Editor’s note: The MLL Philly Player of the Week will appear regularly as the region gears for the MLL Championship Weekend, presented by Smartlink, at PPL Park on Saturday and Sunday August 24-25. Tickets for the two-day event are available at MajorLeagueLacrosse.com/championship-weekend/
By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/30/13
Charlotte Hounds defenseman Brett Schmidt has been named the Major League Lacrosse Philly Player of the Week.
Schmidt, an Upper Dublin graduate and former All-American at Maryland, helped Charlotte defeat the Ohio Machine, 13-10. The win vaulted the Hounds into fourth place in the MLL standings with a 6-6 mark.
Schmidt, who is second on the team in groundballs (36), has emerged a standout this year. He was selected to play in the MLL All-Star Game last week and is a big reason the youthful Hounds have won their last two games and five of their last eight.
“I think there have been a variety of things,” Schmidt said. “We have a lot of young guys and they are getting more accustomed to their roles. We started seven rookies last game and they are getting more comfortable in the system.
“The pieces are falling together. The second-and third-year guys and other veterans are showing great leadership and we have youthful legs. It was just a matter of time.”
This week Charlotte faces second-place Hamilton (9-3) and the following week, the last game of the year, it faces third-place Chesapeake (7-5).
“We have two more games and we control our own destiny,” said Schmidt, who played for Twist Lacrosse. “We still have to play Hamilton and Chesapeake and they are two great teams so we have our work cut out for us. If we win both we get the third seed, but we are just focusing on Hamilton. They have a ton of threats on offense so we have to make sure we are ready to play.”
Schmidt admitted it would be great to play in Championship Weekend at PPL Park.
“Now I am living on Charlotte, so it would be a wonderful experience to come home and play in Philly in front of my family and friends that have helped me so much,” said Schmidt, who works for BB&T Wealth as an advisor. “I haven’t played a big game there in a long time.”
Brett Schmidt
Charlotte Hounds
Position Defense
Height 6′ 0″ (183 cm)
Weight 181 lbs.
Acquired Through Trade with Denver in Nov. 2011
Birth Date Jul 20, 1989
Birth Place Maple Glen
High School: Upper Dublin
Birth State Pennsylvania
College Experience Maryland, 2011
MLL Bio
2012: The Hounds acquired Schmidt in Nov. 2011, through a trade with the Denver Outlaws. The defenseman missed the first half of the franchise’s inaugural season after tearing his pectoral muscle in the offseason. He was able to play in five games at the end of the year, recording one goal, one assist and nine groundballs.
2011: Schmidt was drafted by the Denver Outlaws in the third round (15th overall) of the 2011 Collegiate Draft. He played in seven games for the Outlaws, scooping up 14 groundballs.
Collegiate: In four years at Maryland, Schmidt played in 63 games, collecting 127 groundballs to go with 79 forced turnovers. The defenseman served as team captain in his senior season, and also was honored that year as All-ACC and USILA Second Team All-American. As a junior in 2010, Schmidt was named All-ACC and USILA Third Team All-American, while also earning the Decker-Silber award as the Terps’ top defenseman.
Personal: After majoring in wealth management and private banking, Schmidtenrolled in a Leadership Development Program with BB&T bank for which he is currently working and living in Charlotte. During his spare time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, mountain biking, Crossfit and cooking. He has two older brothers, one younger sister, and both his parents are chiropractors.
Leave a Reply