The highlight from last weekend in Major League Lacrosse was Lyle Thompson making his MLL debut. Thompson, who reunited with brother Miles, finished with a goal and three assists in Florida’s 20-12 win over Ohio. His first-career goal 10:29 into the first quarter gave the Launch a 4-2 lead. He dished two assists in the second quarter and one in the third.
Not to be forgotten is Joey Sankey of North Carolina, who began his Major League Lacrosse career with a bang, tallying eight points behind five goals and three assists for Charlotte. He had a hand in 62 percent of his team’s 13 goals in one of the most impressive MLL debuts you will see. Seven of Sankey’s points came in the second half as he scored or assisted on the team’s first six second-half tallies as the Hounds tried to get back into the game against Boston, but couldn’t get over the hump in a 19-13 defeat.
Heading into this weekend, several players who competed in Championship Weekend could make their MLL debuts.
Notre Dame’s Jack Near (Rochester), Johns Hopkins’ Michael Pellegrino (New York), Hopkins’ Wells Stanwick (Boston), Chesapeake’s Erik Adamson (Chesapeake) and Denver’s Wesley Berg (Denver) were all selected in the first or second round in the collegiate draft. They are a handful of several players who could make their debuts.
Thompson and Sankey were two of very few rookies to even suit up over the three MLL games last weekend, never mind make an impact. With just eight teams, it’s extremely difficult for a player to crack a Major League Lacrosse roster. It’s a further testament how the league is truly the best of the best. Many college All-Americans can’t even crack a game roster, which is a sign of the league’s depth.
