By Simon Kaufman
Midfielder Noah Molnar has gone from having to try out for a spot on the Denver Outlaws to making the Week 1 roster.
Following weekend scrimmages, the coaching staff told the team that decisions had been made about the roster for the first week of the regular season and that coaches would meet with players to inform them of their fate.
“Coach (General Manager Tony) Seaman just handed me a helmet, told me I’ll be heading to Florida next week and ‘congratulations’,” Molnar said.
Molnar joins an Outlaws midfield that helped lead Denver to an undefeated regular season in 2013. The former Lehigh University standout recorded 71 groundballs during his four-year career as a Mountain Hawk before being drafted by the Rochester Rattlers last year.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound midfielder didn’t have the opportunity to prove himself last season and wasn’t ready to give up his lacrosse career yet.
“I felt like I could play in this league and I could have a place in this league,” Molnar said.
Motivated to get back on the field, he went to Denver’s open tryouts in late March, and was one of four players from the tryout that the Outlaws signed.
“He is a big, strong and athletic lacrosse player who has the ability to help us as a defensive midfielder,” Denver General Manager Tony Seaman said.
Molnar thinks his speed also makes him a dual threat, available to help on offense, too.
“I love playing a hard-nosed brand of defense,” Molnar said. “And then also have the speed and athleticism to push the ball in transition.”
Molnar — who planned on pursuing his real estate license and coaching lacrosse at Corona Del Mar High School, his alma mater, in Newport Beach, Calif. this summer — is excited about the new opportunity to play for Denver.
“It just seems like it’s a first-class organization,” Molnar said. “It’s run really well, and it just seemed like a great thing to be a part of.”