Stephen Keogh and John Galloway downplayed the significance of being the No. 1 seed. Getting the top spot in the NCAA tournament ‘doesn’t really matter’ to Syracuse lacrosse players.

‘To tell you the truth, I don’t think a lot of guys really look at it that way,’ said the senior attack Keogh.

‘The seeding really doesn’t matter,’ Galloway added. ‘As a freshman, we won as a No. 3 seed. As a sophomore, I think we won as a No. 2 seed.’

But their head coach begs to differ.

In what he considers to be one of the strongest fields in tournament history, John Desko stressed the importance of being a top seed this season. And when his Orange (14-1, 6-0 Big East) squad was tabbed No. 1 by the selection committee last Sunday, the path to a third national championship in four years began unlike the previous two.

But Desko will take it.

‘This year, I think it was important to be one of the upper seeds because a lot of teams in the bottom of the bracket are very strong teams,’ Desko said. ‘They look more like second-round games than first-round games. So on paper, I think to be No. 1 or No. 2 would help your cause.’

Syracuse’s cause begins with a date against unseeded Siena on Sunday. Though the Saints are the only nationally unranked team in the field, they come into the tournament with a 13-4 overall record and the eighth-best scoring offense in the country.

As the top seed, SU will play its first game at home in the Carrier Dome. For Galloway and Keogh, both seniors, the home-field advantage is a source of comfort. The senior class has only lost three games at home over the last four seasons.

‘It’s just nice to be able to be home and have another game in the Carrier Dome,’ Galloway said. ‘I think that’s pretty important to us.’

On April 12, Syracuse fell to Cornell 11-6 inside the Dome. It was the Orange’s only loss this season.

Galloway said practices have been much more intense since the loss. The result: five straight wins to close the regular season and a second consecutive Big East championship.

With postseason play now at the forefront, Galloway said practices will be taken up another notch. Last year’s first-round defeat to Army still lingers, and now is the time to put in the work to ensure Siena can’t pull a similar upset.

‘Siena might be the No. 16 seed, but they’re 0-0 just like all of us,’ Galloway said. ‘To be able to keep playing in May, not a lot of teams have that opportunity. And we’re seizing it.’

Keogh agreed that as of right now, the seeds mean nothing. But he couldn’t deny the importance of one particular ranking — the final one. And as long as Syracuse is on top of the final rankings, he will be happy.

Said Keogh: ‘I’m happy with how the bracket ended up but — the top seed is nice, but it all matters who’s No. 1 on Memorial Day.’

Tim Desko continues to receive treatment

John Desko said Monday that he would be surprised if his son Tim, a junior attack, would be able to play this weekend against Siena. John Desko said the timetable for his son’s return depends on how he reacts to the treatment for a knee infection suffered April 9 against Princeton.

‘That will really be up to him and how he responds to everything,’ Desko said. ‘I’d be a little surprised for this weekend, but we’re hoping sometime after that.’

Desko said Tim continues to receive treatment for his injury, and when he gets on the field comes down to a matter of when he starts to improve.

‘He’s been back with the trainers today getting a little bit of a workout,’ SU head coach John Desko said. ‘I think it’s more of a stretching and kind of getting things moving again, some stimulation to help with the muscle tone. But at least the stitches are out, and he’s getting started.’

In the nine games Tim Desko played at attack for SU, he scored 16 goals. Desko’s injury has allowed Tom Palasek to thrive. Palasek, also a junior attack, scored 11 goals in the six games since Desko injured his knee, and tallied at least one goal in every game.

Keogh said Palasek has brought a ‘new edge’ to the team. His speed and athleticism have given the Orange another playmaker on the offense that can create his own shot and set up teammates.

Nonetheless, Tim Desko’s finishing ability around the net would be a welcome addition to SU’s roster in its hunt for a national championship.

mjcohe02@syr.edu

— Sports Editor Brett LoGiurato contributed reporting to this article.

Published on May 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13