The Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team will begin preparations for the upcoming season Saturday, January 24 scrimmaging Hofstra University and Le Moyne College. The Orange will be looking for a group of new faces to impress in their first spring semester showing with the Syracuse squad.
The Syracuse campus will welcome arguably the most sought-after NJCAA transfer in NCAA lacrosse history in former Onondaga Community College star Randy Staats. The Six Nations, ON native left his mark on the offensive record books during his two years as a Lazer, leaving OCC as the program’s all-time leading scorer in both points (295) and assists (165). Although knee injuries have sidelined Staats in the past, his game still boasts versatility at both the attack and midfield position, having recently played as a mid with the Iroquois Nationals U-19 team in 2012.
Joining Staats as a NJCAA transfer will be faceoff specialist Mike Iacono, a two-time All-American while at Nassau Community College.
Though not a newcomer to the Orange, former North Carolina standout Nicky Galasso will finally get a chance to perform on-field after being sidelined due to foot injuries since transferring to Syracuse. The redshirt-junior and former ACC Freshman of the Year is, like Staats, a midfield/attack threat. The duo will be heavily counted on to be immediate leaders in the Cuse offensive scheme.
Highly touted freshman recruit Jordan Evans will carry the expectations associated with the legendary number 22 Syracuse jersey the Jamesville-DeWitt grad will be donning during spring. Another midfield/attack threat, the athletic Evans will likely see playing time as a midfielder due to Cuse’s established attack unit.
Other newcomers to the Syracuse lineup include four 2013 Under Armour All-Americans. Freshman attacker Dylan Maltz will compete to join brother Derek on the Orange attack unit. Newcomers at the midfield, Nick Weston and J.T. Forkin, both have an opportunity to shine in a mid unit that lost over 100 combined points with the graduation of JoJo Marasco and Luke Cometti. Freshman LSM Scott Firman, a Jamesville-Dewit grad along with Evans, rounds out the impressive list and will look to share playing time with senior captain Matt Harris.
Saturday’s scrimmages will feature a loose schedule between the three squads, begging at 10 am in the Carrier Dome.
Check back with In Lacrosse We Trust for the latest NCAA lacrosse updates.
