by Postgame Interviews (Facebook) – Lyle Thompson
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Lyle Thompson (Onondaga Nation) passed Rob Pannell for the NCAA DI all-time scoring record as the #8/8 UAlbany men’s lacrosse team won a physical battle at Bryant for the 10-8 victory under the lights at the Bryant Turf Complex.
With two goals and an assist tonight, Thompson has 357 points in his UAlbany career, passing Pannell’s mark of 354 to stand alone as the all-time scoring leader in NCAA DI men’s lacrosse. Thompson earned point #355 on an assist to Connor Fields with 13:08 remaining in the second quarter. In his prestigious collegiate career, Thompson has 155 goals and 202 assists, averaging 5.7 points per game.
“Honestly, it is not the most important thing in the world to me. We battled, and it was a good W for us,” said Thompson. “I care so much about my heritage, about this game, playing for the Creator, playing with the right mind and playing with the right attitude. When it comes down to that, that is all I really care about.”
“He earned it tonight, Bryant did a wonderful job playing defense on him and our whole team,” added UAlbany coach Scott Marr. “We couldn’t be anymore prouder of Lyle for the accomplishment that he has made and what it has done for our school and our program.”
UAlbany (10-2) netted two goals in the final eight minutes of the final period as the defense caused five Bryant (5-8) turnovers in the fourth quarter to hold down the Bulldogs.
“You gotta go to our defensive side of the ball in the fourth quarter,” said Marr. “We just played outstanding and made some really gritty plays to hold them to eight goals.
Seth Oakes contributed a point to half of UAlbany’s scoring on the night, finishing with three goals and two assists. Fields concluded with two goals and an assist.
Nine different UAlbany players caused Bryant turnovers, helping Blaze Riorden earn the victory in goal. Riorden saved 11 shots, moving past David Crone to 3rd all-time in UAlbany history with 573 saves, on 19 shots on goal.
For Bryant, Tucker James and Cam Ziegler each had two goals, while Shane Morrell had a goal and two assists. Gunnar Waldt got the loss in goal, having 15 saves.
Bryant won the opening faceoff, and off a second chance, James scored off a shot from his back. UAlbany used two poles on the faceoff unit to win the next one; after both sides turned it over, Kyle McClancy drew the defense’s eyes behind the cage, finding Adam Osika in front of the goal circle for the goal. After a series of possessions, James threw a low shot into the cage for Bryant to put the home team back ahead. Oakes answered the other way, getting free after being pushed and shoved by a long stick, using a shovel shot and hitting in the left corner. Bryant continued to play slowly and use long possessions as Morrell hit a shot while jumping and the shot clock going, adding another later after Tom Kennedy picked up a loose ball about 12 meters out, shooting and scoring. Bryant led 4-2 after the first quarter.
2:10 into the second quarter, Thompson passed to Fields, who faked out the keeper for the score, giving Thompson point #355 to break the scoring record. A couple of minutes later, UAlbany got a second chance after John Maloney’s shot hit the post as Oakes scored to tie the game. The action stayed physical as each side committed multiple turnovers, until with 6:22 left in the quarter, Thompson heaved shot and scored inside the right post to give UAlbany the lead. Another goal went to UAlbany seconds later. Bryant added a goal in the final minute off a catch and shoot from Kennedy to Collins Gantz. Riorden saved a shot near the post at the half’s end to send UAlbany into the locker room up 6-5.
After three Bryant turnovers to begin the third quarter, UAlbany fired away at the cage for over three minutes, sending ten shots towards the goal. The tenth made it with a rip from Fields straight-away for the goal from Oakes just under six minutes into the half. With 5:31 left in the third, Bryant scored two transition goals in a span of 13 seconds, the second from LSM Cody O’Donnell, to tie the game at 7-7. Bryant held the ball for the majority of the remainder of the quarter, getting a flag as the period expired. The score was tied 7-7 going into the fourth.
Playing man-down, Riorden made a save against a hard shot from Brian Schlansker, then Troy Rehintercepted a pass that came from behind the cage to hold off Bryant. After a UAlbany turnover then aDerrick Eccles ground ball off a blocked Bryant shot, Fields found Matt Garziano for the hard shot and score to put UAlbany ahead. Bryant countered by forcing a turnover on the faceoff, seeing Ziegler score the other direction to tie the game again with 11:51 left to play. Three minutes later, UAlbany broke the stalemate as Oakes got in front of the goal circle, faked out the keeper and scoring under the crossbar to make it 9-8 Great Danes with 8:37 left. UAlbany held on defense as Maloney and Tim Cox forced turnovers to end Bryant possessions. With about 1:30 left, UAlbany’s pressure stayed strong as Ziegler threw the ball away. UAlbany cleared and killed clock as Thompson hit a one-handed shot next to the cage with 34 seconds left. Garziano forced a Bryant turnover with 10 seconds left, ensuring the 10-8 UAlbany win.
UAlbany will prepare for a top-10 showdown at Bob Ford Field, taking on #7/7 Yale on Saturday, April 18th at 7 p.m.
