First of all, a big thank you to the seniors who depart the team this year. It's been a rough couple of years, and there is still a bitter taste for the way this year ended, but I hope they can see the growth and improvement this team has made in the last four years. From the bottom of 4-10 to a quarterfinals appearance is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. Also a special thanks to the grad transfers who chose to spend their last year on the hill, helping a young but talented squad to the next level. Obviously the program isn't back to where we all want it to be, but this season can be used as important building block.
Next year's team should be very good, but there are still areas that need improvement. I just wanted to take a look at each position and see where things stand. Of course the big hope is that everyone that can come back, does. Fingers crossed on that front.
Attack: Things looks to be in good shape with the return of Joey Spallina and hopefully Owen Hiltz. Obviously the big question is who takes the third spot? The offense sputtered when Christian Mule struggled against dodging a short stick. Finding an attackman that will consistently draw an opposing long pole, and beat that pole, needs to be a priority for the offseason. Perhaps that player is someone on the team already (Michael Leo) or an incoming freshman (Payton Anderson). Spallina had a fantastic year numbers wise, but I haven't quite seen a player of his abilities struggle in the way that he did. It was all or nothing for him. What can he do in the offseason to improve? I am sure he will spend time doing box lacrosse, and I am sure that fast break pipe shot will motivate him this summer. But for the team to take that next step to greatness, it feels like he needs to play a lot better in big games. Hiltz coming back would be huge. It felt like when he had big games, the team played it's best. That said, he was not always consistent. It feels like if they add the right player to the attack line, the offense can really take off. That said, the "right" players don't just grow on trees.
Midfield: This should be the strength of the team next year, with five starters back, including the entire first midfield. Jake Stevens will be a huge loss of course, he was the best second line midfielder in the country last year and a bonified All American. He had no problem taking the ball to the rack and was as aggressive as they come. Who can replace his 36 points? If Leo is moved up to attack, it seems like the first line wouldn't miss much of a beat with Luke Rhoa moving up to the 1s. He doubled his point production from last year and would add an outside shooting presence that could add a wrinkle to the starting unit. Sam English returns to lead the group - if perhaps he doesn't have to play as much defense next year, can his offensive numbers improve? It just seemed like this years team asked too much of English. He's the midfields best dodger.
Finn Thomson shows endless possibilities, but I think a lot of us would love it if he showed a little more consistency and aggression. He shot the ball more this year, but his shooting % went from the 40s to the 20s. He needs to improve that. Can Jackson Birtwistle bounce back? He was such a force two years ago as a finisher and he just didn't have the same year this year. Perhaps he was battling injuries, but he went from 27 points two years ago to 14 this year. Finally, the wildcard for next year seems to be Payton Anderson, a top ten recruit who brings something this unit desperately needs - size and strength. What kind of impact will he have? Midfield is a difficult position for first year players to transition to, will he be up for it?
Face-off - big question is will Mason Kohn be back? I would personally be a bit surprised if he said yes to that, but perhaps he wants to make a playoff push next year. Law School is always going to be there Mason! If he does move on, Syracuse should have a good succession play in place with Johnny Mullen, who proved he could be a really good player for the Orange. It would still be a good feeling to know you had two solid guys, so if Kohn does move on, does the Orange have another player that can spell Mullen? Doesn't seem like a huge need in the grand scheme of things, but could bite the Orange if they aren't careful. Lastly, the face-off wing unit takes a hit with Stevens moving on, along with all the LSMs. English should be the primary short stick wing next year, but they need to restock this side of the field.
SSDM - the biggest offseason need for the Orange. Syracuse played a ton of guys here, but it was obvious this was the weak spot of the defense (outside of Carter Rice, who was fantastic). The good news is that Rice comes back and is about as good as they come. But he needs help. A defense is only as good as their weakest link. The Orange return a lot of guys with playing experience, but they all had their issues that I don't want to get into. The x-factor is if players like Max Rosa and Landon Clary come back from injury next year? If they do, how much can they be relied on (especially Clary)? I think it's paramount that SU brings in some help here in the transfer portal.
LSM - the Orange have a big hole here, that maybe isn't being talked about enough. Syracuse graduate their top 3 guys at this spot, including Saam Olexo, Matt Wright and Steven Schmitt. They bring in Mike Grace from RIT, and perhaps he moves into this position, but he played close for the Tigers. The Orange bring in Vincent Bologino as their lone LSM freshman, he's a four star but no idea if he would be ready to start or play a lot. Dylan Sageder and Tommy Drago bring playing experience but will it be enough? Is this where a potentially healthy Donny Scott plays?
Close Defense - the good news for the Orange is they bring back two exceptional poles in Riley Figuerias and Billy Dwan. Both should be rocks for the defense next year. Figeurias played about as well as a defender can these past two weeks of the season. Dwan is a threat in transition and also a phyical specimen. The question is the third open spot. The Orange bring back both Caden Kol and Nick Caccamo who flip flopped the position for most of the year. Neither one I would say ever took ownership of the position. If not at LSM does Grace make a home here? Nick Fraterrigo played a lot of minutes against Denver it looked like. Scott could also end up here as well, and the Orange bring in some intriguing freshmen in Cam Ryan and Dillon Stephens. Lots of options for the Orange, but it feels like they really need a third guy to emerge here and take over full time.
Goalie - The big question of the offseason is if Jimmy McCool is ready to take over for Will Mark? McCool is a former five star recruit. Luke Staudt, a two year starter for Loyola and a West Genny grad is still in the transfer portal. What are the coaches comfortable with? Mark was up and down this year, but when he was on he was very good. A good goalie can make all the different to a defense. Will the staff risk throwing a player with very little experience to the wolves, or will they reach out to a guy with two years playing experience? Should be very interesting to see how the staff attacks the offseason in regards to this position.
Okay, that was a lot. Just one last point to make while it's on my mind, but Gait needs to think long and hard about the schedule he wants next year. The landscape for next year should be all over the place, with so many good players moving on next year. I can't think of the last time the national title race was so wide open as next year will be. We saw some very good teams get left out of the tournament because they didn't win the RPI numbers game. Syracuse should have a very strong team next and needs to schedule appropriately. I would add at least one more Ivy League team, and one more from the Big Ten.
