A faulty bike brake changed the trajectory of Hugo Delhommelle’s career a decade ago. A 12-year-old in his hometown of Rennes, France, Delhommelle competed as a defensive midfielder. He lined up there for his academy team until he flew over his handlebars and broke his left wrist. Delhommelle shifted to the wing, a position not known for its physicality, and kept playing.

Even when the wrist healed, Delhommelle remained an attacker. The position swap eventually brought him to Syracuse as a junior transfer, where he was an attacking-midfielder. He was supposed to play there again this year, but then Mo Adams declared for the MLS SuperDraft after his sophomore year. With a gap in SU’s 3-5-2, head coach Ian McIntyre tabbed Delhommelle as the team’s new “quarterback.”

“It’s like a circle,” Delhommelle said, chuckling as he recapped his position history.

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Through five games, Delhommelle’s position shift has been a work in progress. He’s sparked the Orange offense, but contributed to its recurring defensive collapses. He’s refining the most productive part of his game — passing — while rapidly developing his defensive ability.

The switch has put internal and external pressure on Delhommelle. He wants to lead SU to the NCAA Tournament after missing it last year, but he also wants to impress draft evaluators in a season he knows he won’t stuff the box score. The next step in Delhommelle’s season-long balancing act comes on Friday night as Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) hosts No. 22 Virginia (3-0-2, 0-0-1), looking for its first win against a conference opponent in more than 700 days.

“It’s a big transition for me,” Delhommelle said. “As a 10 (attacking midfielder), we don’t defend that much. It’s not the same. I have a bigger role in this position, defensively.”

Delhommelle made the switch in spring practice, after Adams was drafted. For the first time, he completed defensive practice drills in an Orange kit. His new post wasn’t in the attacking third, but right in front of the backline.

Delhommelle remembered watching Adams’ in-game defensive techniques and tried to emulate him. The Frenchman also watched the 2018 World Cup through a new lens. While rooting for his native France, he noticed N’Golo Kante be a destructive, off-the-ball midfielder. He watched Spain’s Sergio Busquets utilize a range of passes form the defensive third.

Adams distinguished two types of midfielders: The ball-hawk, Kante-like disruptor, and a technical passer like Busquets. Adams referred to Delhommelle as the latter. Delhommelle said he’s trying to be both.

For a moment against Cornell on Sept. 10, he was. Delhommelle intercepted a pass, shielded the ball from a forward and booted it down the field, sparking an SU goal. Those moments have been less common than they were a season ago.

“As a 10, I have the freedom to create things, to try things,” Delhommelle said. “As a deep player, I have to be a 90, 95-percent passer.”

McIntyre compared Adams to the team’s “quarterback,” citing his leadership ability. What Adams lacked in on-ball technique, he countered with physicality. Delhommelle is a quarterback in a literal sense, catalyzing the offense with his passes. McIntyre’s ideal offense relies on Delhommelle establishing a “rhythm.”

Len Zeugner, a starting defender, said it’s reassuring to have Delhommelle as a dependable outlet. However, there have been times in which Delhomelle’s defensive lapses have cost the Orange.

Against then-No. 12 Notre Dame on Sept. 7, SU faced a one-goal deficit in the second half. The Fighting Irish had a free kick near its bench, and Delhommelle stood at the top of the penalty box. McIntyre yelled at Delhommelle to fix his positioning, but Delhommelle didn’t adjust. After the free kick soared into the box, and Delhommelle mishit the ball, UND’s Thomas Ueland ripped a shot into the net.

“In another setup, maybe he plays a different role,” McIntyre said earlier this season.

Delhommelle said he’s worked on his positioning. There have been times, he admitted, he pushes too far forward and vice-versa. A decade as an attacker makes him wary of the box score. In his new role, he knows he won’t reach his point total from a year ago. Last season, Delhommelle led the team with six assists and added two goals. In 2018, he’s on pace to average fewer points and shots on target.

He acknowledged that, as a defensive midfielder, he’ll help the team win, but he pondered the mindsets of draft evaluators. Adams was selected 10th overall to MLS, and he didn’t register a point in his last collegiate campaign.

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“It’s something I shouldn’t focus on,” Delhommelle said. “I know my role, I know what I have to do. … It’s something I shouldn’t worry about.”

In the first half against Notre Dame, Delhommelle was the player SU will need him to be this season. He lofted passes down wings, he picked off passes with ease, and he set up scoring chances.

During an Orange offensive spell, Delhommelle tracked back and took on a UND forward one-on-one. From the sidelines, McIntyre shouted “Be the mid! Be the mid!” Delhommelle dropped his shoulders low and side-shuffled, tracked the forward down the sidelines, lunged with his right leg, and knocked the ball away.

“I can hold the ball, I can do the same things,” Delhommelle said. “It’s not because the players change positions that you would change as a player. We just adapt to the position.”

Published on September 19, 2018 at 10:26 pm

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