Jake Piseno gearing up for PLL debut in return to UAlbany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — What month it’s been for now-former UAlbany men’s lacrosse standout Jake Piseno. After helping guide the Great Danes to their first America East title since 2018 in his final collegiate season, Piseno was drafted to the Premier Lacrosse League’s Denver Outlaws. Sunday afternoon, he’ll make his professional lacrosse debut. Safe to say…he should feel right at home.

For the third straight year, the PLL season will kick off at UAlbany. Piseno and the Outlaws are set to play the Carolina Chaos Sunday afternoon.

It’s technically homecoming weekend for the New York Atlas, as the league is introducing home cities for the first time. But it’s just as much a homecoming for Piseno, and even though he’ll be wearing a different jersey from the UAlbany one he wore for five seasons, he’s relishing the chance to make his professional debut at the place where his career took shape.

“It [was] definitely a weird feeling…taking that jersey off for the last time in Notre Dame; was definitely a tough moment for me,” said Piseno after Thursday’s practice with the Outlaws. “But…it’s all about just moving on to the next day, and just being the best. We always say it at school, “Be the best.” It doesn’t matter what name is on my jersey, or who I’m playing with – especially in this league. Every single team is great; every coach is great; every single player is great. I’m loving the Outlaws. I’m loving that…new team, and everyone on the team; Coach [Tim] Soudan’s great. And I think it’s going to be a pretty surreal moment – being on the field; being in a new jersey; playing in front of all the fans. But I think it’s going to be pretty cool.”

Opening faceoff between the Outlaws and Chaos Sunday is set for 1:00 p.m. The weekend at UAlbany gets underway with a rematch of last year’s championship between the Utah Archers and Philadelphia Waterdogs Saturday at 1:00.