Back At It: Orange Lacrosse Prepares for 2008 Season
1/8/2008 4:41:04 PM | Men's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team began practice Tuesday at the Carrier Dome in preparation for the start of the 2008 season. The Orange opens the new campaign as hosts against Villanova on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.
“I can’t wait to get back at it and I think the guys feel the same way,” said veteran head coach John Desko. “Last year, after everything that happened – not making the playoffs and the season that we had – we just want to get out and play against another opponent and show what we can do.”
The Orange practiced twice on Tuesday - once in the morning and another session in the afternoon. The morning workout featured a fitness test as well as some light stick work. The second practice was more intense with fastbreak drills, as well as working on rides, clears and special situations.
At Desko’s disposal in 2008 will be second-team preseason All-American senior Mike Leveille (Delmar, N.Y.) and honorable mention honorees senior Steven Brooks (Libertyville, Ill.) and junior Dan Hardy (Tully, N.Y.). Leveille returns for his senior season after leading the Orange in points (39) and assists (17), while tying for the team-best in goals (22) in 2007.
After battling through an injury-riddled 2006 season, Brooks returns to the SU midfield after starting 12 games, tallying 19 goals and posting seven assists last year. Hardy mixed 22 goals with 10 assists a year ago while splitting time between attack and midfield.
In all, eight starters return from last year's squad.
“Right now, we just want to get out here, take care of business and make sure that the conditioning is good,” Desko said. “So far, the guys that have come back are all in pretty good shape. We’re going to go through the fundamentals, the offenses, the defenses and just get started.”
The SU roster is bolstered by the return of senior John Carrozza (Katonah, N.Y.) and juniors Pat Perritt (Holtsville, N.Y.) and Sean McGonigle (Encinitas, Calif.). The three left the University in the spring for violations of the student code of conduct. Perritt and McGonigle were back on the practice field Tuesday and Carrozza is expected to return to campus in the coming days. Perritt's presence provides Desko with another skilled offensive weapon and Carrozza and McGonigle are expected to contribute in the defensive midfield.
“It’s just the first day with these guys and they had to do a lot to get back in school,” Desko said. “It’s nice to have them back and nice to have everybody back at practice.”
Before opening the season against the Wildcats, the Orange will meet LeMoyne and Hofstra in a three-way scrimmage at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 11:30 a.m. The scrimmage is open to the public and free of charge.
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