The journey started on the cowskin rug of P.J. Usak’s LIU Post dorm room in the spring of 2016.

Connor Farrell, a linebacker for the Pioneers football team who had played lacrosse as a child, made a bet with Usak, a member of the lacrosse team. If you can last more than 10 seconds in a wrestling match, I’ll join the lacrosse team. And so they headed to Usak’s dorm room with fellow teammate Frank Ranfone. The battle was on. 

Usak lasted 11 seconds.

“I was at practice the next day,” Farrell joked. “Why not?”

He vowed not to play lacrosse again, but there he was, a freshman taking faceoffs for Division II LIU Post in its postseason run. He won less than 50 percent of his faceoffs in those four games, but the itch came back.

Farrell, the goofy Holtsville, N.Y. native that sported long blonde hair akin to the Green Bay Packers’ Clay Matthews, fell in love with the faceoff once again. He continued to improve throughout his LIU Post career — splitting time between both the football and lacrosse teams until his career ended this May.

What was a lost bet turned into a historic career.

Up next? A chance at pro lacrosse. Farrell was drafted by the PLL’s Chrome in May and has turned into one of the new league’s top personalities.

“He’s still trying to get half my paycheck,” Farrell joked of Usak.

He’s also second in the league behind Trevor Baptiste, winning 55.8 percent of his faceoffs. The upward trajectory for Farrell has been as fast as it was unlikely.

“I really had no idea what to expect. I don’t think he knew what to expect,” Chrome coach Dom Starsia said. “He’s been terrific. It’s pretty amazing.”

Like Starsia, Farrell was a dual-sport athlete. However, his first love was football. But at age 10, his pee wee football coach, Tom Barron, offered a spring alternative.

“He told me I was able to hit in lacrosse like I could in football,” Farrell said. “I said ‘Why not? I’ll give it a shot.’ And I loved it ever since.”

Farrell was always one of the better athletes — and one of the strongest, too. Maybe it was just nature. Maybe it was the eight bowls of cereal he ate with his brother, Kyle, every morning. Eight. The guy absolutely loves milk. We’ll get to that later.

The first few years, Farrell admitted, he was a “goon” running around the field. But he soon developed skills that would make him a threat at Sachem East (N.Y.). However, it was his football stats that jumped off the page.

 

He was an All-State player that had more tackles and interceptions than anyone in school history.

And so, he joined LIU Post’s football program, staying at home — the place where he indulged in Gino’s Pizzeria and The Sports Deli, which he said is the best on the island.

He forgot about lacrosse for the time being.

“I never wanted to play lacrosse again,” he said. “I didn’t really like it that much. I went to college for football.”

But then Usak intervened as LIU Post was headed toward the ECC playoffs. Farrell found his love for lacrosse again, while the Pioneers fell to Merrimack in the NCAA tournament.

He got right to work, training with coach and faceoff star Tommy Kelly.

For three years, he’d spend six straight hours practicing, going from football straight into lacrosse. He’d be sore, but always wore a smile.

Year Two he won 64.3 percent of his faceoffs. In Year Three, it was 70. 1 percent. His senior season, he won 82.5 percent. Yes, you read that correctly.

This past season, he set the Division II record with 34 faceoff wins and 30 ground balls in an upset win over No. 1 Merrimack.

“That season I just put in my mind that no one was better than me,” Farrell said. “Before every game, you go and shake hands with the other faceoff guy. I looked them in the eye and I could tell they were just defeated with every game. I would just give them a look and they knew I was better than them.”

His stellar season caught the attention of the local New York Lizards, who picked him in the fifth round of the MLL Collegiate Draft. Eventually, Chrome and Starsia got in touch.

Chrome was assigned two faceoff men: Drew Simoneau and Brendan Fowler. After Fowler had knee surgery, Starsia came into the PLL Draft looking for a faceoff man.

Farrell, a self-proclaimed “mama’s boy” still had the chance to sign with New York. Starsia was aware, but something intrigued him about the Division II star. Names from larger Division I schools had potential, but Starsia wanted the Long Island guy.

“I really wanted to choose Connor, but I wasn’t sure I’d have the nerve to do it,” Starsia recalled.

But Chrome got Farrell in the fourth round, pick No. 22. 

Farrell was watching the live broadcast in the wee hours of the night, apparently delayed. He wasn't sure he'd be drafted. He had pondered a future being a police officer in Suffolk County.

But then Troy Reh texted congratulations before he had seen his name. He was ecstatic and ready to play for Chrome in the PLL.

He headed right to training camp, prepared to compete with the best faceoff men in the world. Farrell and Starsia landed at the airport around the same time, so the coach offered to ride him to camp.

“‘Coach, how are you going to find me?’” the unassuming Farrell said. 

“‘You’re 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and have blonde hair down to the middle of your back,’” Starsia replied. “‘I think I’ll be able to pick you out, Connor.’”

At camp, he was treated to media exposure unlike anything he’d seen at LIU Post. He took all of it in stride.

While he was making a name for himself on the field, he was getting acquainted with the PLL media team — namely host RJ Kaminski. They bonded over Game of Thrones (he’s a big Stark fan) and his milk-drinking habits.

Farrell’s developed a nickname across the league of “The Milkman” as a nod to the gallon he drinks every single day. Players also call him Thor because of his golden locks. Just shampoo and conditioner, if you’re wondering.

“Kids started to DM me saying they’re drinking milk,” he said.

His personality has shined, while he’s taken hold of the Chrome’s faceoff spot. He’s even built a friendship with Starsia.

“He’s always fist-bumping people,” Starsia said. “He’s got ham hocks for hands, too. I won’t let him do it, because he’s going to kill me.”

The Division II star from Long Island sure has made an impression.

Call him Connor. Call him Thor. Call him The Milkman.

But most importantly, and surprisingly, call Connor Farrell a professional lacrosse star.