John Desko enters his 16th season as head coach with a 187-58 career record.
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Media Day Kicks Off 2014 Season
1/6/2014 8:25:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Basketball season is in full swing, but lacrosse is right around the corner. The Orange men's lacrosse team kicked off 2014 this afternoon with its annual Media Day inside Manley Field House. Head coach John Desko and the SU student-athletes previewed the upcoming season and posed for photos prior to Wednesday's first practice session.
The Orange is the No. 2 team in this year's Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Top 20, released last month, and is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference in its first year in the league.
The team's transition into the ACC was one of the main topics of conversation Monday.
"We are very much looking forward to playing in the ACC," Desko said. "Some of those opponents we've played in the past, so it's probably not as big a jump for us as it was for the football team or the men's basketball team, but we are looking forward to that competition."
The strength of the ACC lacrosse league is unrivaled in college sports. Duke, Syracuse, North Carolina and Notre Dame hold the first four spots in the Face-Off Yearbook preseason rankings. Maryland is No. 6, giving the ACC five schools ranked in the top six in the country. Virginia rounds out the group at No. 9. Every team except Notre Dame has won multiple NCAA championships.
"To travel to play some of these teams at their home stadiums will be exciting for our guys and we are certainly looking forward to bringing these caliber teams into the Carrier Dome," Desko said.
This year's roster is loaded with veterans. SU brings back eight of its top 10 scorers from a team that went 16-4 and reached the NCAA title game. The entire starting attack unit returns, including Kevin Rice who was second on the team with 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) last year. The team also brings back a pair of preseason All-America defenders in Sean Young and Matt Harris, as well as starting goalie Dominic Lamolinara.
They lead a motivated group that's put in the work in the offseason they hope will lead to another Memorial Day run.
"We had an even bigger chip on our shoulder this summer than we did last summer," Rice said. "After my freshman year (2012), we had such a disappointing season, everyone was willing to work hard to get back to prominence. After coming so close to your goal (last season) and eventually falling in the end, it really inspires you to work hard to try and get back there again."
To complement the upperclassmen, Desko and his staff brought in the nation's second-ranked recruiting class. Top overall prospect Jordan Evans headlines the group. Evans will wear the fabled No. 22 jersey passed down to him by 2013 Tewaaraton finalist JoJo Marasco. The number comes with expectations, but Evans says he's just another rookie looking to help out any way he can.
"Wherever they need me," Evans said of whether he'll play more attack or midfield. "Hopefully, I can just get out there. I think it's a help for me and the team to have a feel for both positions. I think helps the team to have guys like me or Nicky (Galasso) who can move up or down in case someone goes out or because of, like I said before, matchups."
Fans can catch their first glimpse of this year's team Saturday, Jan. 25 when Syracuse hosts a three-way scrimmage against Le Moyne and Hofstra at the Carrier Dome. The Orange opens the regular season at home against Siena on Feb. 10. Season and individual game tickets are on sale now online, in-person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
- Media Day Photos
- Coach Desko News Conference
- Player Interviews: Jordan Evans | Dominic Lamolinara | Derek Maltz | Kevin Rice
The Orange is the No. 2 team in this year's Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Top 20, released last month, and is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference in its first year in the league.
The team's transition into the ACC was one of the main topics of conversation Monday.
"We are very much looking forward to playing in the ACC," Desko said. "Some of those opponents we've played in the past, so it's probably not as big a jump for us as it was for the football team or the men's basketball team, but we are looking forward to that competition."
The strength of the ACC lacrosse league is unrivaled in college sports. Duke, Syracuse, North Carolina and Notre Dame hold the first four spots in the Face-Off Yearbook preseason rankings. Maryland is No. 6, giving the ACC five schools ranked in the top six in the country. Virginia rounds out the group at No. 9. Every team except Notre Dame has won multiple NCAA championships.
"To travel to play some of these teams at their home stadiums will be exciting for our guys and we are certainly looking forward to bringing these caliber teams into the Carrier Dome," Desko said.
This year's roster is loaded with veterans. SU brings back eight of its top 10 scorers from a team that went 16-4 and reached the NCAA title game. The entire starting attack unit returns, including Kevin Rice who was second on the team with 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) last year. The team also brings back a pair of preseason All-America defenders in Sean Young and Matt Harris, as well as starting goalie Dominic Lamolinara.
They lead a motivated group that's put in the work in the offseason they hope will lead to another Memorial Day run.
"We had an even bigger chip on our shoulder this summer than we did last summer," Rice said. "After my freshman year (2012), we had such a disappointing season, everyone was willing to work hard to get back to prominence. After coming so close to your goal (last season) and eventually falling in the end, it really inspires you to work hard to try and get back there again."
To complement the upperclassmen, Desko and his staff brought in the nation's second-ranked recruiting class. Top overall prospect Jordan Evans headlines the group. Evans will wear the fabled No. 22 jersey passed down to him by 2013 Tewaaraton finalist JoJo Marasco. The number comes with expectations, but Evans says he's just another rookie looking to help out any way he can.
"Wherever they need me," Evans said of whether he'll play more attack or midfield. "Hopefully, I can just get out there. I think it's a help for me and the team to have a feel for both positions. I think helps the team to have guys like me or Nicky (Galasso) who can move up or down in case someone goes out or because of, like I said before, matchups."
Fans can catch their first glimpse of this year's team Saturday, Jan. 25 when Syracuse hosts a three-way scrimmage against Le Moyne and Hofstra at the Carrier Dome. The Orange opens the regular season at home against Siena on Feb. 10. Season and individual game tickets are on sale now online, in-person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
MLAX | Postgame Press Conference vs. Duke
Saturday, March 28
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Duke
Saturday, March 28
Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, March 28
Men's Lacrosse Media Availability - March 26, 2026
Thursday, March 26
