UAlbany in the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Season
(Image Credit: Getty Images, Justin LaFleur, Jon Braude)
ALBANY, N.Y. – The end of the 2015 collegiate season did not see the end of lacrosse for some former Great Danes. Six UAlbany alumni suited up in Major League Lacrosse during the 2015 season, including two that played for UAlbany in the same year.
Thompson Brothers, Brett Queener Relaunch the Launch
Despite a number of double digit save performances from UAlbany alum Brett Queener, the Florida Launch started the season 1-9. Reinforcements came as Miles Thompson was traded to the Launch from Rochester and Lyle Thompson, the #1 pick in the First-Year Player Draft in January, joined the team after UAlbany's season to reunite the Thompson brothers. Despite the Launch missing the playoffs, the team won four of its last five, including wins over both MLL finalist teams New York and Rochester.
Queener finished the year with a 58.7 save percentage, second highest among primary goalkeepers in the 2015 MLL year. Lyle Thompson finished second in the MLL Rookie of the Year voting (first in first-place votes) after tallying 38 points off 22 goals and 16 assists, shooting 41.5% from the field. After finishing up his season in National League Lacrosse, Miles Thompson scored 15 goals in eight games with a 39.5 shot percentage.
Matt Bertrams Helps Hometown Machine to MLL Playoffs
2015 UAlbany captain Matthew Bertrams was selected in the Undrafted Collegiate Player Poll in early June by the team in his home state, the Ohio Machine. He joined the team a bit later as a defensive midfielder.
Bertrams played in the team's final five regular season games, helping the Machine win four games and secure the 2-seed in the MLL playoffs and the winningest season in franchise history with nine victories. He appeared in Ohio's playoff game, a 12-8 loss to the Rochester Rattlers.
Ty Thompson, Ryan Feuerstein Begin with Rochester Rattlers
In the beginning of the season, UAlbany alumni Ty Thompson and Ryan Feuerstein served on the opening roster of the Rochester Rattlers. Thompson rejoined the team after being drafted by Rochester in 2014 while Feuerstein was taken in the Supplemental Draft in December.
Thompson played in the team's first four games, finishing with eight points, including hat tricks in two games against New York. Feuerstein made his debut on April 12th in the team's first game, playing three contests as a defensive midfielder.
This weekend will feature the MLL championship game with the New York Lizards taking on the Rochester Rattlers.
Special thanks to Justin LaFleur, Jon Braude and Getty Images for the images used.
