Iroquois Nationals Score Big in Finland
Jul 20, 2012
Advance to Semi-Finals with Second Seed
The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team defeated the United States Lacrosse team in Finland at the World Field Lacrosse Championships. The Nationals scored 15 goals to 13 for the U.S. team on Tuesday July 17, 2012. This is the first time that the Nationals won over a U.S. lacrosse team in international outdoor competition, but have won earlier in indoor championship competition. The only defeat the Nationals’ have suffered in this tournament was from Canada with an 11 to 9 score.
Seven of the team members are from Akwesasne: Trey Adams, Dalston Day, Hank Delisle, Chris George, Korin Sunday, Ky Tarbell and Oaklay Thomas. They all also play on the Akwesasne Junior B Indians team.
Canada is now undefeated and will get top seed for the semi-finals after whomping the Australian team 25 to 3. The Iroquois Nationals earned the second seed spot. “We’re all very proud of the Nationals and what they’ve accomplished,” stated Ron LaFrance, Tribal Chief. “We are especially proud of the contribution that the young men from Akwesasne have made,” he added. The U.S. team dropped to a two win and two loss record after losing earlier to Canada.
The Iroquois Nationals are the national lacrosse team of the Iroquois Six Nations of the Iroquois League (consisting of the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga, and Tuscarora nations) that competes in international competition. They are the only all-Native lacrosse team permitted to compete internationally. In 1998 the Iroquois Nationals began competing in the World Lacrosse Championship and placed fourth in 1998, 2002 and 2006. In 2010, they were unable to play because England refused to recognize the validity of their Iroquois-issued passports. “It’s only proper that the Iroquois be represented in international competition,” noted Tribal Chief Randy Hart. “Lacrosse is considered to be a gift from the Creator and was developed by our ancestors thousands of years ago.” The Nationals compete in both field lacrosse and box lacrosse, which is played indoors.
The Nationals will continue their play in the semi-finals where they may play against the U.S. team again. “We wish them the best,” said Tribal Chief Paul Thompson. “They are playing their hardest and no matter where they place in this competition they deserve our respect for representing the Iroquois people and Akwesasne so well.”
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