Paolo Ciferri has been told to “act like he’s been there.”

A defensive midfielder scoring goals is a rare sight in lacrosse, but something that Ciferri has done twice during Syracuse’s last three games.

After his first against Cornell, he did the whip — a popular dance move — next to the goal as his teammates came to celebrate. After a crucial score against Johns Hopkins in the Carrier Dome he flung his stick, stuck his arms out and pretended to soar through the air.

But on the off chance he scores again, the reaction will likely be more subdued.

“It’s a surreal feeling scoring a goal in the Dome,” Ciferri said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of. When you do score, the place erupts and it’s overwhelming at times. I guess my celebrations have been pretty excessive.”

When Ciferri was recruited to play at Syracuse, he expected to have many more goal-scoring moments. Now a sophomore, the Ithaca (New York) High School graduate was once a prolific offensive player that was forced to adjust upon arriving at SU.

And despite having to earn his role after a hamstring injury forced him to miss all but three games last year, Ciferri’s taken the change in stride and developed into a reliable player for the top-ranked Orange (6-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast).

“He has great knowledge of the game,” SU head coach John Desko said. “He’s got the green light to go to the goal if he has opportunities to over the course of the game.”

Ciferri said it helps that Desko is liberal with the way he handles his defensive midfielders, and that he wouldn’t know what to do if his offensive role was limited to passing the ball then getting off the field.

That’s not to say he plays a dual role, but rather has the option to attack in transition if it makes sense in the flow of the offense.

“It’s a comfort thing, too. As a D-middy, especially a younger D-middy, you’re kind of reluctant to make mistakes and shoot the ball,” midfielder Peter Macartney said. “Everyone’s pretty experienced now, everyone’s better now.“

The transition to a defensive-minded player was one that required Ciferri to build up more strength and stamina. Coming in as a freshman, he stood at just 6 feet tall and weighed only 150 pounds. He’s since bulked up to 175. He was forced to get in better shape, noting at first it was nearly impossible to defend against someone’s third or fourth dodge.

But being an offensive player by trade helped his defensive instincts, since the two positions have many interchangeable aspects, Ciferri said.

Ciferri said his injury helped him refocus. He was so devastated to be on the sideline, rehabbing instead of playing, that when he finally got the chance, he made the most of his return and is now getting a chance to play significant time.

“That time period, you grow hungry,” Ciferri said. “Once you get back to full potential, you’re so happy to be playing and competing again that you hit the ground running.”

Ciferri still has two years to play after this one and said he doesn’t know if his role in the defense is cemented. He’d welcome a change or the same role.

His celebrations — which he planned out with his roommate beforehand — might be over the top, but they’re coming from a player that no longer has an expectation to score.

So when he does, he wants the experience to be memorable.

“You get recruited here pretty much because you’re a goal scorer or a big-time athlete or something of that sort,” Ciferri said. “And playing defense is the complete opposite, you have to be on your toes, a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. You don’t really get a lot of glory.

“It’s humbling.”

Published on March 18, 2015 at 12:10 am

Contact Sam: sblum@syr.edu | @SamBlum3