Simultaneously defined by experienced depth and future potential, this half of the field may hold the key to a May run for ‘Cuse.
As we move closer to the February 1 start of lacrosse season, we continue to preview the 2025 Syracuse Orange after taking a look at the attack and offensive midfield earlier this week.
Today, we’re diving into the defensive end of the field to look at ‘Cuse’s defensive midfield, close defense and goalie groups.
What makes this end of the field so intriguing is their combination of experience and familiarity in some spots and inexperience and newcomers in others. The close defense is back with tons of talent and depth, while the goalie spot is young and in transition. The midfield is splitting the difference with a mix of both.
Their ability to blend it all together will be critical if the Orange are going to live up to this team’s lofty preseason expectations. Let’s start it off with the close defense:
Close Defense
- Key Returners: Billy Dwan, Riley Figueiras, Caden Kol, Nick Caccamo, Jordan Beck
- Key Additions: Donny Scott (on roster but injured all last year), Michael Grace
The prospects look great for the SU close defense, which has a ton of depth after losing none of last year’s key contributors and adding in a stud redshirt freshman coming off injury to the mix.
Last year’s starting trio of Billy Dwan, Riley Figueiras and Caden Kol are all back for another year together, which is extra huge given the goalie situation. Donny Scott will look to make his presence felt after a year on the sideline with huge potential to be another impact pole.
Nick Caccamo offers plenty of starting experience in a bench role, although will he get more of a chance to play up top at LSM? And where exactly does transfer Michael Grace fit into the equation? More on that below.
Dwan and Figueiras are an incredible 1-2 punch on defense, and not just because they’re both All-American caliber with an ability to win any matchup on any given day. Their different body types and skill sets give defensive coordinator John Odierna the flexibility to deploy them with the confident knowledge that he essentially has two No. 1 defenders for different matchups.
Caden Kol is the forgotten about man in the group, but he’s very solid rounding out close and plays a huge role for this team as a two-time captain.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfield
- Key Returners: Carter Rice, Jake Spallina, Nathan LeVine, Gavin Gibbs
- Key Departures: Jake Titus, Vinnie Trujillo, Landon Clary
- Key Additions: Ryder Ochoa (St. John’s)
The shorties are largely back from last season, led by senior Carter Rice, who was fourth on the team last year in caused turnovers, the most by a non-pole. Jake Spallina is a wild card because of all the roles he can fill, but he and Nathan LeVine are back after being regular members of the rotation last year. Gavin Gibbs has made the switch to SSDM after being a backup FOGO previously.
Ryder Ochoa is here to join the fray after transferring in from St. John’s this past summer. It may not be a group that blows anyone away on paper, but they’re experienced and have a strong leader in Rice.
Long-Stick Midfield
- Key Returners: Dylan Sageder
- Key Departures: Saam Olexo, Matt Wright
- Key Additions: Michael Grace, Nick Caccamo, Vincent Bolognino
Easily the biggest question in the field on defense is at LSM, where the Orange lost their top two contributors in Saam Olexo and Matt Wright. There is a definite lack of collegiate experience at the position on the roster, but a potential saving grace (very sorry for the pun) emerged over the summer.
That’s right, graduate student Michael Grace transferred in from Division III RIT to provide a big boost to the defense and possibly the d-midfield in particular. I’ve never seen Grace play myself, but everything I’ve read about him is positively glowing, starting with the fact that he was the D-III Defensive Player of the Year last season.
What I’ve seen describes him as a player who is pro-ready right now, especially for the toughness of the indoor game. He’s played almost every discipline in the sport (indoor, international, college), has international experience with Canada, and can also play literally anywhere on defense. That’s why LSM seems like his most likely destination since it’s where he’s most needed. He was banged up to end his career at RIT, but he was practicing this fall once he arrived on campus.
Dylan Sageder is the main returning LSM from last year’s roster, and he’s primarily been on the man-down unit so far in his career.
Goalie
- Key Returners: Jimmy McCool, Michael Ippoliti
- Key Departures: Will Mark
- Key Additions: Brayden Ferguson
Without a doubt the biggest question heading into 2025 for ‘Cuse is the goalie situation after the graduation of two-year starter Will Mark. Mark was simply amazing in his two years on the Hill, achieving All-American status both years and helping to stabilize a backstop position that was a struggle before he arrived.
Now, the defense’s safety net is gone and they’re in need of a new one. That means that Jimmy McCool is getting put in the fire after two years as Mark’s understudy, and there’s very little time to adjust with the Orange’s top-notch schedule. A HS All-American who has the trust of his coaches and teammates, it’s time for McCool to prove it at the collegiate level. And this team needs him if they want to make a run at Championship Weekend.
Second-year Michael Ippoliti and freshman Brayden Ferguson are a pair of highly-rated recruits, but have no game experience between them.
The season is just over a week away so what are your thoughts on this year’s Orange?