Aug. 6, 2013

Maccabiah Games

Three Boston University athletes won medals while representing the United States at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Rising senior Evin Nadaner (Bronx, N.Y.) and the U.S. men’s soccer team won gold in the men’s open division while recent BU graduate Ben Rosen (Syosset, N.Y.) helped the men’s hockey team secure the silver medal. Rising sophomore Rachel Feig and the U.S. field hockey team brought home the bronze.

Nadaner, a member of the BU men’s soccer team, helped the United States capture its first-ever gold medal in men’s soccer by defeating Argentina in penalty kicks in the gold medal game on July 29.

Soccer boasted the largest tournament in the Maccabiah Games with 17 countries competing in the men’s open division. The U.S. played in Group D along with Uruguay, Mexico and Denmark.

After completing his career on the BU men’s hockey team and graduating in May, Rosen served as a co-captain for the U.S. in Israel and contributed 14 points (4g, 10a) throughout the tournament, including Team USA’s lone goal in a 7-1 loss to Canada in the gold medal game held on July 26.

Men’s ice hockey made its return to the Maccabiah Games for the first time since 1997 and featured a four-team field comprised of the United States, Israel, Ukraine and Canada.

Feig and the U.S. field hockey team defeated Germany, 3-0, in the bronze medal game on July 28. Team USA posted a 2-1-1 record throughout the tournament with a pair of wins of Germany and a tie against Argentina.

The Maccabiah Games – the third-largest sporting event in the world – are held every four years and are open to all Jewish athletes as well as Israeli athletes regardless of religion. The international event was first held in 1932 and has open, junior and masters division in most of its sports.