UD Grad Schmidt Set to Make Pro Lacrosse Debut

From the tongue-twisting Crooked Crosse Lacrosse Club as a third grader, to the Invesco Field home of the professional Denver Outlaws, Brett Schmidt still wields an impressive stick.

It's no surprise, then, that less than a month after ending his University of Maryland lacrosse career as a NCAA Division I runner-up, Schmidt has graduated to the professional ranks.

The Upper Dublin alum, a member of the 2007 Suburban One League American champions, is set to make his Major League Lacrosse debut Saturday night with the Outlaws, who host the Long Island Lizards.

"I'm excited to continue my career," Schmidt said. "I've gone through many different levels of lacrosse. This is a lot of hard work paying off, and I'm looking forward to proving myself again in the pros."

Unlike other professional sports, the MLL is a part-time gig for the 230 athletes who make up the six teams across the United States and Canada. Monday through Friday, they work as business analysts, public relations specialists and coaches.

Come the weekend, they fly to a city for a Saturday game, knowing they only get paid if they make that contest's game-day roster. On Sunday, it's back home - Maryland, in Schmidt's case.

"Denver is a cool place to be," Schmidt said. "I'm thinking of moving out there because I'm an outdoorsy guy. It would be a cool experience."

Cooler even than emerging as the stingiest defender at Maryland and helping the Terrapins to the NCAA Finals, which they lost, 9-7, to Virginia.

Already a three-time All-American from his Upper Dublin days, Schmidt picked up 126 ground balls and forced 79 turnovers in 61 games at Maryland. His lengthy list of collegiate accomplishments was topped this week when he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"That is my favorite award, because I think it's going to do more for me in the future," said Schmidt, who majored in finance. "The ACC is one of the best conferences for lacrosse and schooling, with Duke, USC [University of South Carolina] and UVA [University of Virginia]. Being honored is one of my best accomplishments."

Though he had an inkling of Denver's interest in him -- General manager Brian Reese is a former Terp and volunteers with the women's program -- playing professionally became reality when the Outlaws selected him in the third round, 15th overall, in the January draft.

League rules state that college athletes must finish their seasons with their schools before they can play in the MLL, and Schmidt's season lasted longer. In the NCAA tournament, they ousted Duke in the Final Four at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.

"Awesome experience," Schmidt said. "Playing in Baltimore with 44,000 of the 45,000 fans chanting for us the whole time, that was my coolest college experience. Running out of the tunnel, and they're yelling not so nice stuff at Duke, then cheering us when we got out there. I'll always remember that."

He'll also always remember being part of the Upper Dublin family, especially playing with older brother Chad, when both were starting defensemen during Chad's senior year. Oldest brother Scott played basketball for the Cardinals, while younger sister Lindsey is a swimming star, entering her senior year.

With his professional status, there's little debating who is the family's best athlete.

 "Brett was determined to succeed at whatever he put his mind to," Upper Dublin lacrosse coach Jon Levine said. "He wanted to be a varsity lacrosse player, and he goes from being on the freshman JV team to being an All-American his senior year, then goes on to be All-American at Maryland."

If Schmidt has one fault, it's his lack of coordination off-the-field, at least according to his father, Scott. The elder Schmidt claims his youngest son can't "take a bowl of cereal from the counter to the table without spilling half of it."

"I do drop a lot of stuff in the kitchen, if that's what he's referring to," Brett said. "I have slippery fingers and an unsteady hand at some things, but when it comes to sports, maybe I get in a different mindset."

The Lizards are about to find that out.