Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Wednesday that midfielder Paul Rabil has been named as the 2012 Warrior MLL Offensive Player of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. The award was based on the votes submitted by the head coach and general manager of each of the League’s eight teams.
“I’m very honored and humbled to have earned the Offensive Player of the Year award. It’s always rewarding to receive individual achievements from all the hard work I put in each year,” says Rabil. “That said, no matter the amount of work I put into my game, this is a team sport, and without such tremendous players I have the honor to play with each week, I wouldn’t be in this position. Thanks to all the coaches and GM’s in this league that have voted, and I’m eager to continue to compete at the highest level.”
It is the third time in four years that Rabil has been named as the Warrior Offensive Player of the Year, including each of the last two seasons. He also becomes the second player in MLL history to earn the award three times, joining attackman John Grant, Jr. Grant earned the award in 2001, 2007 and 2008 as a member of the Rochester Rattlers.
The MLL’s leading scorer for the third time in the last four years, Rabil set the MLL single-season record with 72 points in 14 games, including a season-high eight points against Rochester on April 28 and at Denver on May 19. He also ranked second in the MLL with 38 assists while his 27 goals ranked fifth in the MLL. In addition, he had seven two-point goals, which was tied for fourth in the MLL.
During the Cannons’ win at Denver on May 19, he was named as the Bud Light MLL Player of the Game after scoring three goals, including a two-point marker, with four assists. He also earned MLL Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Cannons to a win over Ohio on August 4 when he scored three goals, including a two-point marker, with three assists.
Rabil, who is one of three players to record at least one point in all 14 games this season, posted at least two points in all 14 games and had four “hat trick” efforts.
A five-year MLL veteran, Rabil has scored 133 goals, including 28 two-point markers, with 85 assists in 56 career games. He has tallied at least 50 points in three of his five MLL seasons.
“Paul continues to set the high water mark in the sport of lacrosse and we are proud to present this award to him,” says Dave Dixon, Warrior Chief Marketing Officer. “Paul is an offensive force to be reckoned with and we are thrilled to present this award to him for the third time in four years.”
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.
