UAlbany’s Piseno selected No. 9 overall in 2024 PLL Draft by Denver Outlaws

ALBANY, N.Y. — University at Albany men’s lacrosse standout Jake Piseno was selected in the Second Round, ninth overall, by the Denver Outlaws in the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Draft.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Piseno said.

“The anticipation of every single pick before me was great. Having all of my teammates here, my father, the coaching staff, that’s what meant the world to me,” Piseno noted.

“I think I’m going to make Denver and Coach Soudan happy that they chose to pick me,” Piseno added.

Piseno finished the regular season as one of the best defensive players in college lacrosse. He sits third nationally with 40 caused turnovers, averaging 2.50 per game. He’s accumulated 18 points this season, burying 13 goals with the long pole – making national highlights on an almost weekly basis. Piseno has totaled 72 ground balls throughout the year, leading all conference players other than the league’s faceoff specialists.

He was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and Most Outstanding Player in this year’s America East Championship, leading the Great Danes to their first conference title since 2018. In two postseason games thus far, he has scored three goals, added one assist, scooped up nine ground balls, and forced four caused turnovers.

“It’s outstanding,” UAlbany Head Coach Scott Marr commented.

“To be a top-10 pick in the PLL draft, you can’t say enough about Jake and what he’s put into his life. How he trains, how he goes about his business every day. He’s a great character kid. The Outlaws are getting a great player and a tremendous person,” Marr added.

In mid-April, Piseno was selected as one of 25 individuals in men’s college lacrosse as a Tewaaraton Award Nominee. The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the pre-eminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top men and women college lacrosse players in the United States.

Piseno earned All-America Honorable Mention accolades from Inside Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse Magazine, and the USILA entering the 2024 season. Over the summer, he earned All-World and Best Defender honors at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship in San Diego while competing for the Haudenosaunee Nationals.

Piseno will begin his PLL career at UAlbany when training camp opens later this month ahead of the 2024 season’s opening weekend at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium June 1-2. The Outlaws are set to take on the Carolina Chaos on June 1 at Casey Stadium starting at 1 p.m.