Wearing a backpack, baseball cap and gray sweater with an orange “3” on the collar, Syracuse defender Skylar Thomas sat in the stands during the Orange’s season opener against Niagara on Aug. 29. Before the match, Thomas patrolled the sidelines and kicked a ball with fellow defender Jordan Murrell.

It was a sight all-too familiar for one of SU’s senior captains. After he ended his 2012 season with a broken foot, Thomas missed five games in the middle of last season with a pulled hamstring. But Thomas only missed the Niagara game on Friday because he received a red card in last year’s regular season finale against Wake Forest. The center back is now fully healthy, played in a shutout of St. Mary’s on Sunday and is ready to captain a new-look Syracuse (2-0) defense that has started the season on a strong note.

“He’s 100 percent back,” Murrell said. “He’s worked very hard to come back from his injuries. It’s always a great presence to have him back there.”

This summer Thomas played 411 minutes in six appearances for Reading United, helping the Premier Development League team reach the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In the team’s second-round matchup against Greater Binghamton FC Thunder, Thomas scored a goal in United’s 5-2 victory.

But as the summer went on, Thomas cut back his playing time to focus on his senior season at SU. Toward the end of the summer, Thomas said he did plenty of distance running, weightlifting for the core and what he called “multiple muscle exercises.”

“I prepared myself mentally and physically to stay healthy throughout the season,” Thomas said.

Although Thomas said he doesn’t do workouts specifically designed for injury prevention, he knows all too well about injury recovery.

“He’ll be the first one at practice and the last one at practice,” Murrell said. “He wouldn’t even be able to run, but he’d always be the one with the most weights in the weight room. He’s the first one in the training room and the last one in the training room.”

Redshirt sophomore Liam Callahan knows what Thomas has overcome. Callahan, a transfer from Villanova, had a season-ending leg injury his freshman season after playing just three games.

Callahan called Thomas not only one of the best center backs he’s ever played with, but also one of the most hard-working players.

“(His work ethic) is always up there,” Callahan said. “It’s got to be. He’s the captain of the team.”

This season, Thomas will be more relied upon in the team’s new 3-5-2 formation. Last year, Thomas was joined on defense by Murrell, Chris Makowski and Oyvind Alseth to form the team’s most reliable unit. But this season, McIntyre has used a lineup of three defenders — Murrell, Thomas and Tyler Hilliard — with Callahan and Alseth pushing forward on the wings.

So far, the lineup adjustment has done its job. Through two games, the Orange defense has allowed just one shot on goal in 180 minutes. Against St. Mary’s on Sunday, Thomas played over 61 minutes and won all eight headers he contested.

But there’s always room to improve, Murrell said.

“We have to set the example and the young guys have to better us,” Murrell said last Tuesday. “We’re going to be a good team this year, from the bottom up. We’re definitely looking to improve and turn heads and let the world know we’re a good soccer school.”

That starts with Thomas, and the example he shows on and off the field.

Said Murrell: “He’s always trying to better himself and prove to the guys he’s committed to getting back healthy and strong. Now that he’s back healthy and strong, he’s definitely head above heels.”

Published on September 3, 2014 at 10:14 am

Contact Josh: jmhyber@syr.edu