Miles Thompson’s Eight Goals Sends #18/17 UAlbany to Victory 14-8 over Harvard

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | See Miles Thompson’s Three Behind-the-Back Goals

ALBANY, N.Y. – Dazzling the crowd with eight goals, including scoring three behind the back, Miles Thompson led #18/17 UAlbany to a 14-8 victory over Harvard on Saturday at John Fallon Field.

“Our defense did an outstanding job today of getting stops and getting the ball to the offense,” said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. “Then Miles [Thompson] and Lyle [Thompson] took over when we realized Harvard was not sliding to them.”

Miles Thompson earns his second-highest goal scoring game in his UAlbany (1-2) career, earning nine last season against Bryant.  He added an assist for nine points.  Lyle Thompson scored six points off four goals and two assists.  Blaze Riorden earned the win in goal with 15 saves, including stopping seven of nine shots on goal in the third quarter.

In the win, Miles Thompson and Ty Thompson jumped to tie for third all-time in goals, with each having 120 in their career.  Miles Thompson also is now sixth all-time in career points with 190 total.  Lyle Thompson is now eighth all-time in career points with 169.

For Harvard (1-2), Will Walker and Brendan Newman each had two goals.  The loss went to goalie Jake Gambitsky, who saved eight shots in 60 minutes.

Harvard dominated time of possession early, scoring the first two goals from Brian O’Toole and Sean McDonagh in the game’s opening 5:28. 

UAlbany responded in the next 11 minutes, with Miles Thompson pushing against a defender one-on-one numerous times, earning four consecutive goals to push the home team up 4-2 with 12:43 in the second quarter. 

The Crimson stopped the run with two goals in the coming three minutes to tie the game at 4-4.  The Thompson trio took over for the remainder of the quarter.  Miles Thompson set up brother Lyle for the go-ahead goal at the 7:39 mark in the second.  Lyle Thompson added another two minutes later, then with a man-up situation in the closing minutes of the half, found Miles for another score, putting UAlbany up 7-4 going into halftime.

Miles Thompson added another goal out of the gate in the third quarter, with Ty Thompson netting a score not long after to complete the 5-0 run and push the Great Danes to lead 9-4 with 10:27 left in the third.

The Harvard defense held steady the rest of the period, adding two goals in the quarter’s latter minutes to make it 9-6 going into the fourth.  Riordan stood strong in the cage for UAlbany, getting attacked with nine shots on goal in the third, saving seven of them.

Adding his seventh goal, Miles Thompson scored first in the fourth period, with Adam Osika also scoring unassisted to make it 11-6.  Walker put up his second for Harvard to bring the Crimson within four, but two more Lyle Thompson goals late sealed the game for UAlbany.  Miles Thompson added his eighth as UAlbany took the win 14-8.

UAlbany hits the road next Saturday, taking on #13/13 UMass in Amherst at 1 p.m.