News|Schedule / Results|Roster|Coaches|

West Coast Force Japan Tour Results Day Ten

Jun. 30, 2012

Tokyo, Japan - The West Coast Force teams played their final lacrosse games in Japan on day ten of twelve of their tour of Nagoya, Mt. Fuji, Gotemba Hot Springs and Tokyo. The Force men won their game 7-3 to complete a sweep of all opponents faced on the tour. The men are 7-0 in Japan for 2012. At one point the game against Tokyo Under-20 was a run-away and the score was 5-0 at halftime. Some position switches and strategy changes gave different Force players a chance to assume different roles in the final 15 minutes of the game for even more fun to be had by all.

The women started off against Toin Gakuen, the national high school champions of Japan.  A fast Toin start put the Force down 3-0 in the first 15 minutes but then over the next 8 minutes the Force came back to tie it at 4-4. With less than a minute remaining the Force had the ball on offense in a fast break situation but didn't take the shot and then lost the ball after taking it behind the cage to settle it. Toin took full advantage of that gift possession to go up 5-4 after a full 100 yard transition to offense. They then won the draw and fastbreaked themselves to another goal with 1 second on the clock to win 6-4.

The Force played the second of two short games right away to allow two Japanese teams the opportunity to play the American team. The second game was against a Tokyo Under-20 All-Star team. Earlier in the trip, on day one of playing together, the Force fell 17-10 to Tokai Under-22 in Nagoya. Tokyo Under-20 had beaten Tokai Under-22 by four goals in their test match earlier this month so it was a chance for the Force players to see how much they'd improved together on their tour.

The Force took a 2-0 lead before Tokyo responded to make it 2-1 and eventually 2-2. Force scored again to take a 3-2 lead and Tokyo scored again for a 3-3 game as time was winding down. Tokyo won the draw and looked dangerous but the ball ended up on the ground and Force got it. A transition down the field led to what looked like a good 1 v. 1 opportunity but Force took the ball behind and started to pass it around only too lose it. When Tokyo came up with the loose ball they transitioned down the field and were fouled. The free position was almost saved by the Force goalie but some top spin on the save of part of the ball put it across the line and Tokyo Under-20 won 4-3 with no time left on the clock. The Force women finished the tour 2-1-4 and improved to the point they could play with a team that had beaten a team that had beaten the Force.

West Coast Force has the day off Sunday before they attend a farewell dinner and party hosted by the Japan Lacrosse Association in Shinjuku at Sakai Chuodori. The Force flight back to the United States departs Narita Airport on Monday afternoon but with the help of the International Date Line everyone will arrive at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) on Monday morning.