MEMBERS OF THE NEXT CLASS OF UCBLL GRADUATES HOPE TO MAKE THE JUMP TO THE NLL

The journey to the National Lacrosse League Draft is long and arduous. For the select few who hear their name called on draft day, it creates a memory that will last a lifetime and an opportunity to play with and against the greatest professional lacrosse players in the world. Two Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League players have been on that journey together since middle school and are now close to reaching their destination.

Vinny Fiorella of the Rapids and Connor Boss of the Buffaloes are both playing in their fourth summer in the UCBLL, and both currently rank in the top 15 in league scoring. Fiorella, a member of the All-UCBLL Second Team in 2023, leads the Rapids offense with 11 goals and 14 points through their first five games this season. He just finished his fifth and final year playing field lacrosse at Division III John Carroll University, where he won four straight conference championships. Before that, he played for Canisius High School, and he also played for the Jr. Buffalo Bandits in middle school.

For Fiorella, the opportunity to play in the UCBLL has strengthened his love of lacrosse. “Being coached by some of the best players in the world, guys that have been back-to-back champions in the NLL, has done wonders for me and my game,” Fiorella said. “Learning from them, being able to take in all the information they tell us, and competing against other guys from great schools. It’s been a blessing.”

You get a sense of Fiorella’s offensive skills whenever he’s on the floor for the Rapids, as he often finds the ball in his stick. While he’s a talented goal scorer, what else he can do on offense has become important for him. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is going out there to work for your teammates; it’s not all about you or making a great play,” Fiorella said. “You can be an impact player by just setting a good pick, drawing a guy, and getting your teammates open.”

Boss sits fourth on the Buffaloes in scoring with 8 points in five games while playing defense and transition. He played college lacrosse at Division I Robert Morris University, which has produced a number of NLL talent, and he excelled in lacrosse at East Aurora High School.

The UCBLL has been Boss’s first foray into box lacrosse. “We have a big box lacrosse culture in RMU (Robert Morris); lots of guys play up north in Junior and Senior A and B, " Boss said, “there are a lot of intricacies with box lacrosse that aren’t similar to field lacrosse, like the picks and the physicality. It’s a different game from field but a ton of fun.”

During his four seasons in the UCBLL, Boss has gained experience at both ends of the floor. He started as a transition player in his first summer and then spent two seasons playing offense to improve his skills for playing at Robert Morris. Now he’s returned to playing defense and transition to help keep his lacrosse career going.

“I’m playing here (in the UCBLL) to keep playing. I’m not ready to hang up the stick and cleats just yet,” Boss said. “Now that I’m done with field, I’m looking to take the step to the next level.”

Boss has the characteristics of a solid two-way player, the size and ability to take on opposing forwards, and the speed to turn a play around and get the ball up the floor for a scoring chance. “He’s doing a great job,” says Buffaloes assistant coach and Buffalo Bandits defenseman Zack Belter. “He’s learned how to play defense and gets better each week at it, giving us plenty of opportunities in transition.”

Fiorella and Boss first met in middle school, playing field lacrosse together on a club team, and they spent their first three summers as teammates in the UCBLL. Now, in their final season, they have found themselves squaring off against each other, with Boss covering Fiorella in the Rapids’ offensive zone. “We go back for a long time,” said Fiorella, “this is the first time playing against him, and it’s been fun having a go with him on the floor.”  Boss adds, “Playing with and against him over the past four fours has been a ton of fun, and now we are at the same stage where we’re trying to go to the next level.”

The next level is the National Lacrosse League, and the UCBLL has produced ten NLL draft picks. This past season, Fiorella and Boss’s former teammate and UCBLL all-time leading scorer, Christian Watts, appeared in two games for the Buffalo Bandits after being drafted in 2022. Boss and Watts live near each other in East Aurora and spend time together on the floor at the Classic Rink, improving their skills.

2023 UCBLL draft picks Kaleb Benedict (Georgia) and Luke Pilcher (Las Vegas) have already signed contracts with their respective teams this summer, while Jake Piseno (Rochester) and Kellen Pulera (Buffalo) are also eligible to sign after finishing their collegiate eligibility.

When the NLL holds the 2024 draft this September, Boss and Fiorella hope to join the list of UCBLL players to be selected. “I’ve always wanted to get to the highest level that I can as a player,” Fiorella said, “I’ve been working for it since I started playing lacrosse, and it would be just a dream come true.”

UCBLL Players Drafted to the National Lacrosse League

Hunter Lemieux - 2021 1st Round (15th overall) - Philadelphia Wings

Nick Miller - 2021 4th Round (62nd overall) - Buffalo Bandits

Spencer Bell - 2022 4th Round (60th overall) - Rochester Knighthawks

Ryan Sharkey - 2022 4th Round (73rd overall) - Buffalo Bandits

Christian Watts - 2022 5th Round (82nd overall) - Buffalo Bandits

Austin Blumbergs - 2022 5th Round (88th overall) - Buffalo Bandits

Kaleb Benedict - 2023 1st Round (19th overall) - Georgia Swarm

Luke Pilcher - 2023 2nd Round (24th overall) - Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Jake Piseno - 2023 2nd Round (35th overall) - Rochester Knighthawks

Kellen Pulera - 2023 4th Round (68th overall) - Buffalo Bandits