Quartet of Former Wolverines to Participate in FIL World Championships
7/10/2018 4:15:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
• FIL World Championships Home | Streaming Schedule
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Former University of Michigan men's lacrosse players Eric Smith (2015-18), Dickson Smith (2017), Bobby Riso (2014) and Kyle Jackson (2013-16) will represent their respective homelands and the Wolverines at the 2018 FIL Men's World Lacrosse Championship, July 12-21 in Netanya, Israel.
The Smith brothers, playing in their second World Championship, will represent Sweden. Riso will suit up for the Italian squad, while Jackson will feature for the Iroquois National Team.
Dickson Smith is one year removed from his season in Ann Arbor (2017), a year during which he started all 14 games on close defense en route to collecting 22 ground balls and causing 16 turnovers. Younger brother Eric graduated this past spring and played in 27 contests in his U-M career with 19 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. Riso appeared in three games as a reserve goalie for the Wolverines during the 2014 campaign.
Jackson ranks second in the U-M record books for points in a career with 113, and goals with 88. He arguably is the most successful Wolverine in the professional ranks since the elevation to varsity status and crafts his trade for the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League and the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.
The Sarnia, Ontario, native traces his Native American heritage back through his father, Mike, who has bloodlines connected to the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. He helped lead the Knighthawks to the NLL Championship series in 2018, ranking seventh in the league with a team-leading 37 goals. In his rookie year (2017), he was named to the NLL All-Rookie team and finished second in the league's rookie of the year voting.
With Jackson's first lacrosse season just underway, he rejoins a Cannons team that he played in nine games for last season with 14 goals and 23 points en route to being voted the team's Rookie of the Year.
The Iroquois Nationals are the defending bronze medalists. Overall, the United States has won nine World Lacrosse Championships. Canada has captured three championships throughout the history of the event – which is contested every four years -- and will defend its 2014 championship.
All 48 teams play to a final ranking and will compete in 6-8 matches over the 10-day championship. Across 10 days of play, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise 14 matchups, with more than 160 games available on ESPN+, with all games streaming live via the ESPN App.
TV Pool Play Schedule
*all times local (Netanya, Israel, is seven hours ahead of Eastern time)
Thursday, July 12
Sweden 13, Argentina 5
Italy 16, Turkey 8
United States 17, Iroquois Nationals 9
Saturday, July 14
Sweden 16, Hungary 6
Iroquois Nationals 18, England 7
Italy 13, Peru 7
Sunday, July 15
Italy 13, Sweden 11
Iroquois Nationals 16, Australia 9
Monday, July 16
Latvia 13, Sweden 9
Ireland 15, Italy 7
Canada 10, Iroquois Nationals 5
Tuesday, July 17
Philippines 13, Italy 12
Iroquois Nationals 15, Scotland 7
Wednesday, July 18
Sweden 11, Argentina 4
Iroquois Nationals 14, Puerto Rico 7Â
Thursday, July 19
Sweden 14, Hungary 8
Wales 15, Italy 4
Canada 15, Iroquois Nationals 4
Friday, July 20
Sweden 9, Czech Republic 7 (Sweden places 25th)
Finland 16, Italy 3 (Italy takes 16th)
Iroquois Nationals 14,  Australia 12 (Iroquois takes 5th)
Updates will be provided via Twitter (@UMichLacrosse)Â throughout the tournament.
