Three Former University of Albany Lacrosse Standouts Appear in Thursday's MLL All-Star Game in Denver - UAlbanys Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Denver, Colo. – Former University at Albany standouts Merrick Thomson, Jordan Levine and Brett Queener will participate in the 2009 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star Game on Thursday at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High. The eighth annual MLL all-star game begins at 10 p.m. Eastern and will be televised live on ESPN2. Joe Beninati and Quint Kessenich will call the action.

While Major League Lacrosse implemented an “East” vs. “West” format the past two seasons, this year’s all-star game will return to the popular “Old School” vs. “Young Guns” format. The “Young Guns” squad is comprised of players from the 2007-09 classes, while the “Old School” team will be made up by those players from the classes prior to and including 2006. Thomson, Levine and Queener, who play for the Toronto Nationals, are members of the “Young Guns” roster.

Thomson, a team co-captain, is making his second consecutive MLL All-Star appearance. He leads the league in goals scored (33) and is tied for second in points (35). Thomson was voted Warrior Most Improved Player of the Year in 2008. He earned USILA third-team All-America honors as a senior collegian when UAlbany won the America East Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. Thomson is the school’s all-time leaders in goals (188) and points (244).

Queener, a goalkeeper, is playing in the MLL All-Star Game for the first time. He is tied for second among the league leaders in save percentage (.568) and recorded a season-best 14 saves against Washington on June 13. Queener, a three-time All-America East selection at the collegiate level, ranked among the nation’s Division I leaders as a senior in goals against average (7.85) and save percentage (.579). He is fifth all-time on the UAlbany program’s career saves list with 467.

Levine, a midfielder, is also making his first MLL all-star appearance. He has six goals and two assists in seven games for Toronto after playing for the New Jersey Pride in 2008. Levine was twice named to the USILA All-America squad as a collegian and became the third UAlbany player to be chosen to the All-America East first team in three consecutive seasons. He totaled 57 goals and 56 assists during his career and is the program’s Division I career leader in ground balls with 321.