Timeout with Rob Orazietti

By Adam Nussbaum ‘17

AN: Take me through a typical in-season day.

RO: We aren’t allowed to practice during the academic day, so we go to class until practice starts at 4:30. We start by watching game film and going over scouting reports on individual players, and then we practice for two hours. After that, we part and do our homework.

AN: What other sports have you played and when?

RO: I played a lot of sports throughout middle school and high school, but lacrosse and football were my main ones. I played both throughout all of high school and stopped playing football once I went to college.

AN: When did you start playing lacrosse and how did you know it was right for you?

RO: I started when I was in fifth grade on the local travel team. I originally played baseball in the spring when, one day, I started playing poorly because I couldn’t see the ball. I eventually got contacts and moved on to lacrosse.

AN: Who has been the most influential figure throughout your lacrosse career?

RO: My father. He’s committed time and done so much for me, whether it was going to games, driving me to practice or paying for recruitment tournaments. He’s the main reason I am playing at the level I am today.

AN: What was your recruitment process like?

RO: Well I transferred here from UMass and I knew Coach Rogalski from when he was at Rutgers and I was being recruited there. When I knew I was leaving UMass I contacted him and that led to me coming here.

AN: What was the transition to Lafayette from UMass like?

RO: While both conferences are very competitive, it was weird switching conferences and getting adjusted to the new competition. My transition was smooth, but I had to acclimate myself to the program as the two have different family feels and dynamics.

AN: Did you have to change your game to fit into the Lafayette program?

RO: Sophomore year I played regular attack and I moved to midfield. I didn’t really have to change my game, but I had to create chemistry and fit in with the rest of the team. I guess there’s always hype for the new guy so I had to prove myself and live up to it.

AN: What aspect of your game have you been working on most recently?

RO: My down-the-alley shot, which is basically shooting on the run. It’s a shot that attackers don’t really take so I had to learn it to fill-in the midfield role.

AN: What’s your most memorable lacrosse moment?

RO: I have two. This first is beating Monmouth this year. It was our first win on Fisher Field in three or four years and broke the curse. It also fueled us to win our next two games on Fisher to string together a three-game win streak. My second memory is the second win of that win streak against Holy Cross. We were a tremendous underdog and were simply not expected to win. It completely turned our season around and led to hard-fought games against Bucknell and Lehigh.

AN: Who on the team deserves a shout-out for their performance this season?

RO: Erik Cannon [‘17], our long-stick midfielder. He had a really good season and ended second in the nation in caused turnovers.

AN: Do you have any pregame rituals?

RO: I tape my shorts like a belt.

AN: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

RO: Orlando, Florida.

AN: What’s your favorite song?

RO: “King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar.

AN: What’s your favorite movie?

RO: “The Prestige.”

AN: If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be?

RO: Hugh Hefner.

AN: If you could change your name for the sport, what would you change it to?

RO: Zetti the Yeti.

AN: What don’t people know about you?

RO: I’m a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.