BOSTON, Mass.- Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Friday that Long Island Lizards attackman Matt Gibson has been named as the 2012 Cascade MLL Rookie of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on the votes submitted by the head coaches and general manager of each of the League’s eight teams.
“It’s a big honor because there are a lot of good players that are rookies and my goal will be to not think too much about it before the playoffs and to focus on the team, but I know I will enjoy this after the playoffs,” says Gibson.
“The coaching staff has been really supportive of this year’s rookies and the transition [from the collegiate level] has been great thanks to the guys I’ve been working with.”
The Lizards’ third-leading scorer, Gibson led all MLL rookies with 33 points by scoring 18 goals with 15 assists. He tallied a point in 10 of 12 games this season, including back-to-back five-point outings against Charlotte and Ohio to begin his career.
A two-time selection as the Cascade MLL Rookie of the Week, Gibson earned the award after scoring a goal with four assists in his professional debut, a 10-9 victory over Charlotte on May 19. He also earned the honor on June 25 after scoring three goals with an assist in the Lizards’ 14-8 victory over the Denver Outlaws.
The former Yale University attackman also had a three-goal effort against Ohio on June 16 and scored two goals with two assists in a win against the Hounds on July 28.
“The MLL Rookie of the Year is always a huge source of pride for Cascade Lacrosse,” said Cascade Director of Sales and Marketing Tim Ellsworth. “As these players step from the collegiate platform to the professional stage they are emerging as heroes and role models for tomorrow’s players. We congratulate Matt Gibson on displaying both of these in his debut season.”
The MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior will be held on August 25 and 26 at Harvard Stadium. The top-seeded Denver Outlaws will face the fourth-seeded Long Island Lizards in the first semi-final at 1 p.m. before the second-seeded Chesapeake Bayhawks will play against the defending MLL champion Boston Cannons, who earned the third seed, in the second semi-final at approximately 4 p.m.
The two semi-final winners will play in the championship game on Sunday, August 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by clicking here.
