, the mental and emotional toughness, to see this one out. We've got a lot to take away from this one. We're gonna watch the film, and of course, review our own preparations. We've got to play better than that if we want to win a title, and our quarterfinal will be an ever tougher matchup." Banija's quarterfinal will take place in Istria, as the team is drawn against regional rivals Qasden. "They won't be scared of us, or of anything, really." Tiyana told reporters. "They've been high-quality for years, and near the pinnacle in this sport. I expect a real dogfight at Kabonero III Field."

Kriegiersien v. HUElavia will be played at the same stadium in a double header. That game will happen first, and Banija v. Qasden will start 40 minutes after the first game. The other side of the bracket sees all of Banija's remaining rivals, basically, at the Eagle's Club. Abanhfleft will take on Soldera, while Sarzonia will take on Baker Park, at the Eagle's Club.

[Banija]

The Dog Days are truly over as we reach the Quarterfinal cutoff of the WLC! Who will travel to Herzegovina City for the Semifinals?

Quarterfinal Scores

Banija 19–3 Qasden (Matchup scorinated by Tumbra)
Kriegiersien 11–4 HUElavia
Abanhfleft 11–5 Soldera
Baker Park 10–10 Sarzonia (10–12 OT)

Semifinal Matchups

#1 Banija v. #13 Kriegiersien @ Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

#3 Abanhfleft v. #2 Sarzonia @ Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

Both the WLC Final, and the WLC 3rd Place Match, will be played at Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

[Kriegiersien]

Gale Astarion found his coach Harry Gummibear sleeping at a table, spread over a book.

The older midfielder poked the young manager.

“Harry?”

“Whatse… get it!”, Harry shouted, coming awake.

He looked around recognizing Gale, calming down.
“Yes?”

“The last training session is starting before the match against HUElavia. Are you coming?”

“Yeah. Give me a second”, Harry shook his head, looking with big eyes at the big book in front of him.

“Bad dream?”

“Sort of”, Harry sighed.

“I tried to find out how to beat HUElavia and then I found this book in a bookstore”, he showed him the book with the title ‘How to beat HUElavia for Dummies’.

“Oh, did it help?”, Gale looked into the book.
“This seems to be about football.”

“Yes. Different sports. And military advises and analyses. Who have no connection to HUElavia. As if someone just had used the nations name as placeholder. No Lacrosse. One short section how you catch them all or the kabaddi... There is much about catching.”

“Who writes such a book?”, Gale looked at the books cover and first and last sites confused.

“I don’t know. There is no author in it”, Harry sighed, “lets go to the training.”

“At least I know now how to catch a snitch.”

[Sarzonia]

If there's one thing this 40th edition of the World Lacrosse Championships will be, it will be historic.

The Sarzonian national lacrosse team brought a 35 consecutive WLC match winning streak into their quarterfinal match against Baker Park at The Eagle's Club in Dodoma. Baker Park entered the contest with a paltry 2-8 record in quarterfinals contests despite surviving an overtime contest against Delaclava. However, with nine seconds on the clock, faceoff specialist Noah Ryanson lined up with his Stars team trailing Baker Park by a goal.

Ryanson knew the stakes. If he didn't win this draw and quickly get the ball past Jeremy Oliver in the Elks cage, the streak would be over, and someone else would hoist the championship trophy. He dug in, won the draw and quickly sprinted down the middle of the pitch aware of the clock winding down. He fired, then saw the ball squirt past Oliver and into the back of the net as time expired. The Stars players on the sideline exploded into the air cheering and celebrating the apparent equalising goal as the Solderan umpire lifted his arms high into the Dodoma sky. Ryanson was too busy being mobbed by appreciative mates to notice Elks coach Shannon Fries apparently arguing that Ryanson didn't launch his shot until the clock hit all zeros.

The officials conferred and reviewed the video. They saw the ball completely cross the line and into the net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock. The referee walked out onto the pitch.

"After review, the ruling on the field is confirmed. The ball crossed the goal line with 0.1 seconds remaining. It is a goal." The Baker Park faithful groaned and some booed lustily whilst the navy-clad Sarzonian supporters cheered wildly. They knew the match wasn't over by any stretch. It was 10-10 and a four-minute overtime period awaited that wasn't going to be sudden victory. They still had four more minutes to withstand a Baker Park side that took it to the Stars, bewildering Makeeyah Brantley's defence and Jordan Helms's attempts to adjust to the onslaught. And now they had four more minutes.

"Take it to them," Helms said. "Let's become the aggressors now."

They would do just that as attack Colin Grassley scored both goals in the extra frame and Sarzonia escaped with a 12-10 victory. They would await the result of the quarterfinal matchup between unranked Cinderfella team Soldera and Abanhfleft, they the holders of six World Lacrosse Championship titles in their own right. Unlike the Sarzonia-Baker Park tilt, this one had relatively little drama as Abanhfleft defeated the Snakes 11-5. That would set up the confrontation in the semifinals. Sarzonia. Abanhfleft. Two teams with 14 WLC titles between them. Holders of the last five WLC trophies. The last time the WLC champion was someone other than either Sarzonia or Abanhfleft was all the way back in WLC 34 when HUElavia won their first-ever title.

For Abanhfleft, the incentive was simple. They were facing the team that prevented them from becoming the first team to win three consecutive WLC titles. They were facing a team that demolished them 27-10 in the WLC 37 final, leaving absolutely no doubt that the Fleftic reign of terror was over. They were facing the team that wrested the distinction of having the most titles in history back from them after they'd originally stripped Sarzonia of that honour. For Sarzonia, they were out to make even more history: Extend their record WLC match win streak to 37 matches. Win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. If Sarzonia accomplished that feat, it would net them their ninth title, even further still separating them from Abanhfleft's six titles in second place. It would bring them into company with the Banijan basketball team, which won four consecutive WLC crowns before both they and Sarzonia's basketball team both withdrew from the most recent International Basketball Championships.

As for the other semifinals matchup, No. 1 seeds Banija proved their mettle by destroying regional rivals Qasden 19-3 whilst No. 13 seeds Kriegiersien continued their Cinderfella run with an 11-4 triumph over HUElavia. Thus, the semifinals participants put together will have 15 WLC trophies among them. Will Abanhfleft make it seven and inch closer to Sarzonia's eight titles? Will Banija or Kriegiersien win their first-ever title? Or will Sarzonia win their ninth?

Those questions will be answered in the semifinals. But for now, let the intrigue begin.

[Kriegiersien]

Guy Hirn passed to Nestor who was suddenly in Front of the Goal and …. 10-4.

Harry Gummibear couldn’t believe it. They would win. They would beat HUElavia. He looked at the book in his hand. ‘How to beat HUElavia for Dummies’
Had this book really done magic?
On the other hand, they hadn’t used any of the tips of the book.
Except for the chapter for Cricket “Drink a cup of tea slowly”, because he himself loved tea and had made himself a cup Earl Grey.

No, this was silly. They had nearly been out after the group stage and now they had beaten better ranked teams, they dominated HUElavia. The greatest success in Lacrosse ever for the nation was at hand.

11-4. Sinros had scored and the whole team celebrated together.
The team from so many different races and cultures had found a common ground.

While the team reveled, Harry was already thinking further. Now they would face Banija. They were too good in his mind. The host, the number two in the ranks. That was another level. They may also not have won a title, but that made them even more hungry and dangerous. No, this wasn’t the battlefield they could win. To win a medal was the goal. But they wouldn’t make that here. Whoever lost the other semi final would be battered. And The Kizza I Field would be their destiny, but not the final match, but the match for third place.
He just had to convince the coach to send a reserve team against Banija, to rest the best and prepare for the opponent in the third place match. And then they would show the full power in the game for bronze.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

The dressing room at The Eagles Club in Dodoma that the Baker Park National Team occupied was heavy with emotion following the 12-10 overtime defeat to Sarzonia. The coaches had remained in the corridor coming to grips with their own feelings for several minutes before Shannon Fries walked through the door without warning to her staff.

It immediately reminded her of the gathering after the death of her favorite uncle Damon Palmer, who passed away over 20 years ago when she was 16, victim of a freak accident at his workplace that killed 2 others and injured five more.

"This is the most horrible day of my life, because all of you did exactly what you were instructed to do--you played with the tenacity, spirit and toughness needed to beat the number one team in the world on merit.
As a coach that's all I can ask of you, and right now I don't know that I'll ever get over the feeling that I still somehow failed you today."

Co-Captain Grace Greene, who has been part of the NT during the time that Fries has been an assistant and now Head Coach, stood up to rebut the final assertion.
"No Shan. We have always won and lost together as a team. You've done so much for this team, you are not going to put the blame on yourself." Greene walked over to her coach and gave her an embrace, which was soon followed by the rest of the squad.

[Banija]

""End to End"- Dominant performance from Banijans in Istria take the hosts to their 5th consecutive WLC Semifinal

ISTRIA, MORAVICA- After struggling for some time against The 14 Stars, the Banijans were looking to get off to a fast start at Kabonero III Stadium in their WLC Quarterfinal. "We had a solid win last round in Mynda, to get to this stage." Said the team's Head Coach, Allen Budaye. "Now, playing a regional rival with a semifinal berth on the line? All the pressure's on us- we wanted to get going, straight out of the gate, and take the game to our opponents." Fortunately, that's exactly what the Banijans did. Whatever the reason was for their first half struggles against The 14 Stars, Allen Budaye clearly found and eliminated what was going on. Straight out of the gate, the Banijans were able to manage a goal just 40 seconds into the contest, and had taken a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, basically ending this contest before it had barely begun. 11-1 at halftime, and the score was 16-1 in favor of Banija at the end of the third quarter. The final score of the game, of course, was 19-3.

"We were able to establish a rhythm early, and we did what I always want us to do- once we grab control, then to simply, in sporting terms, go for the throat." Allen Budaye told reporters. "You don't want to sit around and mess with your opponent, allowing them to stay in the game when you clearly have an advantage. That was the exact type of contest that I wanted us to play. We kept attacking, we kept being aggressive in our possesion, and we continually put their defense in desperate situations. Forcing them to make poor choices, isolating defenders against attackers, not allowing them to defend in depth with our runs, and constantly pulling them out of position. You can't ask for much more than how this game." The capacity crowd in Banija's largest city were thoroughly enjoying the contest, with all sorts of chants and songs in the second half, long after the game was in doubt. Singing about Budaye, singing about Herzegovina City(where the semifinals and finals will take place), singing about various players on the roster, players like middy and team captain, Birta Tiyana.

Everything in the final stages of the tournament, of course, will take place at the historic home of Banijan lacrosse, and the largest lacrosse-specific stadium in Banija- Kizza I Field, in Herzegovina City. Both semifinals, the third place match, and the tournament final will occur at this stadium. Kizza I Field, of course, was built ahead of WLC 28, the first time this tournament was held on home soil. It has hosted all sorts of lacrosse matches. IDLO Finals, WLC Finals, AOLC finals, the Moravica Lacrosse Invitational, etc... It is known as the big game home for lacrosse in this country. "When you have a special venue like Kizza I Field, it is always your dream to be playing your biggest games there." Allen Budaye told reporters. "Obviously, I was already grown by the time this was built. But for our players, especially for our younger players? If you grow up playing lacrosse, you know what you've always wanted to do- represent your country at the mythical national stadium. And now, our players will have a chance not only to do this, but be the beneficiaries of what will surely be a roaring crowd at this semifinal."

Banija's opponents? None other than Kriegiersien. They've made quite a stunning run so far. As the #13 overall seed for the playoffs, they've been engaged in some big game hunting. First, they took down #4 seed, and former tournament hosts, South Jeolerina, by a score of 20-5 in the first round of the knockout stages. In the quarterfinals? They didn't hold back their either. Against 5th seeded and former WLC champions HUElavia, Kriegiersien were end-to-end dominant once again, as they won by a score of 11-4. "Kriegiersien have clearly shown, they deserve to be here, they are a top team in this tournament." Said Banija's head coach, Allen Budaye. "Did you see the way they are dominating some of the more traditional names in this sport on the biggest stages? They've got nothing to lose in this semifinal, and we would be the biggest prize to mount on their wall. I expect another end to end thriller."

The other semifinal, of course, will feature Banija's main rivals in this sport- Abanhfleft and Sarzonia. Two teams who combine for a stunning 15 titles in this sport, out of 39 tournaments played. Sarzonia, of course, have won 36 consecutive games at this tournament, and are going for their 4th title in a row- both unprecedented feats. "This Sarzonia team, of the last 5 cycles- probably the best team to ever play in this sport." Said Arsa Bobbicevic, a former NTer who is now a TV analyst. "This kind of dominance in a sport, something that not only have we not seen before, but that we are unlikely to ever see again. But Banija cannot think about them. We're gonna have our hands full with an excellent Kriegiersien if we even want to think about final dreaming."

That makes Sarzonia slight favorites over the Fleftics. Which teams will meet at Kizza I Field for the WLC Final?

[Banija]

Why is the weight of a semifinal so Heavy? Good luck to everybody in the Final Four!

Semifinal Scores

Sarzonia 13–4 Abanhfleft
Banija 10–9 Kriegiersien (Scorinated by Tumbra)

Third Place Matchup

#3 Abanhfleft v. #13 Kriegiersien @ Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

WLC 40 Final

#1 Banija v. #2 Sarzonia @ Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

[Sarzonia]

It may have taken an interesting route to get to this point, but the end result was the same.

Sarzonia defeated Abanhfleft 13-4 in their semifinals match to advance to the finals for the fourth consecutive World Lacrosse Championships. Host nation Banija outlasted a Cinderfella Kriegiersien team 10-9 to advance.

Thus, Sarzonia will yet again face off against Banija in the final, marking the third consecutive WLC final between the teams. It will also be the fourth consecutive time the two teams have met in the knockout rounds of the WLC.

Once again, Banija are still searching for the first-ever WLC championship after multiple attempts in the finals fell short. Once again, Sarzonia are looking to add to the impressive historical feats they’ve already accumulated. Sarzonia, owners of eight of the 39 World Lacrosse Championships in history, extended their record WLC-match winning streak to 37 and are gunning for not only their ninth title overall, but also their fourth consecutive championship.

In order to put this dominance by Sarzonia into perspective, one has to consider other sports and their dominant teams. Banija won four consecutive International Basketball Championships before they bowed out of the most recent edition. In football, Aguazul won three consecutive World Cups and four out of six. In baseball, Newmanistan have won six World Baseball Classics overall.

For Banija, this third crack at Sarzonia will yet again feature them as the No. 1 overall seeds whilst the Stars enter as the No. 2 seeds, the same as when the Stars faced Banija in the WLC 37 final. Sarzonia dominated Banija en route to their second consecutive title and seventh overall. It may not have been the dominating force of their 27-10 win over Abanhfleft in the WLC 37 final, but the first of two consecutive victories over Banija in the finals allowed Sarzonia to regain the title of most championships won in WLC history.

And now? Banija enter the competition after posting the most goals scored of any team in WLC play during the group stage. They also conceded the fewest goals, again matching the feat from WLC 38. Sarzonia, meanwhile scored the third most goals in the competition and allowed the second fewest. On paper, that suggests a match for the ages.
In fact, the biggest question one might ask about the Stars is how Jordan Helms and company continue to stay focused and hungry for more after being dominant for so long. The Stars bring a lifetime record of 166-47-3 in 23 appearances in WLC play. They improved their semifinals record to 14-4 with the dominating win over Abanhfleft. However, Helms said he didn’t really have answers for how his team has stayed dominant through 37 consecutive WLC wins.

“We like to let our play do the talking,” he said. “This collection of players is absolutely special and it’s a great honour to be able to manage them.”

Whether Sarzonia adds yet another gold medal to its coffers or Banija becomes just the second team to defeat the Stars in a final, one thing appears to be certain: History will be made, whether it’s the hosts Banija hoisting their first ever trophy or Sarzonia etching their names even further in the history books for all time. However, attack Colin Grassley said he wasn’t interested in history.

“We’re focused on the present, and that’s facing a tough Banija side,” he said. “That’s all we’ve got on our minds right now.”

[Banija]

A fun penultimate cutoff song. Will your nation take home some WLC silverware?

Third Place Score

Kriegiersien 9–9 Abanhfleft (10–11 OT)

Congratulations to Abanhfleft on their bronze medal, and congratulations to Kriegiersien on one hell of a CInderella run!

WLC 40 Final

#1 Banija v. #2 Sarzonia @ Kizza I Field(cap. 33,000) in Herzegovina City, Moravica

[Sarzonia]

Jonathan Price was poring over the bylaws as he looked over potential nominations for the World Lacrosse Championships Hall of Fame.

There was one name that kept coming up among media nominations that made him scratch his head. Granted, the reason for the nominee being considered was certainly relevant, but there was one slight problem that hadn't entirely been accounted for in establishing the groundwork for the Hall of Fame.

Price knew he had to convene the Board of Directors for the Hall of Fame to propose the question since his candidacy was repeatedly advocated for among various prospective voters. He sent a request for a video conference with the Board to ask them the question.

Can or should someone who is an active participant in the World Lacrosse Championships be inducted into the Hall of Fame, especially if they've given no indication of any plans to retire?

It wasn't specifically covered in the bylaws, but Price knew the prevailing sentiment of people he talked to was that even if there were specific bylaws against an active participant being inducted during a playing or managerial career, there were also provisions to make exceptions, such as a "Wayne Gretzky"-type exception that would allow the Board to waive any mandatory waiting periods for someone who had an exceptional career, but most of that had to do with players or coaches who retired.

There was nothing discussed about the prospect of inducting someone who has given no indications that his career was nearing its end.

Finally, the Board convened via video conferencing. After the brief exchange of niceties -- even as brief as it was, it was still too long in Price's estimation -- Price decided to pose the question. Should we induct someone whose career isn't over? After some yeses and some indifferent responses, the Delaclav representative decided to bring some practicality to what had been merely a hypothetical.

"Who are you thinking about inducting?" the Delaclav asked. "If we know who, it might influence us to provide a more definitive answer."

Price hadn't brought up the candidate's name, in part because he felt it might seem somewhat -- provincial, if not self-serving. Needless to say, the candidate in question would be a Sarzonian. Perhaps if the candidate hailed from any other country and had the same accomplishments, this wouldn't even be a subject for debate. But Price was aware of the side of the room who might consider the proposal to be biased. Even if the record spoke ear-splitting volumes.

Price paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, aware of the intent looks from the other representatives on the video board. Finally, he spoke.

"Jordan Helms," he said.

The argument for was obvious. The first man to manage a team to three consecutive World Lacrosse Championship titles. The first person to guide one team to four consecutive finals appearances. The current 37-match winning streak and 44 wins from his team's last 45 WLC matches. The only Sarzonian to win an AOLC crown. It was nigh on impossible to argue against his credentials. The only question was whether the Board felt they warranted inducting him before his career came to an end.

Price awaited responses from the Board.

[Kriegiersien]

Harry was angry. He had tried to convince the chieftain that he should play with a B-Team, spare the best players for the decisive match for the third place, but the little Xvart had just stuffed his pipe and ignored him. He did perfectly understand him, he knew that, but he was the coach, he was the boss and he had let the best team, from Barok to Blu, Nestor to Guy play. And they had nearly won. Just one goal had made the difference, one measly shot. One time Barok wasn’t fast enough to catch a ball.

Now he could neither say that the decision was wrong, nor were they able to take on Abanhfleft perfectly rested.

He rolled in his bed. What do do? How to win? How to beat Abanhfleft? He fell into sleep.


“Hello”, said something that looked like the head of an elephant on the body of a pony. They both were sitting on giggling clouds.

“Who are you?”

“Your answer to how to win with Abanhflelft.”

“Abanhfleft”, whispered Harry.

“Yes, that is the name. Abanhfleft. Rolls off the tongue.”

“How do I .. we beat them?”

“You think of this as a fight between enemies, a battle that has to be won.”

“Yes, right so far.”

“No, no it isn’t. It is a sport. To better your body. To have fun. It is a contest between friends, to experience and share something together.”

Harry was confused.
“I have never heard or seen it that way. In our society this is just the extension of war.”

“But is it? Has it to be that way? Don’t we all deserve more? More joy? More sharing? Less pain? Less stress?”

“Yeah, that would be great”, whispered Harry.

“One word for you, how to win Abanhfleft”, said the figure, leaning forward, smoke coming from his trunk, that soon surrounded him.

Harry awoke soaked in sweat.

[Banija]

Forty seconds left in the fourth quarter, of the Banija v. Kriegiersien Semifinal

The collapse was stunning. It had been a low-scoring, physical contest- but the Banijans, for three quarters, had seemingly been in control of what was going on. After taking a 4-1 lead after the end of the first quarter, Banija mostly holding serve in the middle periods had kept Kriegiersien far enough way where the impending result, for Banijans and most neutrals, had never been in doubt. The Banijans weren't exactly putting Kriegiersien's hopes and dreams to the sword- but it hadn't been a one goal game since it was 1-0 in the first period. People knew how Banijan lacrosse was against anybody not named the Sarzonia stars(or even Abanhfleft, historically), and thought that the Banijans would certainly put this game away in the fourth quarter.

But with Banija taking a 9-6 lead into the fourth quarter, that was slowly whittled away by Kriegiersien. The energy in the home crowd, that thought they were cheering Banija onto the WLC 40 Final, was instead filled with tension. When zombie Steven Sceletor scored a goal with 6:20 left in regulation, that made the score 9-7. But Banija, for whatever reason, wasn't generating any offense. The way the Banijans generally tried to kill a game was going on the counter-attack, and hitting those spaces with speed and authority, stretching the defense to score those late goals. But that is not what was happening in reality. Kriegiersien were having long, sustained possesion, and Samba Uster was making save after save in the fourth quarter. When, with 2:33 left in regulation, Graston scored to make the score 9-8, and a one goal game, the tension was reaching peak levels in the building.

"Come on guys!" Head Coach Allen Budaye had yelled after the defensive breakdown that led to Graston's goal. But the Banijans still could not sustain any offense, and, at their own national stadium, were being dominated in the fourth quarter by Kriegiersien, with a trip to the Final at stake. Budaye paced around as he saw his team trying to defend, desperately, closing down any gaps. And then, with 1:30 left- an incredibly dumb penalty by his defenders. Budaye slammed his clipboard on the ground, and one of the aides had to get it as Budaye started screaming at the Quebecois referees. "COME ON REFS!" Budaye was yelling from the sideline. The tension was at an all-time high, and naturally, the pressure was getting to the old man. "THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE MOTHER F*$(#NG SHITTIEST CALL I HAVE EVER SEEN!" One of the referees walked up to Budaye and told him, in no uncertain terms, to calm down before he risked a penalty for his team. They were trying to keep their whistles in their pocket in this big of a match- and Budaye was clearly riled up.

With the Banijans a man down, it seemed as if Kriegiersien was the team of destiny here. They had already launched two upsets simply to get to this point- but a comeback here, in a true road game, to upset Banija and reach a WLC Final for the first time in national team history? That would be one of the biggest upsets in WLC Semifinal history. And yet, they were on the verge. The Banijans were trying to defend, desperately, but being a man down makes things incredibly difficult. And with 40 seconds left, the dam broke for the Banijans. One of their human players, Shadow Heart, scored one of the goals of their lives when they spun past a Banijan defender, sprinted right up to the goal crease, and flipped the ball into the net with a behind the back move with their stick. Absolutely brilliantly skilled goal, especially keeping their head with the stakes so incredibly high. Kizza I Field was absolutely silent, while Kriegiersien's players on the field poured to the bench. The comeback was complete- down 3 entering the end of the fourth period, Banijan lacrosse fans, used to pain, firmly of the belief that they were about to lose this game in overtime.

That was when Budaye called his timeout. It was a close game, and of course, you couldn't take your timeouts with you. His players, in the huddle, looked so incredibly dejected. "Look- this fourth quarter has not gone according to plan." Budaye told his players. The understatement of the century, eh? "But hey- we cannot allow how this fourth quarter has gone to ruin us. We still have our goals, and we have the best lacrosse team in this entire freaking tournament. We're gonna see this one out- no, we're gonna go for this now. There's still plenty of time on the clock. They say the best time to score a goal is immediately after you've been scored on, right? They're gonna be patting themselves on the back and what not." Tiyana, the captain, led the team to yell BANIJA! on three. With the power play over, the Banijans were aggressive. And with just 18 seconds left, Israel Mesfin was fouled in front of goal.

"PENALTY!" Budaye yelled from the sideline. The referee blew his whistle, and the crowd cheered- Banija would have a power play for the final 18 seconds of regulation. He clapped. "COME ON GUYS! LET'S GO!" And a man up, the Banijans would seek to take advantage. Being a man down, Tiyana cut from the sideline towards the center of the field, and was hit with a perfect pass. "SHOOT!" Budaye yelled. Tiyana, of course, didn't hear him, and didn't need to. When the defender collapsed on him, he whipped the ball to Lula Bullo, who was sitting right in front of the crease, all alone. Bullo reacted quickly, turning and whipping the ball into the back of the net with 7 seconds left.

"GOAAAAAAALLLLLL TO LULAAAAA BUUUUUUUUUUUULLOOOOOOOO!" The public address announcer, who gave up all pretenses of neutrality, screamed into the microphone with his own excitement. The scenes on the pitch, on the field, were chaotic. The crowd going crazy. Budaye leapt into the arms of his arms of his captain. Banija had won, and clearly were able to see out the final 7 seconds of the game. An absolute stunner. The biggest goal scored for a Banijan in the sport since Banija had a last minute win in Woodstock to win a regional championship over Sarzonia. Budaye could almost shed a tear- what a dramatic way to reach Banija's third consecutive WLC Final.

In his post-game press conference, he spoke about it. "I love this sport, I love this team, I love this country!" Allen Budaye told reporters. "What a team, what a game, what a ride. And we're back in the Final! It's been an incredible run for this squad. Our fifth straight semifinal yielding our appearance in our third consecutive WLC Final. Credit to everybody- the team, the players, everybody around us. Of course, we're going to have our hands surely more than full when we take on Sarzonia at this very place in a few days time, but rest assured- we will be ready. I implore our fans to come out in droves! Let's show Sarzonia, and the world, the limitless potential of Banijan lacrosse when backed by the best fans in the multiverse!"

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

As the ex officio representative of the World Lacrosse Council to the Board of Directors of the WLC Hall of Fame, Dawn Thornton--the Chairwoman of the Baker Park Lacrosse Association who was the Vice President of the Council--was a part of the video call where Jonathan Price had made a query to the Board about whether an active participant could be nominated for induction.

When Price blurted out the name of the current Sarzonia Head Coach Jordan Helms, Thornton chimed in.

"Why not? If someone who is inducted into a Hall of Fame as a player, and then becomes a coach or administrator worthy of the honor afterwards, should they be dis-inducted and re-introduced for a dual nomination? There are Halls of Fame that allow for active coaches to be enshrined, so we shouldn't be restricting our sport to a set limit of inductees or some arbitrary waiting period for non-players.
If I had an official vote, it would be 'Yes' on this topic."

She sat back and smiled into the cam for the others to see.

[Sarzonia]

The morning of the final, Jordan Helms woke up after a fitful night's sleep.

He'd decided to take a nap during the third place playoff between Abanhfleft and Kriegiersien. He awoke to watch Fleftic players celebrating the final whistle in overtime and soon realised they'd won the bronze medal.

Helms was so focused on preparing for a third straight final against Banija -- and the fourth consecutive WLC knockout stage to feature a match between the two heated rivals -- that he paid no attention to any other distractions. Not that he would have wanted to, anyway. He was busy trying to see the things the Cinderfella Kriegiersien side used to claw back into their match against the host nation. He hoped for something he could use to keep his team atop the lacrosse world.

After he arrived at the breakfast table and saw the coaching staff and players all sitting down, he noticed the silence. It was charged with excitement, sure, but it was still silence. He noticed Colin Grassley with a smirk on his face the likes of which he hadn't seen before. It was like the Sarzonian attack knew a secret he was keeping from Helms. Martin Page kept a stony face, but Helms saw a look in his eyes that betrayed something. Finally, Helms sat next to Matt Henning, a man who might as well have been the subject of the age old saying, "three can keep a secret if two are dead." But even he wasn't giving anything away.

The team finished eating in silence, then started to pack their gear onto the chartered bus to take them to Kizza I Field. Helms waited until the last of the players ascended the steps as offensive coordinator Tyler Pawlenty waited with him.

"Hey coach," Pawlenty said. "Notice how many smirks there were at the table today?"

"Yeah," Helms said. "Know something I don't?"

"Uh, yeah," he said. "But I figure you're probably gonna want to wait until after the match for us to tell you."

Helms inhaled slowly, then exhaled. One of those kinds of secrets, he thought. He'd had a video conference call with Jonathan Price, but nothing seemed too unusual. It was just the standard pep talk he gave before every final over the last three. Helms figured the talks worked each of the last three finals, in particular, when Sarzonia dropped 27 on Abanhfleft to demolish the then-two-time defending champions and prevent the Fleftics from becoming the first team to threepeat, and also prevent them from further extending their lead over the Stars and everybody else for the most championships in WLC history. He had no way of knowing his team's stopping the Fleftic streak would start one of Sarzonia's own. The Stars drew level with the Fleftics with six crowns after that curbstomping, then defeated a Banijan team seeking their first-ever trophy in two consecutive finals. Before the match against Abanhfleft, the Stars routed Banija in the semifinals.

And now, the two teams were meeting for the fourth consecutive time in the knockout rounds, and for the third straight final. If Sarzonia won, they would become the first team to ever win four consecutive World Lacrosse Championships. They would even further extend their lead over Abanhfleft for the most titles in history with their ninth all time. Helms would then oversee a team with 38 consecutive victories in WLC matches. It would mark their 45th victory in 46 matches, a run which began after a Sarzonian loss to Abanhfleft.

For Banija, a victory would give the host nation their first ever title in the sport. It would snap Sarzonia's consecutive victories streak. It would also make Banija the first team other than Abanhfleft to defeat the Stars in a WLC match since Terre Septentrionale did it back in the WLC 34 third place playoff. That match was also the last time Sarzonia lost two matches in a row.

So, needless to say, history was on the line in Herzegovina City. What Helms didn't know was his fate was being discussed. Not by the Incorporated Lacrosse Federation, at least not in terms of job security. He had his job for as long as he wanted it. Three consecutive championships and a 37-match win streak will afford you a hell of a lot of job security. What was being discussed was whether or not Helms would be inducted into the WLC Hall of Fame before he gave any indications at all about whether he wanted to stay on as manager. Helms never publicly addressed his tenure as manager, and he certainly didn't plan to now. Nor did he intend to field any questions about the Hall of Fame.

Let those in power decide that, he'd probably say if asked. For now, he had one focus, and one focus only. Beat Banija. Wear yet another gold medal. Then he could look back and look forward. But right now, he and his team had a job to do.

[Banija]

"This game is why we're hosting"- Banijan lacrosse fans have fear, anxiety, excitement over the WLC 40 Final in Herzegovina City

HERZEGOVINA CITY, MORAVICA- It may be a worn down trope. "This is the biggest game that we've ever played." Observers say. It may seen overused, but mostly because, as you win big games, bigger games usually follow. The legacy of the Sarzonian lacrosse team is secured. 37 game WLC winning streak. Threepeat looking for a fourpeat. It was Banija that was looking to finally get over the hump in this sport. Now, of course, would normally be the time we talked about our struggles searching for glory in this sport, but there's no need to do any of that. Everybody knows- 5 third place finishes, four second places finishes, no golds. Everybody knows the particular pain of the WLC 34 Final, especially considering the absolute and complete modern-day dominance of the Sarzonian Stars- WLC 34 is the "one that got away."

We're not going to go through that. We could talk about how these teams match up on the field. But we know how they do. We've played each other in big games three cycles in a row. Jordan Helms v. Allen Budaye at coach, and Jordan Helms consistently gets the better of his Banijan counterpart. WLC 37 Semifinal, WLC 38 Final, WLC 39 Final. No need to do that either. We've seen this matchup enough times in recent years, these coaches, these players, to know how their systems interact with one another. We know that Sarzonia are the favorites, despite what's expected to be a rabid crowd environment in the capitol city of Banija's most populous state. We know how the players are feeling, for the most part. Nervous. Excited. Focused. It's plainly obvious, the need and desire for Silverware among a Banijan lacrosse fanbase that always gets so close, especially in recent years, but has never won the ultimate prize.

But how are the fans feeling? We had an online comment section, let's talk about this.

I've always been a fan of this lacrosse team. I have watched every lacrosse game we've had since WLC 33, and of course, ever since it was announced that we would host this tournament, I bought tickets to the Final well in advance. There were some nerve-wracking moments, of course- but I always knew that this would be the Final. Sarzonia went to OT against Baker Park, we beat Kriegiersien with a game winning goal scored with less than 10 seconds left. It is the emotional drain of being a Banijan lacrosse fan. I think we can take down this dynasty. I've seen how Sarzonia plays, obviously they're ridiculously dominant. But I think that we are capable of ending this dynasty in its tracks. We've got the crowd behind us. There are no nerves anymore about being in a Final- we've done this enough. It's our time, it's our city, and that's gonna be our trophy in 24 hours.

[Editor's note: swear word redacted] The Stars! GO BANIJA GO!

I've never been more nervous for a lacrosse game in my entire life. Obviously, this is going to shatter lacrosse ratings across the entire country. 1 v 2, winner take all, loser go home, these are the types of matches that we live for. I can't do it! Honestly, I can't do it. I can't bring myself to watch. I'm gonna have a heart attack probably, if I watch. But obviously, I have to follow along. I know what I'm gonna do. My parents are throwing a watch party for the game here in Istria. I'm just gonna listen from the edge of the staircase. Can't see the television from the staircase, but I can hear the reactions of the rest of the party. Hear the cheers, the gasps whenever Sarzonia scores, etc... It's my only option. Too much stress. Too much anxiety.

We've GOT to get this one, right?

I mean, this game is why we're hosting the tournament in the first place? Bring lacrosse to one of its bedrock nations, yes. But also, give ourselves the best chance at a title. And here we are. Banija v. Sarzonia, on home soil. If we don't win it here, we're never gonna win this tournament. Too much pressure, too many nerves. What more can we do if we can't beat them in a Final on home soil? If we don't win this one, we're just gonna be subject to Sarzonian dominance forever in this sport, for as long as they feel like playing.

People always say we'll eventually win one. But why? Nothing is promised in life. I need EVENTUALLY to be today. Banija by 2. This is it. This is our year. If we don't win this one, I put it right out here- we're never gonna win this tournament- ever. But you know what they say.

I! I BELIEVE!

And lastly, we got a quote from a former NT player and captain, Hatabu Manneh, who captained the team as a midfielder at WLC 30. "The story of Banijan lacrosse is the story of an incredible journey. The story of a nation, of a team, that has clawed to the top. We, of course, had our run in the early days- our cinderella run that ended in a final loss in our first ever appearance. But since then, it has been a long journey. Other close calls, falling to being a team that lost in the group stages, and then clawing our way back to the top. We are at the top of the ladder- now we need to step off the ladder and plant ourselves firmly on the Summit. We've come close in recent years. But this is our time. This is our day. This is our year."

There you have it, folks. Will the title go to Banija? Or will this version of Sarzonia further cement themselves as the greatest dynasty the sport has ever seen?

[Banija]

Which team will feel as if they've gone to the Moon at the WLC's final cutoff?

WLC 40 Final

Banija 10–18 Sarzonia (Match scorinated by South Newlandia)

Congratulations to the winner, and commiserations to the loser. Hell of a tournament!

[Sarzonia]

It was all on the line.

History was going to be made one way or the other at Kissa I Field in Herzegovina City. Either No. 1 Banija, the runaway leader in goals scored and fewest goals conceded during the group stage was going to continue their dominance of this 40th World Lacrosse Championships and finally give their championship-starved fans a trophy on home soil or Sarzonia was going to continue their unprecedented run of 37 consecutive WLC victories and win their fourth consecutive title, not to mention their ninth overall. If Sarzonia was going to further add to their dynasty in this sport, they would have to beat the best team in the current competition in hostile territory. There were no two ways about it. This was going to be an away match. More importantly, this was Sarzonia v. Banija. This was yet another match that had the makings of an instant classic.

And, for the third time in the four consecutive meetings in the late stages of a WLC, all expectations for a potential classic were left wanting. Sarzonia never let Banija even get within hailing distance after halftime and ran away with the title, winning the title 18-10 in front of a largely disappointed crowd in the largest province in all of Banija. The attack didn't score the most goals ever. That honour went to the WLC 37 champions in their 27-10 mauling of Abanhfleft. They didn't even score the most goals they had all tournament, as Quebec and Shingoryeo were on the wrong end of a 23-4 curbstomping.

But what they did have was a team of determination. They had a team that knew when they had turn it up a notch. They had a manager in Jordan Helms who was managing for this moment in time. He wasn't thinking about the prospect of tying the late Harold Price for the most titles in Sarzonian history. He wasn't thinking about his place in history or the prospect of seeing his bust in the Hall of Fame on his way to work every day. He was thinking about winning this match, this title. And when the final whistle sounded and the players yet again rushed toward the centre of the pitch as a few thousand navy-clad Stars supporters cheered on in the distance, Helms finally allowed himself a smile as he, defensive coordinator Makeeyah Brantley, offensive coordinator Tyler Pawlenty and the other coaches hugged each other in celebration.

After the customary post-match handshake with Allen Budaye, his Banijan counterpart whom he defeated for the third consecutive time, Helms conducted and dispensed with yet another post-match interview celebrating a title. Only this time, the slight Delaclav accent had one more question to ask before Helms heeded the hand signal from Colin Grassley to join the pileup.

"Coach, you just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. What's your reaction, and do you plan to call it a career?"

Now Helms, who normally had the answers from a tactical standpoint, from the perspective of a manager who was familiar with how his team won or lost -- even if the team hadn't lost in the last 38 matches -- was suddenly at a loss. He really hadn't considered whether or not he was ready to walk away. If his charges had somehow lost this one, he would have a strong inclination toward returning to prevent the bad taste of a loss in the final from being his lasting memory of his time on the sidelines. But now? With history well secured, 38 consecutive wins, four consecutive titles, and with Sarzonia now three titles ahead of anyone else for the most in WLC history, it was a question he was now blindsided with.

"I'll consider my future on the team when the time comes," he said. "As for the Hall of Fame, uh, wow, I thought I'd have to have been retired to be inducted."

He didn't need to. Not with four trophies of his own. Not with his name joining Harold Price among those with at least that number in history. And not with Sarzonia having become one of the most dominant teams in any sport. One question that didn't get asked but might be worth addressing some day was whether Sarzonia's dominance was good for the sport. Sarzonian leadership helmed the sport out of an uncertain past toward a future that suddenly looked brighter. But was Sarzonian hegemony doing harm to the future growth of the sport?

Helms would have more to think about, but he'd say that question was above his pay grade. But for now, he had one more task to perform in the moment, and that was to celebrate with his team again.