As Syracuse’s faceoff play has swelled and swooned this season, Chris Daddio has been placed under a microscope.

When the team is successful at the faceoff X and turns possessions into goals, the senior specialist is praised. When the Orange fails — which has been the case for much of the season and the source of SU’s three-game losing streak to start conference play — Daddio takes the brunt of the blame.

But he isn’t the only player taking to the circle for each draw.

“Everyone likes to look at (Daddio) when we struggle,” said redshirt junior long-stick midfielder Peter Macartney. “But we look at it as a group effort to win each faceoff. Us wings have a big responsibility and have to do our part, too.”

No. 7 Syracuse (6-3, 1-3 Atlantic Coast) has bettered its play at the faceoff X in recent games, and stronger wing play is at the center of that. Macartney and redshirt junior midfielder Henry Schoonmaker have headed a group — also including freshman long-stick midfielder Scott Firman, junior midfielder Mike Messina and freshman midfielder Sergio Salcido — looking to carry its improved play into the Orange’s road bout with No. 6 Cornell (9-1, 3-1 Ivy League) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

SU head coach John Desko has utilized Macartney on the wing all season, and inserted Schoonmaker alongside him a few weeks ago. They both bring physicality and high lacrosse IQ to the circle, and are shaping into a reliable pair at just the right time.

“Every possession is huge for us,” Schoonmaker said. “We have a pretty effective offense, so if we can get the ball as the wings it’s just an extra possession and an extra goal for us.”

The aftermath of a faceoff is, at times, a free-for-all, and Schoonmaker and Macartney each smiled when talking about playing physical in the circle.

Macartney said he loves mixing it up, alluding to his past experience as a left wing in hockey. The broad-shouldered Schoonmaker didn’t liken his aggressive play to his one year of competitive football as a freshman at Lincoln (Ore.) High School, but was equally excited at the thought of going toe-to-toe for a contested ground ball.

“It’s fun to get in there, get a little physical and make your presence known,” Schoonmaker said.

But there is also a technical side of wing play that requires chemistry and communication, which Schoonmaker and Macartney certainly don’t lack. They’re both from out West, are also roommates and collectively zeroed in on the Orange’s wing play after it fell short in a 21-7 loss to Duke on March 23.

In SU’s next game against Notre Dame, a combined effort from Daddio and the wings resulted in 15-of-24 wins at the X.

Macartney scooped up a team-high six ground balls, and Schoonmaker collected three in the fourth quarter to help the Orange to the 11-10 win, its first ACC victory of the season.

“My wings helped me a lot,” Daddio said after the win. “I wasn’t winning them clean but I was staying down on the ball and fighting and Macartney, (Schoonmaker) and all the other wings were a big help, so it came together.”

Desko said on Monday that while the wings have improved, he wishes they had a better outing in the team’s 10-8 win over Binghamton on Wednesday.

But if the unit reverts back to the way it played against the Fighting Irish, it could help the team to a big nonconference win in Ithaca.

Cornell suffered its first loss of the season to Harvard on Saturday, and secured just 7-of-27 faceoffs while collecting 18-of-27 ground balls in the second half in which the Big Red only attempted six shots. Cornell’s struggle for possession is the same problem Syracuse has toiled with all year, and SU’s wing play will be as pivotal as it’s been all season.

Said Macartney: “When we can get into a groove, winning faceoffs and us getting ground balls, we can take the other team out of it.

“That’s when we can really affect the game.”

Published on April 8, 2014 at 1:50 am

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse