*View/download a high res copy of this image.

OLC, a team of service members and Okinawans, beat Zipang, a team comprised of players from four separate lacrosse clubs in Tokyo, 11-10 in the first game between the teams in two years.

In the first quarter, OLC played defensively while some of their newer players tried to get a feel for each other.

"The chemistry isn't there with a lot of the new guys," said OLC attacker Ben Orga.

Zipang attacker Richard Roylance said his team scored three goals in the first by reading their opponents and adapting to their style of play. OLC put up one goal to make it 3-1.

Zipang stayed out in front in the second quarter, putting up two more goals. OLC couldn't keep control of the ball but managed to score one goal and make it 5-2.

"We just couldn't set it up in the second quarter," Orga said.

A combination of factors turned the tables dramatically in the third quarter. OLC fielded a veteran lineup in the second half, and their long-standing chemistry showed.

"We realized at that point that our opponents are quite quick on their feet," Roylance said.

Zipang, a team of mostly businessmen who work long hours, slowed down in the second half, according Roylance.

"It's a running joke we have, because we always start getting slow and heavy in the third quarter," Roylance said.

OLC took the lead in the third quarter, scoring six goals to Zipang's two and jumping out to an 8-7 lead.

OLC slowed down in the fourth but scored two goals and held Zipang to one until late in the quarter. With three minutes left, Zipang made a run, surging back with two goals and forcing overtime.

Neither team could find the goal in two four-minute overtime periods, which forced a final 20-minute, sudden-death period. OLC controlled the ball in the final period until Kupka put the nail in the coffin.

Kupka attributed OLC's win to fundamentals.

"If you do all the basics better, naturally you're going to win," Kupka said.

The Zipang players enjoyed the opportunity to play the Okinawa club.

"We didn't want either team to get a huge lead because it's all about the fun of competition," said Roylance. "It sounds strange, but it was a good ending to an exciting game."