Powellfan
Renowned lacrosse analyst
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I find the best way to move past a dissapointing season is to look ahead to the next. That's the beauty of sports. Xtreme astutely pointed out that its hard to look ahead to next season when there are so many questions remaining about who is coming, who is going, not to mention the 2021 NCAA lacrosse season isn't over yet. But I wanted to take a look at where things stand from a personnel point, at the start of the offseason, mostly to help process what we can expect next season. There are lots of questions about the coaching staff, though I think that will be better served in a different thread. I'll start with the offense and move onto the face-offs/defense in a separate post. I hope to post an update at the start of fall ball when the roster is more settled. Things are complicated by the fact that every 2020 player got an extra year of availability. For simplicities sake, I am assuming every player who walked at Senior Day is moving on, and those with eligibility left, who didn't walk, are coming back. That of course could change - guys who walked could very easily come back and guys who didn't could just as easily decide to move on. Also there will definitely be transfers out, and hopefully high impact transfers in, so again this will probably (hopefully for the better) look a lot different in the fall. I'll do a list of players Returning, Departing, and Incoming. As always please feel free comment, I am sure there will be lots in here to disagree with. Some positions are kind of up in the air, midfielders moved to attack, LSMs to close defense - I made an educated guess with most.
Attack
Returning: Owen Hiltz, Owen Seebold, Griffin Cook, Mikey Berkman, Basil Aburn, Liam Ferris, Brett Tenaglia, Blake Erlbeck
Departing: Stephen Rhefuss, Chase Scanlan
Incoming: Matteo Corsi, Finn Kelly
The Orange return a potential superstar in Owen Hiltz. He is an excellent shooter and a very good passer, who has tremendous vision and feel for the game. If he had to improve something, it would be his dodging, but he looked to get more comfortable as the season went on in that department. He really should be the focal part of the offense next season. Seebold moved to attack after the Scanlan suspension and did a very admiral job, with 14 points in four games. He brings size and an extra dodging component to the attack. I really hope he comes back for fifth year.
The big question for the offseason is who gets the third open spot? I think it is absolutely imperative that the Orange mine the transfer portal for player here - given that two high impact fifth years are already in the portal before the season has ended (Lully and Khan) has to mean that a lot more difference making players will enter. The Orange can't afford to let that sort of opportunity get past them, especially with so many question marks after the first two starters. I was high on Ferris, but he really struggled with extended playing time. Tenaglia was hurt for the year but had an impressive freshman year for Furman, though I think the Orange will need more. Looking at the names, its a deep position, but I just don't see any sure things. Corsi and Kelly come in as freshmen, but I'd be surprised if those guys were four year starter types.
As to the transfer Syracuse should target - the good thing is that I don't think they have to be picky in terms of what skill set they should focus on. Both Hiltz and Seebold bring diverse skill sets to the position, so you don't need any one particular thing. The offense would be best served with a quarterback type (a natural replacement for Rhefuss), as that would allow Seebold to focus on being a dodger, and Hiltz as a shooter. But again, those two can both pass, and they can dodge, so if a strong dodger is the guy, that is okay too. I would shy away from a "finisher". Again, I can't stress this enough, this should be a big focus of the offseason.
Midfield
Returning: Tucker Dordevic, Brendan Curry, Lucan Quinn, Matt Magnan, Peter Fiorini, Caelin Lewis, Jackson Birtwhistle, Nick Papa, JT Stripe, Marshall McGuire,
Departing: Jamie Trimboli, Jacob Buttermore
Incoming: Aiden Kelly, Carter Rice, Blake Borges, Barrett White
The midfield did not live up to exceptions this season. Its hard to determine what went wrong for the unit, but they never seemed to click they way they did in 2020. Curry looked very good to start the year, with a seven point game against UVA and a five point game against Stony Brook. But defenses keyed on him and assigned the pole, and things went downhill from there. He never had more than three points after the game against the Seawolves. You would think that Dordevic would have benefited from this change as he started seeing short sticks consistently the rest of the year, but frankly he looked lost. I think he tried too hard to become a jack of all trades, but became master of none. I didn't see his electric burst for most the season. If these two can regain their form from 2020, the team's prospects rocket upwards. Replacing Trimboli will be a tall task - my money (if he comes back) would be on Quinn and I think he'd be a good producer on the first line. He had 10 goals and two assists this year, which doesn't jump out, but he didn't play much after the Scanlan suspension since the second line was basically sidelined. Desko (if he is back) clearly loves him and his hard shot would stretch defense. Dordevic and Curry are dodging threats, so having an offball type wouldn't be a bad thing. If a high impact transfer was interested in SU, I wouldn't let Quinn hinder that, but I would focus my transfer capital more on the attack and defense.
The wildcard to the unit is Buttermore - he of course had 20 goals as a second line member in 2019 but had a rough start to 2020 and didn't produce much this year before getting injured. He walked at Senior Day so I assume he's gone, but I had always penciled him in for Trimboli's spot and now that is open. If he could get back to that 2019 form, it would be huge, but again, I guess that's not likely to happen. The second unit as of now looks like a mess. Cook of course got a lot time and didn't produce much of anything. Which makes you wonder about the guys who couldn't unseat him. There are a lot of names in the "returning" category, but again, if they couldn't beat out a guy who scored three points this year, then how do we have faith in them next year? Birtwhistle, Lewis and McGuire all redshirted last year, so they might have a leg up on other returners. Rice, White and Borges all have really good size and look athletic, so hopefully at least one of those three can contribute. And maybe if Ferris gets a full offseason to focus on midfield, he could be productive from that spot. Lastly, this might be a spot for Tenaglia. I am not sure what to do with Cook - I moved him back up to attack since he just looked lost on midfield. Jeremy says he thinks he'll move on, but until that's official I'll list him at his natural position.
Offensive Summary
I think the offense has the potential to be very good next season, but there are some big "ifs" floating around. The March led offense took a step back in 2021, with a big drop off from the midfield. Dordevic and Curry need to get back on track. Hopefully an offseason coming off of disappointment will light a fire. The attack has a big hole and will need to replace Rhefuss, who had a very good season. Right now there isn't anyone on the roster who really jumps out. And that third midfield spot needs to get filled, but I think they have a good option with Quinn. That said, there isn't much depth on the midfield anymore and the second line might be filled with some very unproven players. On a more positive note, you have to think with a full fall ball and offseason Hiltz will come back even better next season and I think Seebold compliments him very well. Lastly, seeing all the names listed out, it strikes me how big this roster is. What stings is, and maybe I am being unfair, but there are a good amount of names I don't expect much from. I know the fifth year thing is going to make rosters bigger than normal, but it would really be nice to see the "glut" of this team addressed. It would be unfair for me to list names, but I have to imagine it's just not manageable to have a roster this large.
Next up, face-offs and defense, where real change needs happen.
Attack
Returning: Owen Hiltz, Owen Seebold, Griffin Cook, Mikey Berkman, Basil Aburn, Liam Ferris, Brett Tenaglia, Blake Erlbeck
Departing: Stephen Rhefuss, Chase Scanlan
Incoming: Matteo Corsi, Finn Kelly
The Orange return a potential superstar in Owen Hiltz. He is an excellent shooter and a very good passer, who has tremendous vision and feel for the game. If he had to improve something, it would be his dodging, but he looked to get more comfortable as the season went on in that department. He really should be the focal part of the offense next season. Seebold moved to attack after the Scanlan suspension and did a very admiral job, with 14 points in four games. He brings size and an extra dodging component to the attack. I really hope he comes back for fifth year.
The big question for the offseason is who gets the third open spot? I think it is absolutely imperative that the Orange mine the transfer portal for player here - given that two high impact fifth years are already in the portal before the season has ended (Lully and Khan) has to mean that a lot more difference making players will enter. The Orange can't afford to let that sort of opportunity get past them, especially with so many question marks after the first two starters. I was high on Ferris, but he really struggled with extended playing time. Tenaglia was hurt for the year but had an impressive freshman year for Furman, though I think the Orange will need more. Looking at the names, its a deep position, but I just don't see any sure things. Corsi and Kelly come in as freshmen, but I'd be surprised if those guys were four year starter types.
As to the transfer Syracuse should target - the good thing is that I don't think they have to be picky in terms of what skill set they should focus on. Both Hiltz and Seebold bring diverse skill sets to the position, so you don't need any one particular thing. The offense would be best served with a quarterback type (a natural replacement for Rhefuss), as that would allow Seebold to focus on being a dodger, and Hiltz as a shooter. But again, those two can both pass, and they can dodge, so if a strong dodger is the guy, that is okay too. I would shy away from a "finisher". Again, I can't stress this enough, this should be a big focus of the offseason.
Midfield
Returning: Tucker Dordevic, Brendan Curry, Lucan Quinn, Matt Magnan, Peter Fiorini, Caelin Lewis, Jackson Birtwhistle, Nick Papa, JT Stripe, Marshall McGuire,
Departing: Jamie Trimboli, Jacob Buttermore
Incoming: Aiden Kelly, Carter Rice, Blake Borges, Barrett White
The midfield did not live up to exceptions this season. Its hard to determine what went wrong for the unit, but they never seemed to click they way they did in 2020. Curry looked very good to start the year, with a seven point game against UVA and a five point game against Stony Brook. But defenses keyed on him and assigned the pole, and things went downhill from there. He never had more than three points after the game against the Seawolves. You would think that Dordevic would have benefited from this change as he started seeing short sticks consistently the rest of the year, but frankly he looked lost. I think he tried too hard to become a jack of all trades, but became master of none. I didn't see his electric burst for most the season. If these two can regain their form from 2020, the team's prospects rocket upwards. Replacing Trimboli will be a tall task - my money (if he comes back) would be on Quinn and I think he'd be a good producer on the first line. He had 10 goals and two assists this year, which doesn't jump out, but he didn't play much after the Scanlan suspension since the second line was basically sidelined. Desko (if he is back) clearly loves him and his hard shot would stretch defense. Dordevic and Curry are dodging threats, so having an offball type wouldn't be a bad thing. If a high impact transfer was interested in SU, I wouldn't let Quinn hinder that, but I would focus my transfer capital more on the attack and defense.
The wildcard to the unit is Buttermore - he of course had 20 goals as a second line member in 2019 but had a rough start to 2020 and didn't produce much this year before getting injured. He walked at Senior Day so I assume he's gone, but I had always penciled him in for Trimboli's spot and now that is open. If he could get back to that 2019 form, it would be huge, but again, I guess that's not likely to happen. The second unit as of now looks like a mess. Cook of course got a lot time and didn't produce much of anything. Which makes you wonder about the guys who couldn't unseat him. There are a lot of names in the "returning" category, but again, if they couldn't beat out a guy who scored three points this year, then how do we have faith in them next year? Birtwhistle, Lewis and McGuire all redshirted last year, so they might have a leg up on other returners. Rice, White and Borges all have really good size and look athletic, so hopefully at least one of those three can contribute. And maybe if Ferris gets a full offseason to focus on midfield, he could be productive from that spot. Lastly, this might be a spot for Tenaglia. I am not sure what to do with Cook - I moved him back up to attack since he just looked lost on midfield. Jeremy says he thinks he'll move on, but until that's official I'll list him at his natural position.
Offensive Summary
I think the offense has the potential to be very good next season, but there are some big "ifs" floating around. The March led offense took a step back in 2021, with a big drop off from the midfield. Dordevic and Curry need to get back on track. Hopefully an offseason coming off of disappointment will light a fire. The attack has a big hole and will need to replace Rhefuss, who had a very good season. Right now there isn't anyone on the roster who really jumps out. And that third midfield spot needs to get filled, but I think they have a good option with Quinn. That said, there isn't much depth on the midfield anymore and the second line might be filled with some very unproven players. On a more positive note, you have to think with a full fall ball and offseason Hiltz will come back even better next season and I think Seebold compliments him very well. Lastly, seeing all the names listed out, it strikes me how big this roster is. What stings is, and maybe I am being unfair, but there are a good amount of names I don't expect much from. I know the fifth year thing is going to make rosters bigger than normal, but it would really be nice to see the "glut" of this team addressed. It would be unfair for me to list names, but I have to imagine it's just not manageable to have a roster this large.
Next up, face-offs and defense, where real change needs happen.