Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
US Lacrosse Magazine has partnered with Blaxers Blog to produce a series of stories that illuminate the minority lacrosse experience and promote the accomplishments of those individuals who have defied stereotypes to succeed in the sport.
Read more about Blaxers Blog and the content partnership here.
For Native American Heritage Month, Blaxers Blog is showcasing Indigenous performances and moments from the 2020 professional outdoor lacrosse seasons in Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League. We also included each players’ career accomplishments that deserve more attention.
The phenomenal play of these ambassadors of the sport showcased how they could overcome the non-diverse and upper-class stigmas often associated with lacrosse.
On August 1, sports history was made during the Premier Lacrosse League’s broadcast on NBC. Atlas LC midfielder Jeremy Thompson (Onondaga Nation) led one of the first land acknowledgements on national sports television before his team’s matchup against Redwoods LC. Thompson advocated for solidarity for Haudenosaunee lacrosse and the Indigenous peoples of North America.
“What a land acknowledgement means to me is to give thanks to everything here on Earth and provided for us here as humans to sustain ourselves,” Thompson said. “Things that stick out to me as a professional athlete is the tree. The reason why I say that is because it’s where the game has originated. The most important part of the game is the lacrosse stick. Where the stick derives from is the tree, the hickory tree, to be specific.”
To conclude in the Haudenosaunee language, Thompson’s translation reads, “I am thanking our creator for my wellness today. Now our minds are one.”
The most notable performance of the summer came in the form of PLL newcomer Zed Williams. Williams’ immediate impact aided Whipsnakes LC’s offense en route to winning the 2020 PLL Jim Brown MVP Award and 2020 PLL Championship.
Let’s take a look at the star performances of some of these trailblazing players.
Zed Williams (Seneca Nation)
Position: Attack
National Team: Iroquois Nationals
League: Premier Lacrosse League
Professional Team: Whipsnakes LC
College: Virginia (2014-17)
2020 Statistics:
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20 goals (1st in PLL)
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59 shots (1st in PLL)
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23 points (2nd in PLL)
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32% shot accuracy
Career Accomplishments:
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2020 PLL MVP
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2020 PLL champion (Whipsnakes LC)
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4th overall pick, 2017 NLL Entry Draft (Georgia Swarm)
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5th overall pick, 2020 PLL Entry Draft (Whipsnakes LC)
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22nd overall pick, 2017 MLL Draft (Rochester Rattlers)
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2016-2017 USILA All-American, Honorable Mention (Virginia)
Austin Staats (Mohawk Nation)
Position: Attack
National Team: Iroquois Nationals
League: Premier Lacrosse League
Professional Team: Chaos LC
College: Onondaga CC (2017-18)
2020 Statistics:
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42% shot accuracy (T-8th in PLL)
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12 shots (10 on goal)
Career Accomplishments:
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2018 NJCAA national championship
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2018 undefeated season at Onondaga CC (15-0)
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1st overall pick, 2018 NLL Entry Draft (San Diego Seals)
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2017 Minto Cup champion (Six Nations Arrows)
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160 career NCAA goals
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Silver medal, 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
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Bronze medal, 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship
Miles Thompson (Onondaga Nation)
Position: Attack
National Team: Iroquois Nationals
League: Premier Lacrosse League
Professional Team: Chaos LC
College: Albany (2011-14)
2020 Statistics:
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36% shot accuracy
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11 shots (10 on goal)
Career Accomplishments:
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2014 Tewaaraton Award winner, (1st Indigenous winner)
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Set NCAA single-season goals record (82) in 2014
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2017 NLL champion (Georgia Swarm)
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Silver medal, 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
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Bronze medal, 2014 and 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship
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2019 PLL All-Star
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3rd overall pick, 2014 NLL Draft (Minnesota Swarm)
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NCAA Division I goals-per-game leader (4.56) in 2014
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20th overall pick, 2014 MLL Draft (Rochester Rattlers)
Lyle Thompson (Onondaga Nation)
Position: Attack
National Team: Iroquois Nationals
League: Major League Lacrosse
Professional Team: Chesapeake Bayhawks
College: Albany (2012-15)
2020 Statistics:
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19 points
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3.8 points per game (T-2nd in MLL)
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14 goals
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2.8 goals per game (T-3rd in MLL)
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37 shots
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7.4 shots per game (T-4th in MLL)
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5 assists
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1.0 assists per game (T-5th in MLL)
Career Accomplishments:
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First-ever back-to-back male Tewaaraton Award winner (2014-15)
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First Indigenous Tewaaraton Award winner (2014)
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Set NCAA Division I career points and assists records (400, 225) in 2015
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Set NCAA single-season points record (128) in 2014
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2019 MLL MVP
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2017 NLL MVP
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2019 MLL champion (Chesapeake Bayhawks)
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2017 NLL champion (Georgia Swarm)
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1st overall pick, 2015 NLL Entry Draft (Georgia Swarm)
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Bronze medal, 2014 and 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship
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2014-15 America East Player of the Year
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NCAA Division I points-per-game leader in 2013-15
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NLL Sportsmanship Award winner in 2018-19 season
Randy Staats (Mohawk Nation)
Position: Attack
National Team: Iroquois Nationals
League: Major League Lacrosse
Professional Team: Boston Cannons
College: Syracuse (2014-15), Onondaga CC (2012-13)
2020 Statistics:
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10 assists
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2.0 assists per game (T-2nd in MLL)
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29 shots
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5.8 shots per game (9th in MLL)
Career Accomplishments:
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2020 MLL championship (Boston Cannons)
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2012-13 NJCAA national champion
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2012-13 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year
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Silver medal, 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship
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Bronze medal, 2014 and 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championship
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NJCAA points leader (139, 156) in 2012-13
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6th overall pick, 2015 NLL Entry Draft (Georgia Swarm)
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29th overall pick, 2015 MLL Collegiate Draft (Rochester Rattlers)
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2015 USILA All-American, Honorable Mention (Syracuse)
Published Authors
Brennor Jacobs and Brendan Bomberry (Iroquois Nationals, Georgia Swarm, Chesapeake Bayhawks) published their book, Akhwatsirehkó:wa - My Big Family.