BROOKLANDVILLE, Md. – The call went out. Fingers pointed in the buzzing crowd. Photographers trembled at the trigger. What everyone saw may never happen again.

As the greatest attack line in lacrosse history graced the turf, the protg watched from the sideline with everyone else. The faces of the sport – USA on their jerseys – Casey, Ryan and Michael Powell stepped on the field against Syracuse, the school at which they earned legendary status wearing No. 22. Not until this one possession during the second half of the U.S. National Team-Syracuse game had the three ever played together. Michael promptly fed Ryan for a goal. The three embraced.

Freshman Dan Hardy, the latest No. 22 for Syracuse, accepted the torch. He is the first non-Powell in more than 10 years to don the number.

Hardy wanted No. 22. He asked for the most famous number in lacrosse a year ago. On the first day of practice three weeks ago, he found it hanging in his locker. With the Powells in attendance, Hardy revealed himself Saturday when Syracuse played three games in the ‘Lacrosse for Leukemia’ Tournament at St. Paul’s School outside Baltimore.

‘Somebody had to wear it on the team,’ Hardy said. ‘I felt like I could handle it. I came here to win championships.’

Though the spotlight shines on him, Hardy is hardly the only SU freshman to watch next spring. Kenny Nims and Patrick Perritt joined Hardy on the cover of the September issue of Inside Lacrosse magazine, which declared them part of the best recruiting class in the country. But since the cover photo was shot, it is Hardy who will adorn No. 22 for the next four years.

‘He was one guy that wasn’t saying no to it,’ Syracuse and U.S. National Team coach John Desko said. ‘He had a very accomplished high school career. His physical size and ability gives him great potential.’

Hardy’s lanky 6-foot, 5-inch, 210-pound frame towers over his teammates’. He positioned himself on the right wing, ready to fire the same left-handed shot that helped carry the Central team to the Empire State Games title in 2004.

But it takes more than skill to wear the number. In lacrosse, a No. 22 must also understand the tradition. Hardy’s father, Bill, played for the Orange in 1982, and his older brother, Tom, graduated in 2002 with two national championships. Hardy attended Tully High School in Tully, just south of Syracuse, and watched the Powells dozens of times at the Carrier Dome.

Desko wouldn’t say whether the number was offered last year. Nobody wore No. 22 as Syracuse missed the Final Four for the first time in – coincidentally – 22 years.

‘I think this year is an appropriate year to bring it back,’ Desko said. ‘We were a different team last year. We had an awful lot of freshmen. Dan’s got great support this year with the guys coming back and the transfers coming in that are going to help him.’

Since his older brother played with Ryan and Michael Powell, Hardy has known the Powells for years. But Hardy has not spoken with his predecessors since school started. It was Desko’s decision to give Hardy No. 22.

The legend was born in the late ’80s when Gary Gait, playing with twin brother Paul, introduced lacrosse to the country with highlight-reel goals. The last three to wear the number were the Powells, who are the three leading point-scorers in Syracuse history. All three spoke of the pressure that comes with wearing the number and said Hardy could handle it.

‘People are always going to criticize your game,’ Michael Powell said. ‘Initially, the number is going to help you get on the field a little bit more. People are going to notice you – it brings a lot of exposure. He’ll have a target on his chest, and it’s going to make him a better player. But lacrosse is lacrosse. It doesn’t matter what number you are wearing on your chest.’

About four hours after the Powells connected on the goal during their only shift together, Hardy scored his first goal in a Syracuse uniform in the Orange’s third game against Penn State. He said it would be the first of many.

‘I think it is great the tradition of No. 22 will continue at Syracuse,’ Casey Powell said. ‘Last year it wasn’t worn and we didn’t go to the Final Four for the first time in 22 years. I’ve heard great things about him. That he asked for the number really shows his confidence.’

Published on October 2, 2005 at 12:00 pm