Matt Abbott (lacrosse)
Matt Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1986 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Professional lacrosse player, financial advisor, coach |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Lacrosse career with Syracuse University, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Cannons Lacrosse Club |
Matt Abbott (born September 10, 1986) is a professional lacrosse athlete currently competing with the Cannons Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League. He has earned nine MLL All-Star selections and holds the record for the most games played in Bayhawks history. Since completing his collegiate lacrosse career at Syracuse University, where he played for four seasons, Abbott has been a key contributor to the Bayhawks. In addition to his athletic career, he is employed as a financial advisor and dedicates time to coaching at Colgate.
Personal
Matthew Joseph Abbott was born in Syracuse, New York to parents Tom and Lorie Abbott. He represents the third generation of his family to play for Syracuse University, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Larry Abbott (1950–1952) and his father Tom Abbott (1975–1978). His brother Michael achieved national championships at both Division I and III levels while playing for University of Virginia and SUNY Cortland, respectively, and currently serves as an assistant offensive coach for the Penn team.
High school
Abbott competed on the varsity lacrosse team at Nottingham High School starting from eighth grade through his senior year, accumulating a total of 212 points (131 goals and 81 assists) during his high school career. He was appointed team captain from his sophomore year onward and contributed to the Central Team’s gold medal victory at the 2004 Empire State Games. - Freshman Year: Received honorable mention all-league honors. - Sophomore Year: Named first team all-league, earned All-CNY honorable mention, and served as an alternate for the Empire State Games Central team. - Junior Year: Achieved first team all-league and first team All-CNY distinctions; recognized as the team’s offensive MVP. - Senior Year: Selected for first team all-league, first team All-CNY, honored as an All-American, and awarded team MVP.
College career
Syracuse University - Freshman Year (2006): Participated in all 15 games with one start; recorded seven goals and one assist; contributed during NCAA tournament matches; earned placement on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll each semester. - Sophomore Year (2007): Appeared in all 13 games, starting once; ranked second on the squad with 51 ground balls and totaled 15 points; posted multiple multi-point performances; maintained Athletic Director's Honor Roll recognition. - Junior Year (2008): Named to the USILA All-America Third Team; played in 18 games with 11 starts; amassed 21 points and secured second place on the team with 73 ground balls; delivered a crucial hat trick in the NCAA semifinals and consistently contributed throughout tournament play. - Senior Year (2009): Earned USILA First-Team All-American honors; finalist for both the Tewaaraton Trophy and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award; named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. Served as team captain, starting all 18 contests; led with 77 ground balls and recorded 23 points. Key performances included game-winning goals and multiple assists during important NCAA matchups. Concluded his collegiate career ranked ninth on Syracuse’s all-time ground balls list (212). Maintained Athletic Director’s Honor Roll status throughout tenure.
| Year | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Ground Balls | Face Offs | GW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 1-5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 51 | 0-2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 73 | 2-4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 77 | 0-1 | 1 |
| Total | 64 | 41 | 26 | 67 | 212 | 3-12 | 1 |
MLL career
Abbott entered the Major League Lacrosse draft in 2009 and was selected ninth overall in the first round by the Washington Bayhawks. During the 2010 season, he amassed 10 points and collected 47 ground balls, earning a spot in the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game. That same year, the Bayhawks secured the league championship. Abbott's second all-star nod came in 2011 when he achieved a personal best of 53 ground balls. He contributed to another Bayhawks championship victory in 2012 and was honored as the defensive player of the week during week 13. In 2013, Abbott added a third championship title to his record and was once again recognized as an all-star. The following year, he entered into a sponsorship agreement with Brine and was named to Team USA. Abbott continued to receive all-star selections in both 2015 and 2016. In 2017, he set a new career high with 25 points and earned another all-star appearance, which he repeated in 2018. Abbott holds the franchise record for most games played with the Bayhawks and ranks second in total ground balls.
Stats
NLL Career
In the 2009 National Lacrosse League season, he was chosen by the Boston Blazers, being the 20th pick overall in the second round.