Merrick Thomson Earns 1st Team All MLL and Warrior Most Improved Player

Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional lacrosse league, announced Thursday that New Jersey Pride attackman Merrick Thomson has been honored as the 2008 Warrior Most Improved Player of the Year, according to Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on votes submitted by the general managers and head coaches of the ten MLL teams.

After scoring just nine goals last year, Thomson ranked second in the MLL with 42 goals and 52 points in 12 games this season. He scored three or more goals nine times this season, including a team record-tying seven goals in a 26-20 victory over the Long Island Lizards on July 3. He also added two assists in the victory to equal the New Jersey single-game record with nine points, earning MLL Offensive Player of the Week honors.

On July 26, the former University at Albany attackman led the Pride to a 25-20 victory over the Washington Bayhawks, scoring five goals with two assists as New Jersey won the first of three straight games to end the season. He scored seven goals and added an assist in the final two games, helping New Jersey finish with a .500 record for the first time since the 2003 season.

Thomson also added a five-goal effort against Boston on June 6 and scored four goals with two assists in a victory over the Eastern Conference champion Rochester Rattlers on June 14.

Thomson received 10 of a possible 20 first-place votes and tallied 56 points while Chicago Machine goalkeeper Mike Gabel finished second by earning 13 points, including a pair of first-place votes. Rochester Rattlers midfielders Colin Doyle and Joe Walters and New Jersey Pride attackman Matt Rewkowski were tied for third place with 10 points. Both Doyle and Rewkowski each recorded a pair of first-place votes.



Major League Lacrosse announces All-MLL teams



Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional lacrosse league, announced Friday the players who have been named to the 2008 All-Major League Lacrosse team, recognizing the best players at each position. Named to the All-MLL team were:

Attack: John Grant, Jr. (Rochester), Kevin Leveille (Chicago), Merrick Thomson (New Jersey)
Midfield: Brian Langtry (Denver), Matt Striebel (Philadelphia), Joe Walters (Rochester)
Defense: Eric Martin (San Francisco), Brodie Merrill (Rochester), Kyle Sweeney (Philadelphia)
Goalkeeper: Mickey Jarboe (Los Angeles), Rob Scherr (New Jersey)
Face-off Specialist: Alex Smith (Rochester)