Men's Lacrosse Alumn Christian Mazzone to Join PLL's Archers
Mar 16 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's lacrosse alumni Christian Mazzone will join the Premier Lacrosse League, as he was selected by the Archers in the PLL Entry Draft.
"I was really excited," Mazzone said on the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast. "The Archers are a great fit. There's a lot of Long Island guys. I'm excited to get out there at training camp with the guys. I watched a lot of PLL games this past summer and I think what they've done with the sport is really cool and interesting. It provides a great product with the shortened field and shot clock. I think I fit in really well with that. I've always loved to be able to just stay on the field and I think I can be successful in this league with those rules and style of play. I'm excited to get out there and show my abilities."
Mazzone was at Rutgers from 2014 to 2018. After his senior season, he was named Honorable Mention All-American by the USILA and the Media and Second Team All-Big Ten, setting career-highs with 29 goals, nine assists, 38 points, and 40 ground balls, while also causing eight turnovers. In 60 career games, Mazzone scored 50 goals and had 25 assists for 75 points with 136 ground balls and 37 caused turnovers.
"He's an extreme competitor, he's fearless, he's a warrior, he's an energizer bunny as far as he can run for days," head coach Brian Brecht said of Mazzone in 2018. "He doesn't get fatigued or tired. He's tough as nails and he's someone that leads our team by his example."
The Stony Brook, N.Y. native also excelled off the field. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, the team captain was named a Scholar All-American in 2018. The Werblin Award winner earned his degree in Journalism and Media Studies.
Mazzone previously played professionally in Major League Lacrosse. Originally, he was a draft pick of the Ohio Machine, but his first action in professional lacrosse came in the summer of 2019 when he joined the Atlanta Blaze. Last season, he recorded 42 points and 47 ground balls, the only player in the MLL to reach the '40 and 40' mark. He scored 33 goals and had nine assists with two caused turnovers in guiding the team to its first ever playoff berth. After the season, he was named one of the Top 5 Midfielders in the League.
"Christian Mazzone is an under-the-radar pick," said PLL.com's Joe Keegan. "Rutgers plays at a tempo that preps players for the pro game. He should help the Archers recover after being hit hard in the Expansion Draft."
Mazzone is one of 16 Rutgers graduates under head coach Brian Brecht to play professional lacrosse. Mazzone played along fellow Rutgers alumni Max Edelmann and Chad Toliver last season on the Blaze as the team advanced to the semifinals. There were a record 11 Rutgers alumni on professional rosters to begin last season. Last season, Jules Heningburg, Joe Nardella and Chris Mattes represented the program in the inaugural season of the PLL, where they will be joined by Mazzone next season. Michael Rexrode, Kyle Pless, Kris Alleyne, Garrett Michaeli, Scott Bieda, Mazzone Toliver and Edelmann represented the Scarlet Knights in the pros. Recently, three alumns were selected in the MLL's Supplemental Draft: Garrett Michaeli (Denver Outlaws), Chad Toliver (Philadelphia Barrage) and Christian Trasolini (NY Lizards).
"I was really excited," Mazzone said on the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast. "The Archers are a great fit. There's a lot of Long Island guys. I'm excited to get out there at training camp with the guys. I watched a lot of PLL games this past summer and I think what they've done with the sport is really cool and interesting. It provides a great product with the shortened field and shot clock. I think I fit in really well with that. I've always loved to be able to just stay on the field and I think I can be successful in this league with those rules and style of play. I'm excited to get out there and show my abilities."
Mazzone was at Rutgers from 2014 to 2018. After his senior season, he was named Honorable Mention All-American by the USILA and the Media and Second Team All-Big Ten, setting career-highs with 29 goals, nine assists, 38 points, and 40 ground balls, while also causing eight turnovers. In 60 career games, Mazzone scored 50 goals and had 25 assists for 75 points with 136 ground balls and 37 caused turnovers.
"He's an extreme competitor, he's fearless, he's a warrior, he's an energizer bunny as far as he can run for days," head coach Brian Brecht said of Mazzone in 2018. "He doesn't get fatigued or tired. He's tough as nails and he's someone that leads our team by his example."
The Stony Brook, N.Y. native also excelled off the field. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, the team captain was named a Scholar All-American in 2018. The Werblin Award winner earned his degree in Journalism and Media Studies.
Mazzone previously played professionally in Major League Lacrosse. Originally, he was a draft pick of the Ohio Machine, but his first action in professional lacrosse came in the summer of 2019 when he joined the Atlanta Blaze. Last season, he recorded 42 points and 47 ground balls, the only player in the MLL to reach the '40 and 40' mark. He scored 33 goals and had nine assists with two caused turnovers in guiding the team to its first ever playoff berth. After the season, he was named one of the Top 5 Midfielders in the League.
"Christian Mazzone is an under-the-radar pick," said PLL.com's Joe Keegan. "Rutgers plays at a tempo that preps players for the pro game. He should help the Archers recover after being hit hard in the Expansion Draft."
Mazzone is one of 16 Rutgers graduates under head coach Brian Brecht to play professional lacrosse. Mazzone played along fellow Rutgers alumni Max Edelmann and Chad Toliver last season on the Blaze as the team advanced to the semifinals. There were a record 11 Rutgers alumni on professional rosters to begin last season. Last season, Jules Heningburg, Joe Nardella and Chris Mattes represented the program in the inaugural season of the PLL, where they will be joined by Mazzone next season. Michael Rexrode, Kyle Pless, Kris Alleyne, Garrett Michaeli, Scott Bieda, Mazzone Toliver and Edelmann represented the Scarlet Knights in the pros. Recently, three alumns were selected in the MLL's Supplemental Draft: Garrett Michaeli (Denver Outlaws), Chad Toliver (Philadelphia Barrage) and Christian Trasolini (NY Lizards).
Let's get to work 🏹🏹 https://t.co/qjujVuZp65
— christian mazzone (@ChrisMozo) March 16, 2020
The @PLLArchers select @ChrisMozo (M).#PLLEntryDraft pic.twitter.com/w9xzeoyeDT
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) March 16, 2020
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers men's lacrosse, follow the program and Coach Brecht on Twitter (@RUMLax and @RULaxCoach) and Facebook. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com. For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.Mazzone is a great pairing with Schreiber on that midfield line. The Archers needed another dodger to take some pressure off of Tommy Schreibs and Mazzone is just the guy to do it. Love this pick. https://t.co/vmJeMSIdWl
— Kyle Devitte (@TheKyleDevitte) March 16, 2020
Players Mentioned
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's LacrosseRutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
Men's Lacrosse 2025 Season Recap
Wednesday, July 09
Men's Lacrosse Upsets No. 2 Maryland 8-6
Wednesday, April 09
R Fund, Knights of the Raritan are YouKnighted | Million Dollar Match
Friday, February 28
