Michael Watson (lacrosse player)
Encyclopedia
Michael Watson is an American lacrosse
player who starred in college at the University of Virginia
before moving on to play professional lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse
.
, where he was a high school All-American. He played NCAA Division I lacrosse at the University of Virginia
from 1994 and 1997. As a prolific attackman, Watson garnered numerous awards and helped lead the Virginia Cavaliers
to two NCAA national championship appearances, one in 1994
and one in 1996
. In both title games, however, Princeton
defeated Virginia by one goal in overtime. Watson was a four-time All-America
n attackman, having been named to the Third Team in 1994, Second Team in 1995, and First Team in 1996 and 1997. In addition, he was named by the USILA as Attackman of the Year for Division I in 1996 (Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award
). Watson was also named All-ACC
four times, picked as the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 NCAA Tournament, named the 1994 ACC Rookie of the Year, was selected to play in 1997 North-South Senior All-Star Game
, and was named one of the 50 greatest lacrosse players in ACC history in 2002. Watson ranks second for most career goals at Virginia with 141 goals in 62 games, behind teammate Doug Knight
's 165 goals in 60 games. The Virginia attack unit consisting of Watson, Doug Knight
, and Tim Whiteley is regarded as among the best of all time, leading the nation in offensive output and setting several ACC records. Watson was also selected for the 1998 U.S. National Team and scored 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 total points in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championship
held in Baltimore, Maryland.
Watson and Virginia teammate Doug Knight
are credited with popularizing "the dive" or "the dive shot," an acrobatic move where an offensive player attacks the goal from behind the net by diving airborne through the goal crease while shooting the ball at the goal while in mid-air. The NCAA subsequently banned this practice in 1998 due to safety concerns and difficulty in officiating the play.
team the Boston Cannons
from 2001 to 2004. In 2002, he played in all 14 regular season games and led the team in assists and picked up 28 groundballs. In 2003, he scored 31 points and was selected to the MLL All-Star Team. In 2004, Watson scored 39 goals with eight assists for 47 total points, including a six-goal game against the Rochester Rattlers
. He scored 20 goals in four games, which is the best four-game stretch in MLL history. The Cannons selected Watson as Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, Inside Lacrosse
magazine named him "The MLL's Most Electrifying Player" in 2004.
Following a year off from the sport, Watson returned to the MLL in 2006 as the first overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Riptide
. He played in 12 games and notched 40 points and one game-winning goal. In 2007, he appeared in all 12 Riptide games and led the team in goals with 31, and was second on the team in points with 40. He scored two game-winning goals and picked up 24 groundballs. He also scored five goals in a game three times and was named to the 2007 MLL Western Conference All-Star team. In 2008, Watson scored 10 goals and 11 assists and scooped up 15 groundballs. The Los Angeles Riptide
ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic downturn in the United States.
Watson is the model for the Major League Lacrosse
logo.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player who starred in college at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
before moving on to play professional lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
.
High school and collegiate career
Michael Watson attended prep school at St. Paul's School in Brooklandville, MarylandBrooklandville, Maryland
Brooklandville is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States near where the Jones Falls Expressway meets the Baltimore Beltway. The general area is a part of Lutherville, and some addresses in the area are considered to be in Lutherville, though Brooklandville has a...
, where he was a high school All-American. He played NCAA Division I lacrosse at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
from 1994 and 1997. As a prolific attackman, Watson garnered numerous awards and helped lead the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse
The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
to two NCAA national championship appearances, one in 1994
1994 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1994 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 24th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
and one in 1996
1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 26th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
. In both title games, however, Princeton
Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
defeated Virginia by one goal in overtime. Watson was a four-time All-America
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
n attackman, having been named to the Third Team in 1994, Second Team in 1995, and First Team in 1996 and 1997. In addition, he was named by the USILA as Attackman of the Year for Division I in 1996 (Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award
Jack Turnbull Award
The "Lt. Col. J. I. Turnbull Award" — also known as the Jack Turnbull Award — is an award given to the United States' top collegiate attackman in lacrosse, named after National Lacrosse Hall of Fame alumnus Jack Turnbull. The award is given to a player in Division I, Division II, and Division...
). Watson was also named All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
four times, picked as the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 NCAA Tournament, named the 1994 ACC Rookie of the Year, was selected to play in 1997 North-South Senior All-Star Game
North-South Senior All-Star Game
The North-South Senior All-Star Game is an annual postseason college lacrosse game featuring the best players from the graduating class. It is hosted by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association , one of the college sport's main governing bodies. The inaugural event occurred in 1940 at...
, and was named one of the 50 greatest lacrosse players in ACC history in 2002. Watson ranks second for most career goals at Virginia with 141 goals in 62 games, behind teammate Doug Knight
Doug Knight
Doug Knight is an American lacrosse player who had a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he set numerous scoring records.-High school and collegiate career:...
's 165 goals in 60 games. The Virginia attack unit consisting of Watson, Doug Knight
Doug Knight
Doug Knight is an American lacrosse player who had a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he set numerous scoring records.-High school and collegiate career:...
, and Tim Whiteley is regarded as among the best of all time, leading the nation in offensive output and setting several ACC records. Watson was also selected for the 1998 U.S. National Team and scored 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 total points in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championship
World Lacrosse Championship
The World Lacrosse Championship is the world championship for international men's field lacrosse. From its inception in 1967 through the 2006 event, it was sanctioned by the International Lacrosse Federation...
held in Baltimore, Maryland.
Watson and Virginia teammate Doug Knight
Doug Knight
Doug Knight is an American lacrosse player who had a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia, where he set numerous scoring records.-High school and collegiate career:...
are credited with popularizing "the dive" or "the dive shot," an acrobatic move where an offensive player attacks the goal from behind the net by diving airborne through the goal crease while shooting the ball at the goal while in mid-air. The NCAA subsequently banned this practice in 1998 due to safety concerns and difficulty in officiating the play.
Professional career
Watson played professional outdoor lacrosse for the Major League LacrosseMajor League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
team the Boston Cannons
Boston Cannons
The Boston Cannons are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Eastern Conference. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the...
from 2001 to 2004. In 2002, he played in all 14 regular season games and led the team in assists and picked up 28 groundballs. In 2003, he scored 31 points and was selected to the MLL All-Star Team. In 2004, Watson scored 39 goals with eight assists for 47 total points, including a six-goal game against the Rochester Rattlers
Rochester Rattlers
The Rochester Rattlers are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York. They are a charter member of the MLL. From their inaugural season in 2001 to 2005, they were in the National Division. From 2006 to 2008, they were a member of the Eastern...
. He scored 20 goals in four games, which is the best four-game stretch in MLL history. The Cannons selected Watson as Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, Inside Lacrosse
Inside Lacrosse
Inside Lacrosse is a lacrosse media entity and ESPN affiliate. It includes many parts including a news website, an 11 times annual magazine, online video streaming, internet forums and an ESPN television show...
magazine named him "The MLL's Most Electrifying Player" in 2004.
Following a year off from the sport, Watson returned to the MLL in 2006 as the first overall draft pick by the Los Angeles Riptide
Los Angeles Riptide
The Los Angeles Riptide were a lacrosse team based in Carson, California. From 2006 to 2008, they played in Major League Lacrosse. They ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic situation in the United States.-Franchise history:...
. He played in 12 games and notched 40 points and one game-winning goal. In 2007, he appeared in all 12 Riptide games and led the team in goals with 31, and was second on the team in points with 40. He scored two game-winning goals and picked up 24 groundballs. He also scored five goals in a game three times and was named to the 2007 MLL Western Conference All-Star team. In 2008, Watson scored 10 goals and 11 assists and scooped up 15 groundballs. The Los Angeles Riptide
Los Angeles Riptide
The Los Angeles Riptide were a lacrosse team based in Carson, California. From 2006 to 2008, they played in Major League Lacrosse. They ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic situation in the United States.-Franchise history:...
ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic downturn in the United States.
Watson is the model for the Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
logo.