The Syracuse Orange saw their 16-4 season turn into a triumphant title run, only to fall in the 2013 NCAA championship game. The Orange will look to fill some significant turnover from last year’s roster in order to contend again in 2014.
Syracuse’s midfield unit loses a combined 109 points with the graduation of JoJo Marasco and Luke Cometti. Senior captain Billy Ward, who put up 16 points as junior attackman, has been running from the midfield during fall ball and will likely be looked at to lead the unit. Senior Scott Joy will also be depended on heavily after an impressive 20 goals last season. Redshirt junior Hakeem Lecky, a highly touted recruit entering college that has shown only glimpses of his ability, has stood out during fall ball including a five goal performance against the Iroquois Nationals exhibition rosterand was recently named a team captain for the 2014 season. Junior Henry Schoomaker, who posted 30 points during his first two seasons with the Orange, will be looked at to step up as an upperclassman after sitting out fall ball. Hyped incoming freshman Jordan Ellis, the latest representative of Syracuse’s infamous 22 jersey, is bound to get an opportunity and has the talent make some noise whenever his time comes.
The Orange return a trio or stellar attackmen in senior captain Derek Maltz, junior Kevin Rice and redshirt sophomore Dylan Donahue, who combined for 165 points last season. Joining the mix is redshirt junior Nicky Galasso. The prolific high school star and former North Carolina Tar Heel has been plagued by injury in the past two seasons, missing last season entirely due to a foot injury. If healthy, the West Islip product should be a definite threat, if not a lock, to start on the Orange attack.
Leading the defense is senior captain Matt Harris. The Illinois native was a second team All-Big East selection as a junior, leading the team in cause turnovers with 29 while finishing second in groundballs with 52. Joining Harris is redshirt sophomore Brandon Mullins, a former All-Texas linebacker who saw significant starting time as a freshman before being sidelined for all but three games last year due to a knee injury as well as returning starter junior Sean Young
Goaltender Dominic Lamolinara saw the majority of time last season and will carry the load between the pipes again as a senior. Lamolinara registered 13 wins for Cuse last season while splitting time with junior Bobby Wardwell and was named to both the Big East and NCAA All-Tournament teams.
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