MLAX : Syracuse searching for best options to fill defensive voids
If Lelan Rogers doesn’t hear a defender talking, he’ll blow his whistle and stop practice. The Syracuse men’s lacrosse assistant coach will pull the silent defender out of the play and replace him. Rogers believes a successful defense needs to ‘talk, talk, talk.’
Rogers is in his second season as defensive coach of the Orange, and besides preaching communication among his players, he has the preseason undertaking of replacing two of his starters for the 2009 season.
In 2008, Syracuse had a solid defense featuring Evan Brady, Kyle Guadagnolo, Sid Smith, and then-freshman goalie John Galloway. The experienced duo of Brady and Guadagnolo graduated, leaving two to three starting spots open for the 2009 season.
‘Our biggest challenge this year is replacing two guys,’ Rogers said. ‘We need to find three or four guys that gel well together and can talk.’
Smith is back and the front-runner for a starting spot, Rogers said. Sophomore transfer John Lade, junior Matt Tierney, junior Brandon Conlin and sophomore Tom Guadagnolo (Kyle’s younger brother) are all competing against Smith for the three starting spots.
‘They are all doing something a little different than one another, but they are all doing something well,’ Syracuse head coach John Desko said. ‘A lot of guys are fighting for time. … A year ago I might have said (to) a guy like Guadagnolo, ‘No way,’ but now he might fill in that Evan Brady role: playing the inside, communicating with our goalie.’
Lade, a sophomore, played for Villanova last year but transferred to Syracuse this fall. Lade wanted to play better defense and compete against better attack and knew he could only do that at Syracuse. So Lade packed his bags and headed north for the home of the 2008 national champions, who also bested his Wildcats, 21-6, last season.
Desko said Lade’s quickness gives him an edge. Lade said Syracuse can benefit from his presence because he uses his speed more than his body to play good defense.
‘Practice for the defense has been real upbeat,’ Lade said. ‘Everyone’s working real hard, because there is a lot of competition for those two (to three) spots. There’s a lot of talking going on. Everyone’s trying real hard.’
Rogers said he doesn’t plan to change his philosophy much, although he might tweak it to fit certain players. For example, a defender’s quickness, how big the player is, and in which hand they hold the lacrosse stick could dictate the game plan.
As for the goalie position, Galloway is back in the net. But without Brady and Guadagnolo providing a barrier for him, Galloway will have to make more saves in order for the Orange to prosper this season.
‘I just feel comfortable in the cage now,’ Galloway, a sophomore, said on Jan. 8. ‘I know I can do this now. I second-guessed myself a few times last year, and that was a huge mistake. I need to make more saves. You look at my numbers, they can be better. Of course we won (the national championship), and then the numbers don’t matter. But I have to make more saves, especially in games that are close.’
In 2008, Galloway ranked 13th nationally in goals-against, averaging 7.78, but ranked 35th in save percentage with 53.4 percent.
‘The nice thing about Johnny is he’s a year older,’ Rogers said. ‘Last year it was nice to have guys like Kyle (Guadagnolo) and Evan (Brady) in front of him as a safety net, but he’ll just have to step up this year.’
Rogers said even if defenders don’t have the most talent on the field, if they talk and know what their teammate is doing next, they can get through any situation.
‘Defense is all about the chemistry,’ Rogers said. ‘We just need to find the right combination and we will accomplish our goals as a defensive squad and a team.’
Jamieson still learning on the fly
After five days of practice, the early returns on Onondaga Community College transfer Cody Jamieson are in. He’s still picking up the offense, still searching for his niche in head coach John Desko’s schemes. Also, his conditioning needs to improve.
But that’s to be expected, Desko said.
‘It’s an awful lot to ask of him to get out there on the field and do something right away,’ Desko said.
Jamieson, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound lefty from Six Nations, Ontario, enrolled as a full-time student last Friday. His eligibility for this season is still in question – Syracuse’s athletic department has filed a waiver with the NCAA to ensure all of Jamieson’s credits properly transfer. But he’s been cleared to practice, and still getting used to his new team, Desko said.
‘He’s a very one-handed player,’ Desko said. ‘Our offenses aren’t quite suited to that. We’re suited more to two-handed players. So we’re going to have to make some adjustments for him. I think the big thing for now for him is going to be the conditioning and learning the offenses and the rides.’
In two seasons at OCC, Jamieson scored 237 points. He led the team to a 33-0 record.
‘He has some moments out there,’ Desko said. ‘But again, I’m just afraid people are going to be expecting too much from him right now.’
Perritt hurt, expected back by first game
Senior captain Pat Perritt sustained an undisclosed injury during Winter Break and is not practicing. Desko said he hopes to have the midfielder back by the Feb. 15 opener against Providence.
‘Right now, not having him out there is a little different,’ Desko said.
As Perritt sits, attack Greg Niewieroski has filled in at midfield. Niewieroski, a senior, scored 23 goals last season, fifth most on the team.
Published on January 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm
