DENVER – The Denver Outlaws announced Saturday that backup goalie Charlie Cipriano would make the start in goal in place of starter Jesse Schwartzman. Schwartzman had 13 saves on 22 shots (.591 pct.) in the team’s 13-11 win over the Charlotte Hounds last Friday in Denver.
“After a bit of discussion amongst the staff, we decided we’re going to start Charlie Cipriano in goal tonight for the first time in his career. It’s a long season and Jesse puts a lot of pressure on himself. We wanted to make sure that he’s fresh going into the second half of the season,” said Head Coach B.J. O’Hara.
Cipriano was drafted 54th overall in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft out of Fairfield University. He played a career-high 70 minutes and 30 seconds over a span of six games in 2013 for the Outlaws, saving 20-of-32 shots on goal (.625 pct.) during that time. The third-year goalie earned All-America honors as a senior at Fairfield and was a two-time ECAC Goalkeeper of the Year recipient.
“Charlie has played awfully well since he’s been with us and we just think it’s a good time to make a move like this. I know the guys are going to really rally for Charlie and play well for him. Jesse is fully supportive of the decision. It’s going to be exciting to see,” said O’Hara.
Tonight’s game will make the first Outlaws game in nearly four years that Schwartzman didn’t start—he missed the team’s June 12, 2010 game for a personal obligation. The eight-year veteran has played in 85 of the team’s 93 regular-season games (91.4 percent) since his rookie season in 2007.
Schwartzman, MLL’s all-time winningest goalie, has 63 career wins in 85 games played (.741 pct.) and ranks first in the league this season for save percentage (.607) and second for saves (71) and goals allowed average (9.18).