DENVER – As we continue to show love to the impactful first-year standouts who shined bright throughout the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) 2025-26 campaign, it’s hard not to include the very man who was often the first guy to touch the rock each weekend.
We’re talking about rookie faceoff specialist Matthew Paolatto, who’s the first player to draw the official positional title in years, as defenseman Tim Edwards had assumed duties for Colorado for the last five-plus seasons before Paolatto’s arrival.
But with Edwards sporting the alternate captain honors last season and thus freed up to dominate a few more defensive shifts, it was up to No. 27 to set the tone, be it at Training Camp, practice, or any of the team’s dramatic draws.
And set the tone he did, which was exactly what the organization imagined when the Mammoth selected Paolatto in the third round (44th overall) of the 2025 NLL Entry Draft last fall.
Colorado’s front office has never been afraid to take a gamble on players who have primarily played field lacrosse. However, Paolatto showed up to last year’s Training Camp sessions with zero box lacrosse experience.
That said, Mammoth General Manager Brad Self and company understood he knew how to control the dot and if afforded some tune-up reps, should have the skillset and patience to grow his role at the box level.
Turns out that was exactly the case, as the first-year drawman went on to capture the fifth-most faceoff wins amongst all NLL personnel last season.
Producing a 238-for-407 record during his rookie campaign, Paolatto won 58% of his faceoff opportunities, which also served as the fifth-best rate in the league.
He regularly held his own going head-to-head against some of the game’s best faceoff specialists and took care of business against some of the league’s less-established threats – which is essentially about as productive of a year one slate that a club can ask from a fresh 25-year-old.
Securing more than 70% of faceoffs in a game is no easy feat.
Earning more than 70% of faceoffs win during your rookie season SIX different times is almost unheard of, which included a dominant 16-for-20, season-opening performance as the Mammoth “shocked” the lacrosse world with a road win against the Vancouver Warriors.
And while the league has altered its approach to registering loose balls as it pertains to faceoff wins and possessions, Paolatto trailed only one man when it came to scoop totals, as captain Robert Hope outpaced the rookie 160 to 131.
Still, his involvement throughout the central portion of the field was felt – and honestly, was felt again when he eventually missed the last game and a half due to injury.
Loose balls aren’t the most effective statistic out there to display dominance, but when the kid ranked tied for the 13th-most scoops overall despite playing in just 16.333 games or so, we’ll brag him up!
Add in his seven caused turnovers, one blocked shot and zero penalty minutes and it’s clear why Defensive Coordinator Andrew McBride and Head Coach Pat Coyle continued to use Paolatto in defensive shifts just the same.
Yet, it was his trio of explosive trips to the net which may resonate deepest with the Mammoth fans.
Racking up eight points (3g, 5a) during his first trip around the NLL circuit, Paolatto found his way to the scoresheet during an early-season victory over the Rochester Knighthawks, which doubled as just his fourth professional appearance.
It’s always nice to get the first one out of the way, but it was his pair of electric “Make it, Take it” tallies from the Mammoth’s home win over the Toronto Rock that may have officially put him on scouting tape, as he literally exploded from a faceoff win and went right to the cage in storming fashion during both of the extraordinary finishes.
Assuming he continues to heal up from an upper-body injury over the summer stretch, he’ll have a good chance to defend his spot on the roster when this fall’s 2026 Colorado Mammoth Training Camp invades Lakewood, Colorado to officially kickstart the approaching NLL campaign!
Mammoth fans can stay tuned to coloradomammoth.com and Colorado Mammoth social media channels for the latest news, transactions and beyond!
