By GABRIEL SERRANO
Staff Writer
The leader and captain of the Saint Rose men’s lacrosse team is preparing for his final season at the college. Jordyn Marchiano, 21, is a business major with a concentration in sports management. Marchiano is a top five points leader in program history and has big plans for his final collegiate season.
“I hope to have a winning season, make the NE10 tournament and break 100 points,” said Marchiano.
Marchiano graduated from Lafayette High School and adjusted to playing against some of the best competitors in the Northeast 10 conference. Marchiano learned that he had to work harder because the pace of the play was quicker and more intense at the college level.
“The games were played a lot faster and the college level required a lot more work. My scholarship was my motivation to work harder when I first came here,” said Marchiano.
Marchiano and the Golden Knights kick off their season as they take on Post University on Feb. 26 at the Christian Plumeri Sports Complex.
“My IQ is way better in lacrosse from when I first came here and I feel more motivation to do school work. I feel like I can see things before they happen and I am able to rotate quicker on the field,” said Marchiano.
His competitiveness, both in the classroom and on the field, allows him to remain focused on what he needs to do in both areas. In the three years he has played at the college, he has gotten stronger.
“Jordyn was one of my students in personal selling and negotiation. He was a very good student who understood the importance of negotiating as well as selling one self,” said Mark Michalisin, a Saint Rose sales management professor and Marchiano’s advisor.
Michalisin understands, as Marchiano’s professor and advisor, how he is dedicated to his team and in the classroom.
“He leads by example and brings his confidence from the lacrosse field into the classroom. If he sets his mind to the task he will succeed,” said Michalisin.
Marchiano was born in Syracuse, N.Y. and started playing lacrosse in fourth grade. In eighth grade he realized that lacrosse could be an easy path to college. He said there were a lot of points where he did not want to play lacrosse because of the relationship with some of his coaches. Marchiano played football and basketball in high school. In basketball he was first-team, all-region and in football he was first-team, all-state on both offense and defense where he played wide receiver and safety. He also had the most interceptions in his section and likes to hunt deer with a rifle in his free time.
Marchiano chose Saint Rose because Coach James Morrissey was a very good recruiter and he enjoyed his visit here because the small town reminded him of Lafayette.
“Jordyn has been a tremendous four year starting attack man and leader for our program since he stepped foot on campus. When you watch him play you notice the hustle and toughness,” said Morrissey.
According to Morrissey, Marchiano’s best season is ahead of him in 2020 and he is the go to guy because players on the team look to him as a trusted leader on and off the field.
“He will be sorely missed not having him on the field next season so I am going to cherish every practice and game that we have together in his final season,” said Morrissey.
Marchiano started in 14 games as a freshman where he finished out the season on the Northeast 10 conference all-rookie team. As a sophomore he started 17 games at attack and matched his career high with five points on two separate occasions. Last season, he started in 12 games as he battled an ankle injury for most of the season.
One of his best moments in sports was the day of his high school state championship game played in the Syracuse Carrier Dome. Two years ago, marked another highlight in his career highlight when he added three goals in the NE 10 first round game against Saint Anselm. Marchiano also called making the NE10 tournament one of his best sports moments he had. Marchiano felt great making the tournament and was a very special moment for the program.
“I felt accomplished because we were an up and coming program and it was the college’s best season as a program,” said Marchiano.
Marchiano’s four years went very fast, and it feels like the older he gets the faster it goes by. He said just because you get older doesn’t mean it is over.
“I wish I did not get injured last season because I was forced to miss three games due to an ankle injury and I feel like I let my team down,” said Marchiano.
After graduation, Marchiano hopes that the team keeps its chemistry and the team remains like a family as it was when he was at college. One piece of advice he hopes to give the rest of the team is give yourself time to adjust and play with confidence.
“Jordyn is a good leader. Not only because he plays hard and is a great teammate. Off the field he gets along with everyone and is fun to be around. The last three years playing with him have been great. He’s had a lot of huge moments and next year without him will be a big loss both on and off the field,” said Johnny Loughlin, midfielder men’s lacrosse team.
Marchiano hopes to take his bachelor’s degree and work for a very successful sports organization and hopes to coach a lacrosse team sometime in the future.
“Playing with your best friend and someone you know is gonna do whatever it takes to win at all costs is something you can’t compare to anything. He’s always got my back and I always got his. I’m going to miss him both as a teammate, roommate and friend,” said James Murphy, defensive man on the men’s lacrosse team.
