June 1, 2007

ERIE, Pa. - Joe Thon of the Mercyhurst College men's lacrosse team became the first player in school history to be drafted into Major League Lacrosse (MLL) when the Rochester Rattlers selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 Collegiate Draft.

The Penfield, New York native was one of just five non-Division I players selected in the five round draft.

The honor caps a stellar career for Thon. In 2007, he was named USILA Division II Defensive Player of the Year, USILA First Team All-American and All-East Coast Conference First Team. He started all 15 games for the Lakers and was second on the team with 41 groundballs. The long stick midfielder led the team with 19 caused turnovers. He also had assists against Queens and Dominican (N.Y.). Thon notched a season-high six groundballs twice, against C.W. Post and in the NCAA Division II semifinal game against NYIT. He caused four turnovers against C.W. Post and three in the National Championship game against Le Moyne. Thon was 7-of-14 on faceoffs during the season, all in the postseason.

In the preseason, Thon was named Face-Off Yearbook Preseason First Team All-American, Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference pick and Preseason All-ECC. In 2006, Thon was an honorable mention All-American and earned second team All-NYCAC honors.

Mercyhurst set a school record in 2007 with 13 wins and advanced to the Division II NCAA Championship for the first time in school history, falling 6-5 to Le Moyne.