Victory will be even sweeter - but losing is even more painful.
Written by: Civil Citizenry
It was a crazy night in Sarzonia. Houses burned. Riots stampeded across entire cities. Innocent citizens were left screaming for their lives.
Whether or not that actually happened, what did happen is the completion of the semifinals at the World Lacrosse Championships X. Both semifinal matches ended with a score of 16-15, leaving both wild ecstasy and heartbroken tears around team clubhouses. The number one seed, Civil Citizenry, was upset by former champion Allamunnic States; and the defending champions, Mytannion, were sent to the third-place playoff by second seed Churchma.
The Civil Citizenry-Allamunnic States was an incredible nailbiter. The latter led, 10-8, at halftime, before goalie Leopold Fuchs allowed seven goals to the Stick Mouflons in the third quarter to give the upstart young team a 15-12 lead with fifteen minutes to play. As if someone had flicked an on/off switch, Fuchs and the States' defense played out of their minds, while the CVC offense could not get anything going. Civil Citizenry was shut out in the final quarter, but only a last-second goal by Allamunnic States was enough to send the latter into the championship. Civil Citizenry Head Coach Tim Rastegenera was stoic after the game, saying, "We shouldn't have done so poorly in that last quarter. We got fricken shut out. I dunno, I mean, I'm happy to have gotten this far - but Jesus, we were so close. [Pause.] One more game left to play. That's what the team is gonna focus on - the next game. We've done it all tournament, and it nearly got us to the championship in our first appearance."
The other semifinal was equally stunning. Despite Churchma team captain Robert Heald's seven goals, the team could not put away Mytannion at any point in the game. Mytannion took the whole shabang at WLC IX - despite that edition being the first one the Mytanars had ever partaken in. Despite some uncertainly that has shrouded the team's efforts all tournament, they comfortably reached the semifinals - before having to tackle the Gators, a team that surprised the critics by claiming the number two seed in the playoffs. The team combined for a 7-13 record in the previous two WLCs; nothing in their past would have even hinted at such an impressive showing. But the incredible play of Heald & Co. has lifted the team to new heights: now, in the team's first appearance in the playoffs, Churchma has a shot to win its first championship.
According to Churchma local news reports, the Churchma-Allamunnic States final is the biggest sports event in quite a while for that country. For Allamunnic States, the WLC X final, no matter who is victorious, will mark the team's return to international lacrosse prominence - and a win would establish Allamunnic States as one of the most successful and prestigious dynasties in lacrosse history. Allamunnic States has already won a championship (in WLC VI), and this is the team's third final in the ten editions this tournament has been around. After reaching at least the semifinals three times in a row, the team fell short of qualifying for the playoffs in WLC IX - and thus received low expectations heading into this tourney. Indeed, the team would go on to a middling 6-4 group record: enough to qualify for the playoffs, but only enough to grab the sixth seed and an opening round game against Delaclava. Allamunnic States won that one by a hair, and then, of course, they were able to squeeze past Civil Citizenry in the semis. Whoever wins the championship will do so having received zero chance to do so before the World Lacrosse Championships began - and that makes victory even sweeter.
Yesterday's Games [Semifinals]
(6) Allamunnic States def. (1) Civil Citizenry, 16-15
(2) Churchma def. (5) Mytannion, 16-15
Today's Games [Finals/Third Place Playoff]
(2) Churchma vs. (6) Allamunnic States
Franz Braddock Stadium, Woodstock, Sarzonia
(1) Civil Citizenry vs. (5) Mytannion
Portland Lacrosse Centre, Portland, Sarzonia
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