In the most recent supplemental draft, the Outlaws acquired Midfielder Brian Jacovina. Jacovina will make his Major League Lacrosse debut this summer and is most looking forward to the “up and down, run and gun style” of professional lacrosse. While playing what he describes as ‘up tempo’ lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts, Brian feels his college lacrosse style has him prepared for the professional league. Similar to his teammates’ responses, Brian is fond of the professional lacrosse shot clock, which leaves no time to slow the ball down or kill the clock, but dislikes the limited amount of time each week he can spend with his teammates. “In college you would see your teammates for hours a day and really bond with them,” Brian said. Yet, even without playing a game together, Brian is already fond of his Outlaws comrades. “There are always e-mails going around…people are making fun of each other and just joking around so it seems like there is good chemistry on the team.”

His fondness for lacrosse stems from the quickness and spontaneity of the sport. “After you score, you have a great chance of getting the ball back with a good face-off guy.  This is unlike basketball and football where if you score the other team automatically gets the ball, “Brian explained. “I also enjoy lacrosse because everyone can play.  I mean, look at me, I am 5’7, 175 pounds and I am playing professional lacrosse. Just shows that all sorts of people can play lacrosse at a high level.”

Brian’s passion for lacrosse is highlighted by his achievements both academically and athletically. “I feel my biggest personal achievement was earning Academic All-American my senior year.  I feel that it showed that I accomplished a lot both on and off the field throughout my four years in college. In 2006, he helped lead UMass lacrosse, the team considered to be the underdog, to the NCAA Finals. “We had such good character on that team, everyone wanted to do what was best for the team.  We beat teams that had more talented individuals than us, but we were a more talented team because everyone was selfless and played a role.  I feel that we not only did it for ourselves, but all the alumni that helped build up our program before we all got there,” Brian noted. 

While only at the start of his Major League Lacrosse career, lacrosse is the professional path Brian hopes to build into a solid career for his future. He hopes to hold a career in the MLL for several years, and eventually assume head coaching duties at the college level. There is no doubt Brian is on the right path. He is currently an Assistant Lacrosse Coach at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. “Whether it being coaching, recruiting or watching film, I enjoy what I do because I feel that I can make the players on the team better,” Brian said.

Prior to the draft, Brian was contacted by several Major League Lacrosse teams. But after participating in the Vail Tournament last year and attending the 2007 July 4th game, which boasted 20,000 fans, Brian is thrilled to become a part of the Outlaws. “The atmosphere of the game seems a lot different then most other MLL games I have attended.  To be able to travel to Denver and play at Mile High seems like a great experience and I look forward to it,” Brian said.

Midfielder Geoff Snider enters his third season with the Outlaws with an impressive career and a lifetime of lacrosse involvement to his name. Geoff was first introduced to the sport in elementary school after being shown the basics of the game. From there, his passion for lacrosse grew intensely, while he simultaneously mastered hockey. With hopes of playing either sport in college, Geoff was recruited to play lacrosse for the University of Denver. After graduating from the University of Denver in 2006 with a degree in Finance and Marketing, Geoff was acquired by the Outlaws as the 1st pick (17th overall) in the 2006 MLL Collegiate Draft. Since beginning his career with the Outlaws, Geoff also is now in his second season with the Philadelphia Wings, a National Lacrosse League team. The Philadelphia Wings named Geoff to the All-Rookie team in 2007. He also earned the honor of All-Star Starter.

As one of about seven Outlaws players who make the transition from indoor to outdoor lacrosse each winter, Geoff attributes physicality as being a primary difference between both leagues. Additionally, he changes his style of playing and positions per both leagues. Indoor lacrosse requires Geoff to assume a transition role, playing defense, offense, and taking face-offs, while in outdoor lacrosse, he focuses more on possession of the ball.  “The field game is controlled by possessing the ball and face-offs play a large part of that.  I’ve had to change my game to focus more on keeping control of the ball.  On the Outlaws we have unbelievable defenders and a dozen guys who can put the ball in the net; my job is to get the ball,” Geoff explained.  He has perfected the face-off skill so well, that it has become his pivotal role on the Outlaws.

Both professionally and personally, Geoff has achieved impressive accomplishments, such as graduating with honors from the University of Denver and making the finals and semi-finals with the Outlaws in the first two seasons. Geoff also considers his selection to the MLL and NLL All-Star teams as noteworthy in his career. In 2006, Geoff and Team Canada took home the gold medal at the World Championships, which he notes as the highlight of his lacrosse career. “It was the best athletic experience of my life. Aside from just being able to play professionally, it was amazing. I played with such an incredible group of guys,” Geoff said. Geoff was named Team Canada’s MVP. Looking into the future, Geoff hopes to add more such feats to his lacrosse resume.

Specifically, Geoff hopes to help his team bring an MLL championship to Denver. He credits Outlaws success to “the solid group of guys that are in our locker room.  The personalities on our team are fantastic, and the group is very tight on and off the field.  I really enjoy going to war with those guys.” This season, Geoff is particularly looking forward to playing rivals Los Angeles and San Francisco. “San Francisco is always a great game…things get really rough against them,” Geoff said. “I think out west you are going to see significant growth in lacrosse, Denver has obviously been the hot bed for sometime; but I think you will see further growth in more western states.”

Since his college lacrosse days at the University of Denver, Geoff has found professional lacrosse to be more physical with the game faster, due to the shot clock, but limiting in the amount of time spent with his teammates. In professional lacrosse, most players live all over the country, while in college they spend hours together in practices and games each week. Off the field, Geoff spends his spare time training and playing squash, and also works in commercial real estate.