As Mike Leveille’s roommate last year, Syracuse men’s lacrosse attack Kenny Nims tried to pick up certain actions the Tewaaraton Trophy winner took last season while helping lead SU to a national championship.

The senior learned about being a good influence for the team both on and off the field and how to lead by example. How to take care of one’s self, to make sure the priorities are lined up and to always be looking after his teammates.

With Leveille and his 83 points gone to graduation, it will now be up to his former roommate to step up and lead the No. 2 Orange’s attack this season. After playing as the second option on the attack last season, Nims will be counted on to provide stability at the attack as the defending champs open its season against Providence at the Carrier Dome Sunday at 3 p.m.

‘I want to be the guy the team looks to in situations, without a doubt,’ Nims said. ‘I want to be the leader on the field and have everyone look to me but at the same time, it could be anybody on any given week. We have a lot of guys who are able to do real well and step up, so I think each week it will be someone new.’

Leveille led Syracuse with 49 goals and 34 assists last season, while Nims added 34 goals and 24 assists. The duo, along with senior Greg Niewieroski, provided Syracuse with great scoring threats at the attack and always put Syracuse in a position to win games and put up points in a hurry.

But this year with Leveille gone, Niewieroski moved to the midfield, leaving Nims as the lone remaining starter in the group this season and the man who has to step into the shoes Leveille left.

While Nims will be working with a talented core that includes sophomore Stephen Keogh, junior Chris Daniello and redshirt freshman Tim Desko, Nims knows he’s the guy this year.

‘You can’t replace a guy like Mike, you can only do the best we can to try and pick up where he left off,’ Nims said. ‘It’s going to take a committee of people, so we’ve got a bunch of guys that are talented enough, and I think each week we’re going to get better and we’ll be there at the end, hopefully.’

With a new cast, though, comes growing pains in learning to play together. That’s why it’s more important for Nims to provide the effective leadership as the senior in the group and quarterback the offense.

Nims said his ability to play as the quarterback of the unit will be huge. Already, he says, he’s finding himself telling his teammates to relax in situations, to throw the ball around a couple times so everyone can get a touch and the offense doesn’t rush its opportunities.

His teammates said Nims is handling this transition seamlessly. Daniello said Nims will be a great leader this season and that ever since his freshman year, Nims has been helping him in drills or in situations where he was unsure of the offense.

Keogh said Nims will just continue to produce more of what he did last year.

‘He’s been doing a tremendous job,’ Keogh said. ‘He’s probably as good of a feeder as Mike has been, and he’s been working his heart out and he’s helping us along, and he’s been a very good captain so far.’

Syracuse head coach John Desko said that Nims needs to step into the lead role on attack, and so far, the senior has responded.

In the two exhibition games he played in during the preseason, Nims played well, tallying five goals and four assists. While he didn’t lead the team in goals over those two games, he gave the Orange the offensive output needed from its top threat.

‘I think he expects that of himself, along with the coaching staff,’ Desko said. ‘He can do it – athletically, he’s there, he’s a good lacrosse player, and it’s his time to be the leader on and off the field as one of our captains and really lead that attack group and be the threat there.’

Though Nims’ playing time Sunday will be determined by how the game goes as he still overcomes his sickness that kept him out of last week’s practice and scrimmage, once the first faceoff gets underway, the attack will be Nims’ to lead in SU’s quest for a repeat championship.

The void left by Leveille might be too great to fill, but Nims is comfortable is his new role. While he looked to his roommate last year for guidance, he’ll be that guy this year – and he’s ready for the duty.

‘I think it’s something that’s a given,’ Nims said. ‘Mike’s gone and I’m kind of the guy back there with the most experience. It’s something that’s just like an unsaid thing. I just assume and take responsibility back there.’

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on February 15, 2009 at 12:00 pm