University of Albany Men’s Lacrosse Repeats as America East Champions with 20-11 Victory over UMBC

(Photo courtesy of the America East) Box Score | Box Score (PDF) STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Last season, UAlbany defeated UMBC by nine to secure the America East title. In 2014, the Great Danes did it again. UAlbany took down UMBC 20-11 in Stony Brook to earn its second-consecutive America East title and sixth in school history. “We are thrilled to be champions again, what an unbelievable effort from our team, from our faceoff guy and then our defense, and then our offense took over in the second half,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, who has been at the helm for all six of the school’s America East titles. With the victory, UAlbany (11-5) has earned an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament starting next week. The selection show will be tomorrow on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Lyle Thompson, named to the AE All-Tournament Team earned eight points in the game, off three goals and five assists, to total 114 for the season, tying the NCAA Division I single season points record set by Steve Marohl of UMBC in 1992. “It is not a thought in my head, but it is an honor to have my name in the history books,” said Thompson. “But it is more important for us to get the win today as a team.” Miles Thompson earned America East Tournament MVP, scoring seven goals and two assists today, after earning 18 goals and four assists in the tournament. His 18 goals and 22 total points are new conference tournament records. The duo also set a new NCAA Division I first, becoming the first pair of teammates to each score over 100 points in the same season. Lyle Thompson has 114 points, while Miles Thompson currently has 106. “One of our goals was to win the America East championship, but a bigger goal is to win the NCAA,” said Miles Thompson. “We have been working on this all year, and we are excited to go back to the NCAA,” added Ty Thompson, who had four goals today. In addition, Doug Eich and Blaze Riorden also were named to the AE All-Tournament Team. Eich, after earning the game-winning goal yesterday, caused two turnovers and had an assist. Riorden earned the victory in the cage with 10 saves. For UMBC (8-7), Pat Young led the team with three goals and an assist. Matt Gregoire had a hat trick. The loss went to Connor Gordon, who had four saves and allowed 13 goals in 38:37 of play. UMBC controlled the faceoff-X early, with Young finding the net on a hard shot over Riorden’s shoulder. UAlbany countered quickly, forcing turnovers after lost faceoffs to keep control. Lyle Thompson emerged from behind the cage after a ground ball to score, then Miles Thompson added another after getting knocked to the ground by a double team and scoring on his back. That goal gave Miles Thompson his 100th point of the year. After another turnover off the faceoff, Tim Cox burst away from his defender and scored straight away. Nate Lewnes stopped the run with a man-up goal, then UAlbany countered with two rocket shot goals from Ryan Feuerstein and Miles Thompson, leading 5-2 after the first quarter. Déjà vu in the second quarter as UMBC got the faceoff and Young scored again in the period’s opening minute. About six minutes later, Gregoire added one after a teammate drew a double team, as UMBC pulled within one. With 6:25 left in the period, Lyle Thompson scored after using a hard stutter step to shake off a defender behind the cage, emerging and scoring. On a man-up chance, Miles Thompson passed to Ty Thompson right next to the goal for the catch and shoot score. As UAlbany tried for the last shot, UMBC forced a turnover and tried to clear. Eich picked up a pass at midfield, threw to Ty Thompson, who fired from long range and scored just as the clock hit zero to put UAlbany into the locker room up 8-4. UAlbany struck first in the third quarter as Matt Garziano placed a pass perfectly to Miles Thompson next to the goal circle for the score. UMBC kept control of the faceoff and scored two-straight from Ty Kashur and Young. UAlbany countered by peppering the cage for six-straight goals: Miles Thompson, Feuerstein, Cox, Lyle Thompson twice then Miles Thompson scored in succession to build the lead to 15-6. A Joseph Impallaria goal off the faceoff for UMBC stopped the UAlbany run. The Great Danes put the lead back to nine with a Thompson trio connection: Miles Thompson forced the turnover, passed to Lyle Thompson, who passed to Ty Thompson for the score, making it 16-7 at the end of the third. UAlbany did not let up in the fourth quarter, starting the period on a 4-0 run. Garziano scored on a pass from Miles Thompson, then the latter scored from Lyle Thompson. After Ty Thompson scored from the pass from Bennett Drake, Miles Thompson delivered the 20th goal on a behind-the-back shot from Lyle Thompson. Lyle Thompson earned his 114th point with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter to tie the NCAA Division I single season points record. UMBC finished the game on a 4-0 run, but UAlbany held for the 20-11 victory.