THOMPSON WINS MLL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

“I am very excited to be out here with the big names on this team that have made a name for themselves in the big leagues,” said the former Orange midfielder.

 

It didn’t take Thompson long to prove that he belonged in Major League Lacrosse, scoring 51 seconds into the second quarter. That goal would be the first of two he scored in his professional debut in a 14-13 win over the Rochester Rattlers. For his impressive first game, the MLL named him the Cascade Rookie of the Week.

 

The 24-year-old from the Onondaga Nation was the Nationals’ first-round selection (sixth overall) in the 2011 MLL Collegiate Draft. In 2011, he was Syracuse’s highest scoring midfielder with 30 points (18+12). Thompson also led the Orange with 61 faceoff wins en route to Third Team All-American honors.

 

Thompson fit right in with the Nationals, who have some of the greatest names in Syracuse lacrosse history on their sideline. Hamilton has Cody Jamieson, Brett Bucktooth, Sid Smith, Sol Bliss and Stephen Keogh on its roster, while employing Regy Thorpe and Gary Gait on its coaching staff.

 

“Syracuse is a big school and we have a lot guys that went there like Gary, Cody and Brett,” said Thompson. “To share more time with them this year will be pretty exciting. I am looking forward to it.”

 

The Nationals (1-2) will host the Denver Outlaws (3-1) at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18th at McMaster University’s Ron Joyce Stadium. The game will be shown live on ESPN3.com.