Lyle Thompson – Lacrosse Magazine 2014 Person of the Year
Lacrosse Magazine Story: Lyle Thompson - 2014 Person of the Year
BALTIMORE – Lacrosse Magazine, the official publication of US Lacrosse, has announced that UAlbany attackman Lyle Thompson is the 2014 Person of the Year.
The Lacrosse Magazine Person of the Year, according to the US Lacrosse mission statement, is “an honor reserved for the person who has had a tremendous positive influence on the sport and transcended all levels of the game.” The honor has been given since 2007 by the organization.
Lyle Thompson is the first active collegiate player to be awarded this yearly honor. In 2014, he was a factor in the collegiate game, the indoor box level and the national stage in lacrosse.
“My father (Jerome Thompson Sr.) said, 'Don't worry about the number [on your jersey], don't worry about the name; you're playing for the Creator,'” Lyle Thompson said to Lacrosse Magazine. “To do that you have to go out there and play with a positive attitude. That's what we did this year. That's kind of the person I am, just growing up — the person my father taught us to be.”
He earned numerous honors during the year, including sharing the Tewaaraton Trophy with brother Miles Thompson for top players in college lacrosse and being the first Native Americans to earn the award, All-World Team with the Iroquois Nationals from the FIL World Games in Denver and MVP of the President's Cup Championship with the Onondaga Redhawks.
“He's definitely deserving of the award,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr to Lacrosse Magazine. “I don't see anybody else in the game right now who is doing more for the game itself and young kids, promoting the game in a positive way. You talk about a young man who has two children of his own, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't do drugs; he's a perfect role model for the game. He's really taken on a leadership for our program at Albany, but he's also taken on a leadership role for the game itself, with how he conducts himself with kids across the country, at clinics and the world games this summer. He's a special person.”
At the beginning of 2014, Lyle Thompson, along with brother Miles Thompson and cousin Ty Thompson, got ready for the college season with the Great Danes. UAlbany was coming off winning the 2013 America East title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The trio had combined 255 points, with Lyle contributing 50 goals and 63 assists, and looked to send UAlbany even farther in 2014.
The trio lit up the scoreboard during the year as UAlbany defeated Harvard, UMass and Penn State leading up to America East play. Lyle Thompson served as the team's quarterback, earning at least four points in every game. Brother Miles often finished Lyle's passes for goals, as Lyle led Division I in points and assists per game, Miles led in goals per game and Ty served as a strong finisher. The world was watching, with the Thompson trio being featured on the front cover of the New York Times, the TV screen on ABC World News, CBS Evening News and ESPN's Sportscenter plus numerous publications in the national sphere, local area and lacrosse media.
UAlbany went undefeated through America East play, defeating Binghamton 21-7 to secure the regular season title. Lyle Thompson was honored as the America East Player of the Year and led UAlbany to Long Island for the America East Tournament.
On May 1st, UAlbany took on tournament host Stony Brook in the semifinal round. With UAlbany up 15-11 going into the fourth quarter, Stony Brook went on a 5-0 run to lead 16-15. With five seconds left before UAlbany's season could be finished, Thompson emerged from the cage and in front of his defender, scoring inside the right post to send the game into overtime. 35 seconds into the first overtime, the double teamed Lyle Thompson found Doug Eich, who netted the goal to send UAlbany to victory 17-16. In that game, Lyle Thompson earned his 100th point, making him the only person in NCAA Division I play to have a pair of 100-point seasons.
Two days later, Lyle Thompson scored three goals and five assists, with brother Miles Thompson scoring seven goals and two assists to earn America East Tournament MVP, to lead UAlbany to a 20-11 victory over UMBC to secure the 2014 America East title. The selection committee chose UAlbany to go to Baltimore to face the #1-ranked team in the country, Loyola. Before the game, Lyle and Miles Thompson were chosen as Tewaaraton finalists, marking them as two of the top five players in men's lacrosse in 2014.
Into Baltimore, Lyle Thompson scored a goal one-on-one against fellow Tewaaraton finalist Joe Fletcher for his 115th point, marking the highest single season total in NCAA Division I history. The Thompson trio led the charge against the top defense in the nation, combining for 18 points, including three goals and five assists from Lyle, five goals and two assists from Miles and a hat trick from Ty, to take down the Greyhounds 13-6 and send UAlbany to the quarterfinals for the second time in school history.
UAlbany was next tasked with taking on Notre Dame on Long Island. In front of 13,519 mainly UAlbany fans, the Thompsons again placed their names in the NCAA record books. Lyle Thompson earned three assists, with three goals, to tie the NCAA single season record for assists with 77, while Miles Thompson scored three goals to tie the goals single season record with 82. Despite a lead in the fourth quarter, the UAlbany season came to a close after Notre Dame won in overtime 14-13. Lyle Thompson finished with 128 points while Miles Thompson concluded with 119, placing them one and two all-time in the NCAA single season points record book.
Though their college season was over, the Thompson brothers earned further recognition for their season. On May 29th, the two became the first Native Americans to share the Tewaaraton Trophy, having their achievements honored by the entire lacrosse community.
Past his college year, Lyle Thompson's story would not end. During the summer, he, Miles, Ty and his older brothers Jeremy and Jerome suited up for the Iroquois Nationals in the 2014 World Games in Denver. Competing in the Blue Division, the most competitive division in lacrosse, the Iroquois Nationals finished third, going 5-3, with the only losses coming against the two championship game participants, the USA and Canada.
The Iroquois Nationals defeated Team Australia for the top-three finish, giving the team its highest finish ever in the World Games. Lyle Thompson earned 16 goals and seven assists in the tournament, including two goals and assists in the third-place game.
Finishing out the summer, the Thompson brothers suited up for the Onondaga Redhawks, leading the team to the Can-Am Lacrosse League championship, then defeating the Six Nations Riverman to win the 2014 President's Cup championship in the Canadian Lacrosse Association.
Lyle Thompson has one more year with UAlbany and will lead the Great Danes in the 2015 season.
Lacrosse Magazine Person of the Year Recipients
--2007: John Danowski, Duke men's lacrosse coach
--2008: Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern women's lacrosse coach
--2009: Bill Tierney, Denver men's lacrosse coach
--2010: Tim Goettelmann, Long Island Lizards attackman
--2011: John Paul, Michigan men's lacrosse coach
--2012: Tom Hayes, Federation of International Lacrosse director of development
--2013: Lindsey Munday, Team USA women's lacrosse captain/USC women's lacrosse coach
--2014: Lyle Thompson, UAlbany men's lacrosse attackman/Iroquois Nationals attackman
