Being a lacrosse goalie requires a number of very specialized skills that few master. The ideal player can command the defense, throw accurate 40 yard breakout passes, defend out of the cage when needed, and of course stop every type of shot thrown at them. Because of this level of specialization, most programs are never able to find someone who can do all those things at a truly elite level. Coaches frequently choose the best person for the job based on their defense’s schemes and abilities, and how a goalie compliments those, more often than on the goalie’s skills alone.
Syracuse fans are accustomed to have one goalie in net, usually for multiple seasons in a row. Most recently was the four-year starter John Galloway who departed in 2011. Even Galloway had to evolve his skills significantly over his time in Orange despite winning championships in his first two years. Over the past few seasons, however, Syracuse has not had a goalie separate himself as an uncontested starter, leading to something many lacrosse fans lament: the goalie rotation. Goalie rotations are not always a bad thing though. Due to the number of skills required of goalies, it is rare to have two with the same strengths and styles on a single team. It also forces the offense to start fresh against a new goalie with different strengths and weaknesses. NCAA champion Duke used a rotation extensively last season, as well as fellow semi-finalists Denver and Notre Dame.
Starting in 2012, Syracuse fans hoped that incoming freshman Bobby Wardwell would be able to fill the void Galloway left. Wardwell was a five year varsity starter in high school who capped off his career with an outstanding performance in the All-American game against fellow HS seniors such as Jimmy Bitter, Kevin Rice, Lyle Thompson and Myles Jones. What wound up happening did not follow such a set script.
That 2012 season ended with a 9-8 record and a first round NCAA exit to Duke that was only reached by a near miraculous run through the Big East tournament. Wardwell started nine games that season while sharing time with Dom Lamolinara and Matt Lerman. The team’s record and results with different goalies didn’t create much separation leading into 2013, so how each performed in preseason dictated playing time. In that year, Wardwell took a back seat to Lamo, starting five games versus Lamo’s 15, and this split brought Syracuse back to the NCAA championship game where they fell to Duke. 2014 led to some more tinkering as the rotation turned to Lamo starting nearly every game and Wardwell taking the second half. A major exception to this was after Wardwell’s outstanding second half performance against Duke in the ACC tournament. Due in part to his play, the Orange were able to avenge their early season embarrassment to the Blue Devils and advance to the ACC championship game. Wardwell’s success against Duke earned him the starting role against Notre Dame in this game and one loss later, the original rotation was back to finish the year.
With Lamolinara no longer at Syracuse, one would think Wardwell could easily step into the starting spot finally. Three other players, however, will challenge Wardwell at the goalie position: Warren Hill, Evan Molloy, and Parker Ferrigan.
Hill is the reigning NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year after leading OCC to two straight national titles. He also was the starting goalie for the Iroquois Nationals as they achieved their best ever finish with a bronze medal in the World Championships this summer. He is a world-class goalie who will absolutely push hard for playing time and the starting nod.
Molloy is not nearly as well-known as Hill, but the coaching staff has hyped him considerably based on his practice performance over his first two seasons in Orange, including a red shirt year. Last year he saw time at the end of a couple of games, but there was nothing too noteworthy in the stats department. He may be pushing for time, but he is much less of proven commodity compared to Hill and Wardwell.
Ferrigan is another interesting option. Assuming he didn’t participate in any fall activity in 2013, that gives him four full years of eligibility which the coaching staff is certainly aware of. This was done knowing how full the goalie position was, and having him available later in his career is likely more important. He’s a goalie that again has been hyped for his work behind the scenes and is just waiting for his time to shine. Syracuse fans certainly wouldn’t mind seeing him replicate this HS highlight of his:
No matter what direction the coaches move in, they once again are left in the enviable situation of having four very good options between the pipes. Fall scrimmages did not produce an obvious front-runner for the position, which leaves Orange fans waiting until spring rolls around to get an answer. While a rotation may be in place again, it should not be viewed as negatively as one might initially want to. Used properly in the right situation, it can be best option out there. With who they have available, the Orange’s typically low goals against average should start coming back into the conversation after a taking few years off.
