Local investment advisor finds time for world championship lacrosse

SYRACUSE — Matthew Abbott, an investment advisor with Armory Capital Management, LLC, participated on the U.S. team that lost to Canada, 8-5 at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Lacrosse Championship in Commerce City, Colo., near Denver, on July 19. “It was unique. It was something that I’d been looking forward to for a […]

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SYRACUSE — Matthew Abbott, an investment advisor with Armory Capital Management, LLC, participated on the U.S. team that lost to Canada, 8-5 at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Lacrosse Championship in Commerce City, Colo., near Denver, on July 19.

“It was unique. It was something that I’d been looking forward to for a long, long time. I was honored and humbled to be part of it all,” says Abbott.

He spoke with the Business Journal News Network on July 23.

The U.S. squad was among 38 nations that competed, representing the highest number of participating countries in the championship event that happens once every four years.

”It’s great to see the growth of the sport overall,” he says.

Abbott was also a co-captain on the 2009 Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team that captured the NCAA national championship, beating Cornell University.

Abbott, who currently plays professionally for the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), earned a spot on the U.S. world championship roster after a try out process that started about a year ago, he says.

U.S. Lacrosse, the organization that governs the American squad, and the coaching staff invited nearly 100 players to a three-day training camp. After several scrimmages, the coaches cut about half those who tried out. 

The remaining hopefuls continued playing scrimmage events throughout last fall and winter.

The cut downs continued as the team played the MLL All Stars at the end of June. When Abbott made the final 23-player roster, he joined the national team for a final training camp in early July at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

When asked if he had to take vacation time to participate with Team USA, Abbott indicated Armory Capital Management afforded him “flexible scheduling.” He was also able to remotely access necessary computer files while on the road.  

“It worked out well on both ends,” says Abbott.

“Weekend warrior”
The situation is similar for his involvement with the Bayhawks in Major League Lacrosse.  

“The term is weekend warriors … because a lot of the guys have a full-time job and then we’re traveling on the weekends for games,” says Abbott.

In his role as an investment advisor, Abbott handles a lot of research on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds for clients and their portfolios, he says. Abbott joined Armory Capital Management in 2011.   

Armory Capital Management is an independent investment advisory firm, associated with Grossman St. Amour CPAs, PLLC. It is located at One Lincoln Center at 110 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse. 

Abbott is a 2009 graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. He also earned his master’s degree in finance from SU the following year, he says.  

He is a 2005 graduate of Nottingham High School.

Abbott was the third member of his family to play lacrosse at SU, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Larry Abbott who played between 1950 and 1952 and father, Tom Abbott, who suited up for the Orange between 1975 and 1978, he says.  

In addition to his involvement with the Bayhawks and the U.S. national team, Abbott also serves as the volunteer assistant men’s lacrosse coach at Colgate University in Hamilton.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Eric Reinhardt: