Nanticoke scored five goals in his collegiate debut Saturday, as Albany blew out Syracuse 15-3 in the Carrier Dome. He demonstrated Lyle-like ability to create quality scoring opportunities in difficult spots, scoring with a variety of release points, using the turf on bounce shots and manipulating his stick in unconventional ways to improve his shooting angles.
Also like Lyle, Nanticoke showed surprising strength in backing down his defenders. Nanticoke is listed at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds. Thompson is wirier at 6 feet and 180 pounds.
How about the kid @Tehoka1
— lyle thompson (@lyle4thompson) February 17, 2018
The self-assurance to command the ball on college lacrosse’s biggest stage came later for Thompson.
For comparison’s sake, Thompson, playing midfield, had one goal and one assist in his collegiate debut at the Carrier Dome, a 12-7 Great Danes loss on Feb. 19, 2012.
“He’s already a leader and already really confident,” Thompson said of the 20-year-old Nanticoke, who was the Iroquois team MVP at the 2016 FIL U19 World Championship in Vancouver and who spent three seasons, including a post-grad year, at IMG Academy in Florida. “The levels he’s played at have helped build that confidence.”
PHOTO BY RICH BARNES
Tehoka Nanticoke (1) and Connor Fields (5) march onto the turf at the Carrier Dome before Albany's season-opener against Syracuse.
Thompson said Nanticoke also would benefit from the attention Tewaaraton finalist Connor Fields receives on the Albany attack line, much in the way Fields did when he scored 66 goals as a freshman playing with Thompson.
“When Connor Fields came in, I felt like helping him and taking him under my wing,” Thompson said. “He’s had the same attitude with Tehoka.”
Prediction. Fieldsy aka skinny breaks the NCAA career point record this year.. Then Tehoka breaks it.
— lyle thompson (@lyle4thompson) February 17, 2018
Though Thompson, of the Onondaga Nation in New York, and Nanticoke, of the Six Nations in Ontario, both figure to play a prominent part in the future of the Iroquois Nationals, the two don’t necessarily know each other that well. Thompson’s older brother, Jeremy, and Nanticoke shoot around together on occasion. And with Thompson now living in Six Nations, he’ll see Nanticoke at the gym during the offseason.
As Nanticoke continues to grow in stature at Albany and given the Great Danes’ potential to break through to NCAA championship weekend, however, the two will be inextricably linked and often compared to each other.
Thompson, the reigning National Lacrosse League MVP with the Georgia Swarm, is OK with that, especially if it means Albany succeeds.
“This is the year to make it to the championship, even win a championship,” Thompson said. “Everything is there. We’ve got a faceoff guy, a good goalie — two solid goalies, actually. From defense to offense, it’s still that same type of Albany, same style. But we’re way more well-rounded than we ever were when I was there.”