ASHKELON, Israel - Marist women’s lacrosse alumna Amanda Tuck ’13 has earned a spot on the Israeli national team that will compete in the 2017 Federation of International Lacrosse Women’s World Cup. The nation’s 20-player roster was announced Nov. 22 following a three-day tryout this summer in Be’er Sheva, Israel, and a set of fall exhibition games.
The 2017 FIL Women’s World Cup will be held at University of Surrey near London, England, from July 12-22. Teams from 24 countries are expected to compete at the international tournament. Israel has its sights set on improving its world ranking from its eighth place finish at its first Women’s World Cup appearance in 2013.
Israel’s roster is composed of Israeli players as well as members of the Jewish diaspora in accordance with FIL rules and regulations. In conjunction with the Israel Lacrosse Tzedakah Program, each player on the national team will be competing in honor of a charity of their choosing. Tuck will be playing for IsraAID, a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to providing life-saving disaster relief and long term support for people all over the world who experience extreme crises. The charity has provided emergency response, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development programs to Europe, Africa, and Asia in addition to the United States to help affected areas move from deconstruction to reconstruction.
Tuck brings a wealth of international experience to Israel Lacrosse, as she was an assistant coach for the country’s first U-19 team at the 2015 FIL Women’s World Cup. Three of Tuck’s players from that squad will be on the field with her in 2017: Jenna Baverman, Gabriela Cheban and Shirel Fresh.
In her playing career abroad Tuck was captain of Israel’s 2015 European Lacrosse Federation Championship squad that participated in the largest international women’s lacrosse competition ever held on European soil. Israel finished fourth in the tournament, falling to host Scotland, 10-9, in the bronze medal game.
During her time at Marist Tuck assisted with community and economic development projects in Ghana for two weeks through the college’s program and also studied in London as part of a Marist short-term program. After earning her bachelor’s degree in political science and government in 2013, she ran an outdoor leadership course in Patagonia, Chile, for three weeks. In Marist women’s lacrosse history, Tuck is currently tied for second with 70 games played and is third with 117 draw controls.