UAlbany's Lyle Thompson Leads Iroquois National Team to 15-13 Win Over USA

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Turku, Finland - UAlbany's Lyle Thompson scored one goal to lead the Iroquois U19 National Team to a 15-13 win over USA at the Federation of International Lacrosse U19 World Championships, in the squad's first-ever defeat of the United States.

"It's hard to forget a game like this," said Thompson, who is a captain of the Iroquois team. "It means a lot to me, the team, our people."

In the final minutes, the ball was handed to Thompson, a rising sophomore for the Great Danes, for safekeeping. With four minutes left, the Iroquois gained possession and, out of a time out, Thompson started to kill clock and draw double teams. He passed it off, and only a Johnny Powless crease violation with about three minutes left turned the ball over.

The U.S. then had a man-up chance after an Iroquois push with under three minutes to play, but could not convert. The Iroquois regained possession and, after another time out with two minutes left, Thompson drew two penalties, helping the team tack on the game's last goal with 49 seconds to go.

With the win, the Iroquois finished pool play with 3-1 record, locked up the second seed for the medal rounds, and earned a bye to the semifinals