When Joe Cinosky started playing lacrosse back in third grade, he never imagined that one day he would be playing the sport professionally. Major League Lacrosse hadn’t even been founded yet.
But after enjoying a successful college career with the Terrapins that included an ACC tournament championship and two appearances in the NCAA semi-finals, Cinosky was drafted ninth overall by the New Jersey Pride in May’s MLL draft.
He was the first defender and only Terp selected this year. In 2006 and 2007 four Terps were selected in each MLL collegiate draft.
“It’s a great honor to be drafted at all,” said Cinosky. “The fact that I got drafted as the first defenseman and get to play in front of a home crowd is great.”
Pride head coach Peter Jacobs said team personnel had watched Cinosky play for the last couple of seasons, and as a result, Cinosky was high on their draft board.
“He brings a physical style of play when guarding players,” Jacobs said. The coach also said Cinosky has “great athleticism for his size” because most players with his physique do not tend to be as athletic.
Cinosky, who is from Boonton Township, N.J., joined the Terps in 2005. Before coming to the university, he was a two-time US Lacrosse high school All-American and two-time New Jersey defenseman of the year.
About midway through his freshman season with the Terps, Cinosky earned a spot in the starting lineup. He continued his solid career all the way through his senior season, when he captained a 10-6 squad which lost in overtime in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Virginia. “I wasn’t sure Joe would become a good team captain, but he was one of our best that we have had in the past three or four years,” Terps defensive coordinator Dave Slafkosky said. “His leadership during the week and especially during games was very remarkable. Some players can only lead by being good lacrosse players; Joe had the ability to lead on and off the field.”
But Cinosky, who led the Terps last year with 31 caused turnovers, said the professional level is “a completely different game” and “much faster” than college games. In his first six games, the defenseman has 15 groundballs.
Jacobs said Cinosky is “still learning” but is “progressing nicely.” “It’s one of those things where you can have good games and bad games, but he has improved every game,” Jacobs said.
When asked where he envisions Cinosky in five years, Jacobs said, “Hopefully he is one of the top defenders in the league.”Overall, Cinosky is enjoying his professional career. “It’s great to get paid for doing something you love to do,” he said.
With more flexibility due to a schedule that Cinosky called less organized than college, the former Terp has been able to take summer classes at this university. Cinosky plans on graduating in the fall with a criminology and criminal justice degree.
With a 3-4 record, his Pride team is in last place in the Eastern Conference, but it is just a game and a half behind the conference leaders. The team has until the middle of August to come back – just as Cinosky came back – home, that is, for his professional career.
“I’m excited that I get the opportunity to play in front of my family and friends,” Cinosky said.
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