Orange Among NCAA Leaders
2/29/2012 7:37:36 AM | Men's Lacrosse
The Syracuse men's lacrosse team is ranked in the top five in three categories in the first edition of the NCAA team and player rankings released earlier this week. The Orange is fifth in both team faceoff winning percentage and ground balls per game, while junior defender Brian Megill is tied for fourth in caused turnovers per game.
Megill, an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American, has averaged 3.5 caused turnovers through the Orange's first two games. He is tied with Hartford's Alex Matarazzo for fourth nationally in the statistic. Against Albany, Megill tied his personal best with five caused turnovers, one short of the Orange single-game record.
Syracuse's .644 faceoff winning percentage and average of 38.5 ground balls per game rank fifth in both categories.
The Orange's has won 29-of-45 faceoffs this season thanks primarily to sophomore Chris Daddio, who has won 25 of the 37 draws he's attempted. Daddio is eighth nationally in faceoff winning percentage (.676). He won a career-best 16 faceoffs against Army, the most for an SU player in one game since Danny Brennan won 19 against Virginia in the 2008 NCAA semifinals.
Syracuse has 77 ground balls through two games. Junior midfielder JoJo Marasco leads the team in that category with 11, including a career-high eight versus Army.
