Faster, harder, precise and improvised. Those are words that any NCAA lacrosse player may use to describe the change they face when starting as a rookie in Major League Lacrosse.
Whether remaining close to home, or traveling hundreds of miles away in pursuit of a dream, local college lacrosse standouts are adapting while trying to make their mark in what amounts to be a collection of the best talent possible.
Recommended Stories
“The competition level is so high,” Towson graduate Casey Cittadino said from Denver, where he is a midfielder with the Denver Outlaws. “Every guy in this league is pretty much an all-star. From that standpoint I?m enjoying myself, because I?m getting better.”
Cittadino, a New York native, graduated from Towson this May with a degree in Sports Management and business. He?s now living in Denver, sharing a place set up by his new team with new teammate Sean McCarthy, a Hofstra product.
“We get along pretty well, but we like to mess with other about how Towson destroyed Hofstra for the past couple years,” Cittadino said, with a laugh.
Having lived in Towson for four years, Cittadino is used to being far from home, so moving across the country appealed to him.
But Denver teammate and UMBC product Brendan Mundorf, selected one pick behind Cittadino as the 21st overall choice in the 2006 draft, is flying from Baltimore every Friday to join his teammates for Saturday contests.
“It?s pretty much the same [as college], but it?s a little tiring sometimes,” said Mundorf, who was named the MLL Rookie of the Week for his six-goal performance June 24. “It?s fun. I like how you only have to go out for a weekend and then your finished.”
Mundorf has adapted to the league while working at home for a family business during the week. Cittadino is enjoying the free time while exploring a new part of the country.
“I didn?t really want to jump into the full-time nine-to-five job just yet,” Cittadino said. “This is a nice way to space it out.”
He has been spending his downtime relaxing by the pool and has helped run lacrosse camps for young players in Denver. The Outlaws practice once a week because of the geographical spread of their roster.
“You?ve got to prepare yourself all week,” Cittadino said. “They expect a lot from you on gameday, when you come to perform.”
“Which is cool,” he said, “because nobody likes to practice that much.”
Because the Outlaws practice less than Cittadino expected, he is learning the nuances of the MLL “the hard way.”
Namely, he is adapting his defensive skill set to bigger, faster, and stronger competition.
“You usually have to be a lot more physical and play with more cross checks and less wrap checks,” Cittadino said. “If not, you?re just going to get scored on all day.”
Mundorf?s description of a “freelance” offense in the MLL is echoed by Maryland product Bill McGlone.
