EX-UALBANY STAR WINS LACROSSE MVP
Lyle Thompson led NLL’s Georgia Swarm to title
ALBANY, N.Y. » Former UAlbany standout Lyle Thompson has been named the Most Valuable Player in the National Lacrosse League for the 2017 season.
Thompson won the 2017 NLL scoring title with 116 points for the Georgia Swarm off 45 goals and 71 assists. He also led the NLL in shooting percentage at .194 and had 126 loose balls picked up.
In 2017, Lyle Thompson, along with brother and UAlbany alum Miles Thompson, led the Georgia Swarm to the 2017 Champion’s Cup over the Saskatchewan Rush earlier in June. The Swarm won the Eastern Division with a league best 13-5 record and a perfect 4-0 record in the playoffs.
“It’s an honor to be here playing in this league,” Thompson said. “It’s given me a lot of opportunities to help me grow as a person. I’ve been grateful enough to come down here, step right in and play and be a part with people that have helped me become not just a great player but a better person ... I’ve never been a part of a team like this one. Every single guy has helped in a different way, and we’re all fighting to achieve the same goal.” Lyle Thompson is the only back-to-back men’s Tewaaraton Trophy recipient and the all-time leading scorer in Division I men’s lacrosse with 400 points off 225 assists, also a DI record, and 175 goals. He helped UAlbany win three America East Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament games from 2012-15.
College basketball
SIENA FRESHMAN MAKES CANADA U19 TEAM » Incoming Siena Basketball freshman Prince Oduro will represent his native Canada at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Cairo, Egypt July 1-9. The Toronto, Ontario standout was one of just 12 players named to the Canada U19 National Team earlier this month.
“It means a lot to me to have been selected for the National Team,” said Oduro. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I started playing basketball, and it just shows how hard I’ve worked since I left home to go to school in the states.”
Oduro, a forward, and Team Canada have been placed in Group C of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, and will open play in the 16-team, four-group tournament vs. Mali on Saturday, July 1 in Cairo at 9:30 a.m. Ranked third in the world according to the latest FIBA Youth Men’s Rankings, Canada continues group play with matchups vs. Spain on July 2 (10 a.m.) and against Japan on July 4 (7:45 a.m. Final Phase play begins on July 5, and all games can be viewed live on FIBA’s YouTube Channel at youtube. com/fiba.
Area golf
SHAKER RIDGE RESULTS » The Red Team and Blue Team each finished with 4.5 points in the Shake Ridge Ladies Solheim Cup. Dee Cocca earned two points to lead the Red Team while the team of Sue Motler and Barbara Bodner led the Blue Team with two points.