Former Penn State lacrosse player Chris Sabia is excited to start playing again with his new team
For former Penn State lacrosse defensemen Chris Sabia, the start of the 2020 Premier Lacrosse League season has been anything but smooth.
Sabia, a 2019 grad, was selected by new PPL team the Waterdogs as the 15th pick in the expansion draft in February. The season, which was slated to start May 29-30, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis and shortened to a championships series. Sabia has yet to meet his new teammates in person.
“I think we’re all glad that we can finally play,” Sabia said. “This whole championship tournament, obviously we wouldn’t necessarily like it to be that compact and that many games in such a short time, but we get to play and I think that makes everyone happy.”
Sabia played for the Chrome last season, after being selected as the fourth pick in the second round of the PPL’s inaugural college draft. Despite the somewhat unexpected switch to the Waterdogs, he is looking forward to the opportunity to play with a new team this summer.
“I think it’s going to be nice. It’s going to be a fresh start,” he said. “I mean, I love the guys on the Chrome to death — they brought me in and I think we had a hell of a team and a hell of a team chemistry. It’ll be nice to have a fresh start and I think we have a really, really good team. I mean you look at the players from top to bottom and it’s an amazing roster.”
He added: “Hopefully we can gel right away and get to playing. Make something special happen.”
Despite not having met with any of his new teammates in person, Sabia is still able to bond with his new team virtually.
“We’ve done — I think three now — of those Zoom happy hours, and they’ve been cool,” he said. “I think it was a little awkward at first because I know a lot of guys hadn’t met each other. I know every time we interact in GroupMe, everyone’s getting a little closer. So it’s going well.”
Sabia will be reprising No. 16 this season, which has a special meaning for him and the Penn State men’s lacrosse team.
In 2015, Connor Darcey, a Penn State men’s lacrosse goaltender, died in a single-car crash on June 12. Head coach Jeff Tambroni delivered the eulogy at Darcey’s funeral a few days later. He made a promise that Darcey would live on throughout the program.
Darcey wore No. 16 during his time at Penn State. The number gets passed down each year to a rising senior who embodies Darcey’s spirit.
“The honor to wear that jersey at Penn State, it’s unlike anything else. It gets passed down every year, from a senior to a rising senior. It gives you a whole new light and attitude on who you’re playing for and what you’re playing for,” Sabia said. “I know it really opened my eyes to playing for something way bigger than myself or my family.”
Sabia wore No. 16 during his senior season at Penn State, and has continued to don it during his professional career.
Former Penn State teammate Grant Ament, who was the first overall pick in this year’s PLL draft, will wear No. 16 while playing for the Archers this upcoming season.
“We have people in the PLL, MLL (Major League Lacrosse) rocking 16. It’s an awesome way to honor Connor’s legacy. It’s amazing. When I heard that (Ament would be wearing 16) I was overjoyed,” Sabia said.
Outside of lacrosse, Sabia has been spending his time now the way many others are — working remotely and with friends and family.
Sabia works as an advisor support consultant. Almost all PLL players have jobs in addition to being athletes. The PLL season is only a few months a year, and games in a traditional season are on alternating weekends.
Leading up to the beginning of the season, after a long workday, Sabia enjoys working out with friends and going fishing. He especially enjoys fishing in his free time, and uses it to wind down.
“Get away from everything and get on the water. It kind of calms you down,” Sabia said.
While Sabia is enjoying his down time, he, like many other PLL athletes, he has an itch to play lacrosse again. The start of the condensed season on July 25 can’t come soon enough.
“I’m excited to be able to play again, and hopefully get back to doing what I love,” he said.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 2:51 PM.