Syracuse men’s lacrosse kicked off the season with its annual media day in Manley Field House on Monday afternoon. Inside Lacrosse has the Orange ranked No. 4 in its preseason poll, and here are three talking points that arose on Monday heading into the 2015 season:

Three-headed monster

Syracuse has arguably the best attack in the country heading into the season, as SU returns seniors Kevin Rice and Randy Staats, along with junior Dylan Donahue on the front line.

The three combined for 190 points last year, and head coach John Desko touched on the matchup advantages the group can provide for his team.

“That’s a terrific group, so it’s too hard to focus on just one player,” Desko said. “A lot of people had their best defenseman on Kevin Rice with all the points and that left the second guy and the third guy to cover Randy, so he was very productive.”

Staats only started nine games last year and dealt with ineligibility this fall, but is back full-time to join Rice and Donahue in the starting lineup. Staats mentioned that each of the three has a “way different” playing style, which increases the unit’s effectiveness.

He said Rice is more shifty and quick, Donahue is a high-IQ player that can catch anything and Staats himself likes to play more of a body-up style.

Said Staats: “It’s unreal to be a part of because there’s so many different things that we’re good at.”

Competition in net

Senior Bobby Wardwell returns as the incumbent starter in net for the Orange after splitting time last season with Dominic Lamolinara — who is now a graduate assistant coach.

Wardwell may face competition again this year, though, as Onondaga Community College transfer Warren Hill has come in and impressed Desko in fall practices despite having to learn the system.

“Warren has had to come in and learn what it is to be on the man-down unit and clears…our different defenses,” Desko said. “The goalie has to be a quarterback, he’s got to be a communicator with the defense so there’s a lot for him to pick up.

“I thought Warren finished the fall very well.”
Desko also added that several others have impressed in net, but hinted that Wardwell is the favorite to start in goal.

“I think Warren will probably tell you too that Bob had a great fall,” Desko said. “Bob’s just been very consistent and done a great job and become more vocal this year.”

Facing off

The faceoff X has been the biggest question mark for SU in recent years, and the Orange has brought in two transfers to try and solve that in 2015.

Sophomores Zach Vehar and Ben Williams come from Quinnipiac and Holy Cross, respectively, and look to be the main competitors at the X for Syracuse.

“The new guys have done very well,” Desko said. “Ben Williams has done a good job. Vehar has come in and done a good job. It’s been very competitive there all fall.”

Desko mentioned the X as another position that has depth, but responded with a cautious “yeah,” when asked if the two transfers were the two main contenders for the starting spot.

The head coach mentioned sophomore Joe DeMarco as one who could factor as well, but also said he’s looking forward to seeing how each of the faceoff specialists utilized working out on their own over break once practice starts up this week.

“It’s almost a month of workouts on their own,” Desko said. “We’ll see who’s ready to go.”

Published on January 5, 2015 at 5:47 pm

Contact Matt: [email protected] | @matt_schneidman