Moon Township, Pa. – When the 2020 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) season begins on Saturday, July 18, the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse program will have a pair of alumni playing in the outdoor league in Tyson Gibson '19 and Kyle Buchanan '12.
Gibson has signed with the resurrected Philadelphia Barrage, while Buchanan will suit up for the expansion Connecticut Hammerheads. When the duo make their MLL debuts, they will become the sixth and seventh Robert Morris alumni to play in the outdoor league, joining Zachary Bryant '18, Kiel Matisz '12, Sean Meagher '14, Trevor Moore '11, and Patrick Smith '11.
RELATED: MLL Teams Announce 2020 Rosters
LINK: Colonials in the Pros (MLAX)
For Gibson, the MLL season will have extra meaning as it gives him the opportunity to honor his friend and former teammate, Jack Toomb, who passed away in March at the age of 23. Gibson will wear Toomb's number 43 with the Barrage, as well as his friend's last name on the back of his jersey.
"The decision to wear '43 Toomb' on the back of my jersey is one of the few ways I can honor (Jack) considering everything going on," said Gibson. "This summer Jack would have had the opportunity to play in the MLL, and by wearing his number and name, it allows me to give him the opportunity to win a championship and play the game he loves. It's one of the small ways I can honor Jack and will continue to live life with him by my side."
Gibson has been in the national lacrosse spotlight over the past 10 months, beginning last September when he was selected number one overall by the expansion New York Riptide in the 2019 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft. The Maple, Ontario product flourished in his inaugural pro season, earning NLL Rookie of the Year accolades after compiling 43 points (16g, 27a) and 53 loose balls in the Riptide's 13-game campaign. That came off of a senior season with the Colonials that saw Gibson claim NEC Player of the Year, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-America Honorable Mention, USILA Scholar All-America, NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, his third All-NEC First Team nod, and a second consecutive NEC Tournament title.
RELATED: Tyson Gibson Named NLL Rookie of the Year to Lead Riptide Award Winners
Buchanan has enjoyed a long and successful indoor career, as he just finished his eighth professional season with the NLL's San Diego Seals. In the shortened 2020 campaign, the Nepean, Ontario native accumulated 39 points (12g, 17a) and 72 loose balls. He has played 127 career games in the NLL, producing 171 goals, 265 assists, 436 points, 733 loose balls, and 58 caused turnovers with the Washington Stealth (2013), Philadelphia Wings (2014), New England Black Wolves (2015-18), and Seals (2019-present). At RMU, Buchanan made three All-NEC teams and helped the team capture its only NEC regular-season title in 2012, and ranks second all-time in assists (76, behind Gibson's 89), fifth in groundballs (175), and 10th in points (128).
The MLL season begins Saturday, July 18 and will be played in its entirety in Annapolis, Md. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The season will be one week long and will host all six MLL teams. The week will conclude with a playoff of the top four teams, and a champion will be crowned on the weekend of July 25-26. Games will be aired on the ESPN family of networks and ESPN+.
The Barrage and Hammerheads' schedules can be found below.
| Philadelphia Barrage Schedule |
| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
TV |
| Saturday, July 18 |
Chesapeake Bayhawks |
1:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Sunday, July 19 |
Denver Outlaws |
4:00 PM |
ESPN2 |
| Monday, July 20 |
Connecticut Hammerheads |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Tuesday, July 21 |
Boston Cannons |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Thursday, July 23 |
New York Lizards |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Connecticut Hammerheads Schedule |
| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
TV |
| Saturday, July 18 |
Denver Outlaws |
7:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Monday, July 20 |
Philadelphia Barrage |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Wednesday, July 22 |
New York Lizards |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Thursday, July 23 |
Boston Cannons |
7:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
| Friday, July 24 |
Chesapeake Bayhawks |
4:00 PM |
ESPN+ |
In the 2020 season, Robert Morris had the highest representation of any college or university in the NLL, with 11 former Colonials playing for 10 different teams. A total of 25 former RMU players have enjoyed a professional career since the program began play in the 2005 campaign.
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