Syracuse’s first round exit from the tournament is still on the minds of the players and fans alike. The Orange have come back to campus with most of the pieces still intact, and even a few upgrades, to return to Championship Weekend this Spring. The depth is there, so now it is time for ‘Cuse to define the roles that are going to produce dividends in the upcoming season.
Dylan Donahue and Kevin Rice have been the most dynamic duo in college lacrosse, next to recently graduated Wolf and Dionne at Duke. They only graduated a part time starter in Derek Maltz, who typically roamed the crease in the offense. Randy Staats emerged after the Cornell game last season and will be the third attackman. After a year of experience, the three should be playing at their highest potential this spring.
Scott Loy is the main graduated piece of the puzzle in the midfield, but Billy Ward also scored a few timely goals for his team. Most notably the overtime winner against North Carolina, which would lead to the team’s epic battle against Duke in the ACC Tournament.
Henry Schoonmaker and Hakeem Lecky are to big time players that want to leave the team only after making a huge difference in their final season. Nicky Galasso is healthy along with Jordan Evans to make the top line very potent between whoever holds the first three spots at the position. Nick Weston is in line, after seeing successful spot duty in 2014, to anchor a spot in the second midfield.
A key transfer at the midfield is OCC’s Tim Barber. Barber hasn’t had too much time to impress but comes in after winning National Player of the Year at Onondaga Community College. Players who have seen largely extra man duty, like Matt Walters and Derek Dejoe, are looking to earn more playing time. Both are capable shooters in the Orange offense.
Defensive midfielders return in Mike Messina and Thomas Grimm. Peter McCartney and Scott Firman are looking to replace Matt Harris in roaming the midfield as the team’s main long stick midfielder. There are versatile defensemen like Ryan Palasek to give the team more options.
Face offs have been the Achilles heel for the Orange. They have been on the end of lopsided statistical losses. There is a stable of candidates, but no one player has set himself above the competition. Transferring into the program are Ben Williams (Holy Cross) and Zachary Vehar (Quinnipiac). Williams had a successful freshman season, going above .500, and looks to reverse the Orange fortunes the past few years.
On the defensive end, a veteran group returns. Brandon Mullins has been the most written about with good reason. As athletic as you can be in lacrosse, Mullins will always play against the opposition’s best player. A year now removed from a torn ACL, he will be at his very best this season. Sean Young transferred in two seasons ago after his freshman year at Towson and has been a two year starter for the Orange.
Jay McDermott started one game and appeared in thirteen during the 2014 season, looking to make a run deeper into the lineup. There is a wealth of incoming talent on the defensive end as well to push the level of competition further. There is always a chance that a youngster could come in to make a difference, much like Mullins did.
In goal, there is another battle in the making. OCC transfer Warren Hill came off two national championships and an impressive World Championships outing. The incumbent is Bobby Wardwell, who split time with Dominic Lamolinara the past two seasons. He is looking to capture the starting role alone after three years.
The Orange had a successful campaign in 2014, but success in Syracuse is measured by appearances in Championship Weekend. The players are there for the personnel needs of an uptempo offense and stingy defense. The Orange needs players to take bigger roles and be dominating during the entirety of the 2015 season. Lacrosse fans will be waiting to see if Lincoln Financial Field is covered Orange this Memorial day.
