Luxembourg's National Lacrosse Team made significant strides at the EuroLax Sixes Cup in Portugal, securing two victories and a respectable fifth-place finish, a major improvement from last year’s winless tournament.

The Luxembourg National Lacrosse Team delivered a strong performance at the EuroLax Sixes Cup in Algarve in Portugal this past weekend, securing two well-earned victories. The team claimed a 14-11 win over France on Friday, followed by an 11-8 triumph against Switzerland on Saturday. Finishing in fifth place with a 2-3 record, this year’s tournament marked a significant improvement from last year’s winless campaign.

The event featured the Olympic-style Sixes format, a fast-paced version of the sport set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. With the format gaining momentum across Europe, this tournament served as both a high-profile international competition and the European women’s qualifier for the next World Games.

Luxembourg opened the tournament against the host nation, Portugal. Despite an evenly matched first ten minutes, with the score tied at 3-3, Portugal went on an extended scoring run. Though Luxembourg mounted a late rally, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, ultimately falling 15-9 (2:1, 8:3, 4:1, 1:4).

A pivotal showdown against France followed, making for a must-win encounter. Coached by former Luxembourg goalkeeper Ash Listerman and boasting strong individual talent, France got off to a quick start, pulling ahead 5-2. However, Luxembourg responded with improved offensive coordination and a resolute defensive effort, leveling the game at 10-10 by the start of the final quarter. With disciplined execution, Luxembourg pulled away with four unanswered goals, securing a 14-11 victory (1:2, 4:2, 4:6, 2:4).

The next challenge came from Switzerland, and from the weather as heavy rain started. The rain interrupted play with Luxembourg leading 5-4 at halftime. The game resumed the following day after other scheduled matches. Saturday also featured a matchup against Armenia, a formidable opponent and runner-up at the 2024 EuroLacrosse event in Greece. Despite a valiant effort, Luxembourg struggled against Armenia’s offensive firepower, falling 22-6 (1:4, 2:6, 1:6, 2:6).

Later on Saturday, Luxembourg returned to finish its battle against Switzerland’s ‘White’ squad. Resuming with a narrow 5-4 lead, Luxembourg conceded an early equalizer before both teams exchanged goals. In the final four minutes, team captain Clemens Schusterschitz stepped up, scoring twice to secure an 11-8 victory. General Manager Henning Schmidt praised the team’s progress: “Last year, we completely underestimated Switzerland. This time, we got two wins – it’s outstanding. We’re building for the next five years.”

With two wins and two losses, Luxembourg entered the final day of competition facing the eventual tournament champions, the Netherlands, and Switzerland’s stronger ‘White’ team. The Swiss proved too much to handle, taking a convincing 15-4 win (1:4, 2:4, 0:1, 1:6). Despite the loss, Luxembourg’s consistent improvement was evident, with players and coaches embracing the challenge of high-level competition.

“We came here to compete and show our progress, and we did just that,” said Head Coach Chet Koneczny. “The guys improved every game, and we ended the tournament playing our best lacrosse against one of Europe’s top teams. That’s a huge step forward.”

The final game against the Netherlands showcased just how far Luxembourg had come. While they had struggled against the Dutch in an 18-3 defeat in Ghent a few weeks earlier, this time they put up a fierce fight. Though the Netherlands emerged with a 7-5 victory, it was a dramatic improvement for Luxembourg. The Dutch went on to win the tournament in an overtime thriller against Switzerland, further highlighting Luxembourg’s growing competitiveness.

Reflecting on the team’s journey, captain Yves Audrimont emphasised the value of persistence: “Patience is key. We’ve been working hard for months, and it’s paying off. The only way now is forward.”