PLL Archers goalie Drew Adams credits time at Penn State for long-term lacrosse success

Juggling a 9-to-5 job, two kids under 2 years old, and a professional sports career is all in a day’s work for former Penn State lacrosse goalie Drew Adams.

“It’s just prioritizing, and I always put my family first. That’s always priority number one. The other things fall into line. It’s being disciplined,” Adams said. “When you’re not meeting with the team everyday, you are on your own to make sure you’re working out and staying in shape and staying prepared. That’s just something I’ve learned from doing it as long as I have.”

A lacrosse veteran and product manger at Comcast, Adams has been playing professionally since he graduated from Penn State in 2009, first playing in the Major Lacrosse League (MLL) and transitioning to the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) for its inaugural season in 2019. He credits his time at Penn State to his long-term success on the field.

“It gave me some good structure,” Adams said. “I think I learned a lot at Penn State. How to be a good teammate, how to be part of an organization. Penn State lacrosse is a great family, and I learned a lot from the people I played with and coaches and trainers and everyone involved.”

Adams started his professional career with the New York Lizards of the MLL, and while he was with the team was named Goalie of the Year three times and a was a four-time All-Star. Additionally, he was a member of the silver winning Team USA in the 2014 World Games.

Being in the game so long, Adams has seen changes the sport has gone through firsthand. When he first started the sport, only 25 percent of the players were full-time athletes, he said.

“As the sport has gotten more popular over the last 12 years, a lot of guys now play full time. By doing that, guys have the opportunity to train more, and have the stick in their hand more. It’s just made the whole level of play a lot better, and it’s cool to see how the sport has progressed,” Adams said.

He added: “Today, the seniors have pretty well-defined options when they get out of college to continue playing.”

Chris Sabia of the Waterdogs and Grant Ament, a fellow teammate on the Archers this coming season, join Adams as former Penn Staters to play in the PLL. For Adams, there was a multitude of factors involved in the decision to switch from the MLL to the PLL.

“For me, it had to do with a lot of my peers going. Guys that I’ve played with for my whole career collectively deciding that it was time to try something different,” Adams said. “It helped that the league was started by a friend and a teammate, so there was a lot of comfort in that.

“And then ultimately, the players that made the switch just think that if the sport is going to continue to evolve and gain in popularity that the PLL is the better path forward for that. The organization as a whole, at the executive levels, is a little more in tune with what you need to do to grow a sports league in 2020. I think the opportunity to be a part of that was appealing.”

With a few changes, such as a slightly smaller field and a shorter shot clock, going to the PLL gave athletes more advantages including a deal with NBC Sports, additional media coverage and exposure, minimum salary and health insurance.

“The overall quality of the coverage for the PLL is a lot better. I think guys know that and they know there’s more people watching, they have friends and family able to watch. It makes everyone want to play better and play their best,” Adams said.

With the upcoming season set to begin July 25, Adams has been keeping in shape from home.

“I try and do yoga a few days a week, that’s always been a big thing for me as a goalie. Everyone trains a little bit differently, and I’ve found that’s what’s been helpful for me. It’s a balance between maintaining and building some strength, staying flexible and nimble which I think is really important for the position that I play,” he said.

Starting the season is near the forefront of Adams’ mind, and he is focusing on the positives of the condensed season.

Ament, who will be playing his inaugural season with the Archers after being selected first in the 2020 Collegiate Entry Draft, is someone Adams has known since before Penn State. The two first met when they were doing a commercial together, and Ament was in middle school at the time.

“I remember talking to him a little bit, and you know as you ask every kid, ‘oh where do you want to go to college,’ and he said right away ‘Penn State, you know I want to play there,’” Adams said. “Of course he probably had the best career of any Penn Stater ever at this point ...”

While the season will be shortened, Adams isn’t too disappointed.

“We don’t have to travel every weekend, because when you are working a 9-to-5 job trying to sneak out early to catch flights that’s when there’s always that fine line,” Adams said.

“I think everyone is excited just to be playing.”

This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 7:00 AM.