Game in and game out, UAlbany’s Jake Piseno is the most disruptive defender on the field.

"I knew when I stepped on this field, I wanted to be something different," said Piseno, a graduate player for the Great Danes men’s lacrosse team.

What You Need To Know

  • Jake Piseno is one of the top defenders in the nation

  • He earned preseason All-American Honors heading into this year

  • Piseno has been named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list

The fifth year player has a knack for getting the ball out of the opponent’s stick. Four games into the season, Piseno leads the NCAA in caused turnovers per game with 3.75.

That’s probably not too much of a surprise since Piseno was named a preseason All-American by several publications, and was also named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list heading to his final collegiate year. The Tewaaraton is given to the best college lacrosse player annually.

"Everyday I wake up and eat what I eat because I want to win a championship," he said. "I go to sleep when I go to sleep because I want to win a championship. I do what I do in the weight room because I want to win a championship."

Not bad for a guy listed at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds — an outlier as Piseno would describe himself at his position.

"I knew that with me not being that 6-4 guy, not being 220 [pounds], I wasn’t like all the other guys so I had to find a way to do it on my own," Piseno said.

He credits his father and his coaches for seeing his skill and his heart, instead of the undersized frame, growing up in Liverpool. That allowed him to earn this opportunity.

"Jake has always been a hustler and a go-getter, and someone who is really determined to be successful," said Scott Marr, head coach of the UAlbany men’s lacrosse team.

He coaches Piseno not only here but also with the Haudenosaunee Nationals. Piseno was selected to the team for the World Lacrosse Championships this past summer, where he was named to the All-World team and the tournament’s best defender. Haudenosaunee won bronze.

"He’s just a really, really well rounded lacrosse player," Marr said. "He understands the game very well. His stick skills with the ball are second to none as far as a defenseman in the country."

But despite last summer’s accolades, which also includes being drafted by the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Knighthawks, Piseno is still has unfinished business. That includes the elusive America East championship, something he hopes to change this year and make a run in the NCAA tournament.

"I never thought I would be going to college for five years, you know? It’s been one hell of a ride," Piseno said.