Outlaws’ Jake Piseno finally reaching two-way potential in Year 2

Jake Piseno came into the pro ranks with tremendous hype after racking up stats and highlights during a distinguished career at Albany. As a second-round pick, he made the All-Star team as a rookie and acquitted himself nicely in his jump to the professional game.

But Piseno wasn’t the superstar many expected, especially offensively. As a senior at Albany, he scored 13 goals and dished out six assists. In his first PLL season, he finished with just one goal and one assist.

In Year 2, he’s become the dominant force between the arcs the Denver Outlaws hoped he would be.

The numbers speak for themselves through three games. Piseno leads all long poles in scoring with five points (2G, 3A) and is top 20 for all players in assists. It’s not just the offense, though. Piseno is second among poles in ground balls and seventh in the league in caused turnovers.

Piseno’s breakout has been predicated on the pieces around him and elevating what he already did best.

Nobody in the world has better hands than Piseno. When it comes to goosing a ground ball, securing a tough handle or disrupting a passing lane, Piseno’s been the best in the league from the moment he stepped on the field.

His ability to disrupt play with his stick causes chaos and disruption that generates transition.

Piseno is playing more shifts as a true long-stick midfielder. A year ago, he started on faceoff wings, then split time with Nick Grill on defensive shifts. This year, Piseno is playing more of those defensive shifts to spark defense-to-offense transition.

“We gave him the green light to create,” Outlaws head coach Tim Soudan said.

Getting Piseno on the break allows him to use his tremendous skill in the middle of the field. That skill is elevated by the players around him in the defensive midfield.

The trio of Piseno, Ryan Terefenko and new signing Zach Geddes might be the best transition group in the PLL. Through three games, the group has 11 points, more than Denver’s entire offensive midfield room.

All three are able to handle the ball and make good decisions on the break. When Denver is pushing the pace, the Outlaws can create quality chances in a hurry.

Piseno is at his best quarterbacking these fast breaks. While some long poles are immediately looking to launch a shot or get the ball to their offense, Piseno is always playing with his head up and able to make a pass.

Denver’s best attackmen – Pat Kavanagh and Brennan O’Neill – thrive in unsettled, early offense. With Piseno pushing the pace, it gets the ball into their sticks faster. Piseno’s unique in that he can start the break, but he can also stay on to finish plays.

Not many long poles will run the break as a trailer, and even fewer have the dexterity to make a catch in traffic or hit a jump shot. His stickhandling makes him a more versatile offensive weapon.

Denver is building its offensive identity around this transition group. The three defensive midfielders running the field, aided by new goalie Logan McNaney’s pinpoint outlet passes, set the tone for the offense.

There is still room for Piseno to grow as a player as his second season progresses. His on-ball defense can be exploited by certain matchups, and he could improve his shooting from long range (0-for-11 on two-point attempts as a pro).

But Piseno’s one-of-one skillset is fully coming to the surface and blossoming for the Outlaws offense while he continues to disrupt the game defensively. When Denver drafted Piseno with the ninth overall pick, this is the player it expected. And now, how good can he get?