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Two UAlbany lacrosse alumni drafted by Georgia Swarm of the NLL

TORONTO, Ontario – Two UAlbany men’s lacrosse alumni, Bennett Drake and Adam Osika, were each picked by the Georgia Swarm, the reigning league champion, in the 2017 National Lacrosse League (NLL) First-Year Player Draft on Monday night.

Drake was selected 47th overall in the fifth round by the Swarm while Osika was chosen 59th overall in the sixth round.

Each join the Swarm, which won the 2017 Champion’s Cup over the Saskatchewan Rush. The Swarm are led by UAlbany alumni Lyle Thompson, the 2017 NLL MVP with 45 goals and 71 assists, and Miles Thompson, who earned 32 goals and 25 assists last year.

UAlbany has had at least one player drafted into the National Lacrosse League every year since 2012. Last season, Seth Oakes was drafted eighth overall by the New England Black Wolves.

Drake was an America East All-Conference Second Team midfielder in the 2017 season, finishing eighth in the league with 1.94 goals per game to total 35 on the year, adding nine assists and 14 ground balls. The Oshawa, Ontario native finished his UAlbany career with 111 points, off 80 goals and 31 assists, in 64 games, adding 37 ground balls.

Osika earned USILA Honorable Mention All-America and Scholar All-America honors in 2017. The 2017 America East All-Conference First Team SSDM earned 32 points off 22 goals and 10 assists in his senior year, adding 15 ground balls. In 71 games with UAlbany, Osika, from Mason, Ohio, tallied 59 points, off 43 goals and 16 assists, 63 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.

The 2017 NLL First Year Player Draft was held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

The Swarm play its first game of the 2017-18 season on Friday, December 8th at 7:30 p.m. against the Black Wolves in New England.

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