All three members of Syracuse’s new-look first-midfield line have different experiences, and in turn, different expectations.

So when JoJo Marasco, Bobby Eilers and Hakeem Lecky come together this season to form the line, it will be a test for them to mesh together.

Although the trio has only worked together since the fall, Marasco believes they’ll be able to evolve into an effective unit.

‘We’ve developed a relationship with each other that we kind of trust each other a lot now, and one guy’s going to dodge, we’re going to follow him to try and get open,’ Marasco said. ‘It’s good competition because every day we’re trying to work on a better dodge, work on a better shot and try to help one another out on the field.’

After the Orange graduated its entire first line after last season, head coach John Desko was forced to assemble a group to replace it entering this season. It wasn’t an easy task, considering last year’s line consisted of All-Americans Jovan Miller, Josh Amidon and Jeremy Thompson.

It’s a challenging situation for three players who haven’t worked together on a starting line before, but each player has recognized the work ethic that needs to be instilled to form a cohesive force in the midfield.

‘Communication is the big thing that we’re working on right now,’ Lecky said. ‘Like I said, we’re still going to work on that this week and just get the plays down to on point. We’ll see, we’ve got a long week ahead, a hard week, and we’re just going to try to take it to Albany this Sunday.’

Of the three midfielders taking over the first line, Marasco has the most experience. After splitting last season at attack and midfield, he’ll play almost exclusively up top in 2012. Along with him are Eilers, who will see his first time as starter this season, and Lecky, who will step on the field for his first collegiate lacrosse experience Sunday against Albany.

Each player brings something different to the table. Marasco has been an attacking fixture for the Orange throughout his career. He was tied for the team lead with 41 points a year ago.

Eilers, at 6 feet 5 inches, is a big body and has a knack for scoring goals when given the chance. Last season, he led SU’s second midfield line with eight goals. The senior said he plans on using his size to his advantage more this season, especially working with smaller players like Lecky and Marasco.

And Desko had high expectations for what Lecky could achieve last season before he injured his wrist and missed the entire season, choosing to redshirt his freshman season. He brings an unheralded speed to the first line to match the physicality of Eilers and the dodging talents of Marasco.

‘I think they’re doing a good job,’ Desko said. ‘JoJo comes back to us with probably the most game experience, playing two positions, and Bobby Eilers I think really in the second half of the season started to play pretty well in the second midfield unit.

‘Hakeem Lecky was with us last year, got hurt. We expected him to play a lot as the year went on, but because of the injury and when it happened and how long it lasted, we decided that he would redshirt, and I think he’s got some good talent.’

All three enter the season with something to prove. And in the limited time they’ve played together, they’ve shown flashes of what they might be able to achieve later on this season. In the Orange’s scrimmage against Maryland last Sunday, Eilers notched two game-tying goals and an assist, and Lecky added a goal of his own.

Lecky admitted that there are still areas that the unit can improve as a whole, but there have also been glimpses of how the unit can function together thus far.

‘We’ve still got a lot of stuff to work on, but we’re getting better, practicing the things that we’re going to translate over to the games,’ Lecky said. ‘I think we’re doing a good job now. We just got to keep our hard work this week and get ready for the big season opener this Sunday.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on February 14, 2012 at 12:00 pm