MLL Alumni Spotlight: Brian Spallina and Nicky Polanco
November 20, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, MA - Brain Spallina and Nicky Polanco have a lot in common. The two Major League Lacrosse legends were both tall defenseman from New York who terrorized opposing attackers throughout their decade plus careers in the league. The two were so similar that they actually played on the same team on three separate occasions. The two starred together for the Philadelphia Barrage (2004), New York Lizards (2009-2011, 2015), and the Chesapeake Bayhawks (2012-2015). Let's take a look back at their careers.
Brian Spallina was drafted 70th overall by the New York Lizards in the inaugural MLL draft in 2001 after playing his collegiate lacrosse at Hofstra University. Meanwhile Polanco, also a Hofstra product, was drafted fourth overall in the 2002 MLL draft by the Bridgeport Brigade.
In 2004, Spallina joined Polanco with the then Philadelphia Brigade and led them to an MLL Championship win over the Boston Cannons. Polanco was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. In 2005, Polanco was traded to the Lizards where he would once again be named MLL Defensive Player of the Year. The Lizards, however, fell short; having lost in the Championship Game to the Boston Cannons in '05. In the 2005 season Spallina stayed with Philadelphia, a place he would call home until 2009.
In 2009, Spallina joined Polanco with the New York Lizards. They spent three seasons together there until 2011. The Lizards didn't win any championships during those three years, so the two found their way to Maryland.
The two joined the Bayhawks for the 2012 season. They instantly won a championship in '12 and again in 2013. The 2012-2013 Bayhawks remain the last repeat champion in MLL history.
In 2015, Polanco and Spallina both decided to head home finishing the year as members of the New York Lizards. The two would go onto win their fourth championship together. Polanco decided to retire on top while Spallina went on to play a couple more seasons with the Lizards before retiring in 2017.
Polanco and Spallina combined to play over 275 carer games and scooped up over 500 groundballs combined. The two teammates and friends were both inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation in 2015. Spallina and Polanco are simply legends of the game.
Spallina and Polanco haven't gotten sick of one-another yet. Spallina, the founder of Team 91, is currently coaching a 2021 team. Polanco has also joined the Team 91 coaching ranks as the coach of a 2029 team. We expect that the young men playing for these MLL legends will come out of high school swinging.
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