Grow the Game®

Year of the Thompson, Miles, Lyle, Ty Thompson set records in 2014
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Thompson Brothers Make History in 2014

I know you know this, but the Thompson Trio changed lacrosse this season. Brothers Lyle and Miles, along with cousin Ty, dominated opponents and highlight reels by being one of the most electrifying offenses in lacrosse history.

The two brothers from the Onondaga reservation in Upstate New York changed many people’s views about lacrosse after the electrifying year that was 2014.

Tewaaraton Twosome

The most spectacular accomplishment of the Thompsons to date is when Miles and Lyle’s names were announced together as the joint recipients of the 2014 Tewaaraton Trophy for lacrosse’s most outstanding player(s).

What makes this feat special?

This is not only the first time in the trophy’s 14 years of existence that the award has been split between two players, but the two players are Native American brothers and are the first two Natives to ever win the Tewaaraton.

Tewaaraton is the Mohawk work for the stick and ball game played to honor the Creator and the trophy depicts a Mohawk lacrosse player adorned with the traditional stick and feather.

Although Miles and Lyle are not Mohawk, they are member of the Onondaga tribe, which along with the Mohawk are a part of the much larger Haudenosaunee, or Six Nations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2CmZbuVMtE

Reinventing the Great Danes

Coach Scott Marr quickly earned the respect of the Thompson family by spending time on the reservation with the boys letting them know that he not only wanted three of the best lacrosse players in the world on his team, but he wanted to help pave the way for the future that the trio deserved. He came with the promises of letting the Thompsons be themselves and letting them play the game they are accustom to, and Marr delivered.

The team accepted the boys with open arms and even adopted some of their Native terms in to their team’s culture. This kind of trust between players, coaches and the school elevated the Albany Great Danes to heights they had yet to see. The Thompson Trio led Albany to their first quarterfinal appearance in 2014, before losing a heartbreaker to Notre Dame.

For the second consecutive year, Lyle was a Tewaaraton finalist. He led the nation in 2014 with 77 assists and 128 points. Lyle Thompson is now the fifth underclassmen and third in the last four years to win the trophy. Little brother Lyle set the points record with 128 points on 51 goals and 77 assists. Lyle blew away the NCAA Division I record for points in a single season set back in 1992 by UMBC attackman Steve Marohl with 114 and matched Marohl’s single-season assists total with 77.

Now, Lyle is the only Division I player ever to record two 100-point seasons.

Older brother Miles ranked first in the nation in goals with 82 in 2014. Miles also surpassed Marohl’s single-season scoring record this season trailing only Lyle for the Division I record with 119 points. He led the country in goals per game with 4.56 in 2014. His career high 82 goals were also enough to tie the record for goals scored in a single season.

Lyle Thompson

Notre Dame vs Albany Lacrosse 2014 NCAA Quarterfinal Credit: Joe Williams

  • 2014 – USILA Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award for Outstanding Player of the Year
  • 2X – USILA Lt. Col. J.L. Jack Turnbull Award for Outstanding Attackman
  • 2X -USILA All-America first team
  • 2X – America East Player of the Year
  • 2X – First team All-America East

Miles Thompson

Notre Dame vs Albany Lacrosse 2014 NCAA Quarterfinal Credit: Joe Williams

  • 2X – First team All-America East
  • 2X – America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  • 2014 Rochester Rattlers Draft Pick

Train Like The Thompsons

Connor can tell you the whys and hows, but here’s a really cool way to train like Miles and Lyle on a budget that will make you so much better if you use it!

Looking Forward

Lyle has one more shot at joining Mike Powell as the only male players to win two Tewaaraton trophies, as Lyle was only a junior in 2014.

Miles didn’t waste any time getting to work in the pros, in his Major League Lacrosse debut on Sunday, Miles scored on a connection from Mark Matthews in the first quarter tallying his first of many goals in the big leagues. Cousin Ty was also drafted by the Rattlers in the off-season, but he has yet to make his big debut.

Although the Iroquois Nationals have yet to release their final roster for Denver 2014, we can only assume that Lyle and Miles, along with Ty, Jeremy and Jerome will all be competing this summer in the 2014 World Championships.