Lyle, Miles, and Ty Thompson racked up 18 total points on 13 goals and five assists, to propel UAlbany past Binghamton, 21-8, on Saturday, March 30 in the America East Conference men’s lacrosse opener for both programs. The 21 goals scored marks the fourth time in program history that the Great Dane offense has scored 21 goals or more (25 vs. Hartford 3/26/05; 21 vs. Siena 3/3/07; 21 vs. Hartford 4/21/04).
“We talked all week about going on the road and how important it was to get that first conference win,” said Great Dane head coach Scott Marr on the America East Conference win. “We played with confidence and poise for sixty minutes, an overall awesome team effort.”
Lyle Thompson recorded his second nine-point performance of the season with five goals and four assists, which was a game best. The other two-thirds of the Thompson trio, Miles and Ty, combined for nine points, on eight goals and one assist. Face-off specialist Kevin Glueckert dominated the circle, winning 24-of-30. Glueckert’s 24 face-off wins were a career best and tied a program-best that was set by Matt Hamme against Hartford on April 21, 2004.
“The trio of Lyle, Miles, and Ty Thompson played at a different level again today, they were outstanding,” said Coach Marr.
The Thompsons wasted no time getting in the goal column, as each one scored to give UAlbany an early 3-1 lead with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Lyle then recorded two more goals in two minutes to extend the lead to four, 5-1.
More of the same continued in the second period, with Lyle scoring two more goals and assisting one to pace the Great Danes to an eight-goal lead, 10-2, at the end of the half. The Thompsons scored the first eight Great Dane goals until Dwayne Stewart and Derrick Eccles got into the mix for the final two goals of the half. Goalkeeper Blaze Riorden held the Bearcats to two goals on 11 chances through the first 30 minutes of play.
The third quarter was won by the Great Danes, as UAlbany outscored Binghamton 7-1 to push the lead to 14, 17-3. Miles led the offensive charge with three goals followed up by his cousin Ty with two. Will Fuller and Eccles each added one for the Great Danes in the period.
The Bearcats took the final quarter by slightly outscoring the Great Danes 5-3. Michael Antinozzi scored two goals in the quarter to finish the contest with a team-best three goals. UAlbany’s Mitch Rupp and Tyler Aycock capped off the scoring with on goal each, both of which were firsts of their careers.
The Great Danes outshot the Bearcats, 50-32, and held advantages in groundballs, 38-26, and faceoffs, 26-7.
Riorden earned the win, playing 53:15 between the pipes for the Great Danes and making 11 saves. Sophomore Max Huber and freshman Ryan Ricciardelli also made appearances in the net for UAlbany, with Huber stopping one shot.
