Lyle Thompson is going to Washington DC for the second time in consecutive years and he will take home the Tewaaraton Trophy after a record setting performance this past season. At 128 points in 18 games, he averaged 7.11 points per game. He broke the record in total points in a Division I lacrosse season and tied the record for assists.
What could stand in his way? His bother Miles Thompson had 119 points on 82 goals and 37 assists. Looking at it analytically, it could be viewed that Lyle was primarily playing a two-man game with his brother. The reason for this being a problem for Lyle is that with 51 goals himself, he was amongst the leader in the nation in goals as well. Lyle ranked 11th in the nation in goals per game.
His competition remaining is Loyola and Team USA Defenseman Joe Fletcher, Duke Attackman Jordan Wolfe, and Princeton Midfielder Tom Schreiber. Here is the rundown on why these student-athletes will likely not be walking to the podium to accept the award.
Joe Fletcher—The senior defenseman ended his career in the first round against Albany. Albany’s attack combined for 18 points and Lyle Thompson had eight of those on three goals, five assists. Fletcher held strong, but Lyle Thompson got to the cage against him and finished with some flare. The first goal of the game Thompson charged to the goal and even came back to what should have been a very tough shot to get the record for points in a season.
Fletcher played one way the entire game. Maybe the coaching staff didn’t ask him to change anything, but Lyle Thompson scored three goals on the same move. The assists could be credited to transition and extra man opportunities, but it really was difficult for Fletcher to stop Thompson. If Fletcher would have held him under that seven points a game average, he may have had a chance to be the first defenseman to earn the award.
Jordan Wolf—Wolf has flare to his game and a quickness that is reminiscent of Mikey Powell back during the early 2000s. Wolf is fourth in points per game in the NCAAs with 5.11, which is a full two points behind Lyle Thompson. He has meant so much to the Duke program and has almost been its face since New Crotty and Max Quinzani left Durham.
Let’s look back to 2011 when Steel Stanwick, the Virginia Attackman, took home the award as he team also took home the National Championship Trophy. This would have to be Wolf’s reality in earning the award. He has played an amazing brand of lacrosse, but who is the best player on the Duke team, especially right now? Myles Jones could be Wolf’s undoing because even though people are watching Wolf, they want to see the next move that Jones makes on the field. Jones might win it the next two years judging his performance right now.
Last but not least is Tom Schreiber from Princeton. One of the most clutch players in the collegiate game, he is the main focus of any defense. He was the number one pick in the Major League Lacrosse draft, but Princeton’s performance this season was less than desirable. The team did not make the NCAA Tournament and failed to even qualify for the Ivy League Tournament.
Princeton was 7-6 this season. Without Tom Schreiber, those wins could have been losses especially (look back to Lehigh). He had led the Tigers in scoring each of his four years. His point total dropped to 51 from last season’s 60. Fifty-one is the number of goals Lyle Thompson had on the season. Schreiber would need to account for 77 assists elsewhere and the dramatic heroic nature of some of his goals just won’t let him get over the hump.
It is not a foregone conclusion that Lyle Thompson is going to walk away with the title, but it certainly seems that he is the favorite. Each player has done an amazing job for his team this season. They were counted on time and time again to make sure their teams would be on the winning side. The Thompsons did it with more particularly more flare and Lyle Thompson set the bar for a season that is likely going to stand for some time.
