After seven losses at the FIL world field lacrosse championship, Cole Paciejewski and Team Scotland finally tasted victory on the field Friday in Netanya, Israel.
In an all-British Isles matchup against Ireland, Scotland posted a 14-11 win to finish the 46-team tournament in 11th place. Paciejewski, a 24-year-old from Prince George, picked up one assist. He finished the tournament with four goals and three assists and had eight shots on goal in eight games.
The Citizen learned Friday Paciejewski is not the only Prince George connection playing in the tournament. Former Prince George Posse junior star Leif Paulson played for Sweden and they won their final game Friday, defeating Czech Republic 9-7 to finish 25th overall.
Paulson, 31, is attending university in France, completing masters studies in engineering, and has been commuting to Sweden this year to practice with the team to prepare for the world championship. He played four years of NCAA Division 1 field lacrosse with the Cornell (University) Big Red from 2006-10.
Sweden opened the tournament with wins over Argentina (13-5) and Hungary (16-6), then lost to Italy (13-11) and Latvia (13-9), finishing with consecutive wins over Argentina (11-4), Hungary (14-8) and the Czechs.
Paulson collected 10 goals and one assist and had 19 shots on goal in seven games.
In the bronze-medal game Friday, Iroquois Nationals defeated Australia 14-12. Iroquois is a team of 23 players from Ontario, Quebec and New York state and they represent the Haudenosaunee confederacy of six First Nations - Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.
Canada will play for gold today in the final against the United States.
