Michael Page scooped up a ground ball off a draw and turned his head. Seconds earlier, in Syracuse’s annual fall intrasquad scrimmage, Page’s White team had tied Orange on a Jacob Buttermore score, knotting what had started as a multi-goal deficit that stretched across the majority of two periods once again.

As Page took his second step with the ball, the freshman was swarmed by three Orange defenders. Jonathan Partamian whacked Page’s stick. Dan Varello shoved an elbow into his back. The ball swung to Basil Aburn in front of the net, who easily deked around goalie Shahe Katchadurian and scored.

The goal put Orange up 12-11 late in the third quarter and proved to be the game-winner. In Syracuse’s second game-action of the fall — it tied Denver, 15-15, at SUNY Cortland two weeks ago — its youth on defense and in the midfield showed. Balls missed marks on clear attempts and bounced around harmlessly. Cutters found wide-open lanes to the net. Part of that was due to a lack of communication. But behind those plays was also a young attack that continued to shine around the net.

“We’ve been getting better,” head coach John Desko said. 

Here are three takeaways from the Orange-White fall scrimmage.

Griffin Cook’s increased role

Late in the second quarter, Griffin Cook jogged from right-to-left behind the Orange net and cradled the ball. Four defenders pinned him once he cut back in, but Cook maintained possession. The defensive slide hesitated, Cook said, and he took advantage. The sophomore turned around and rifled a shot past redshirt junior Luke Strang, who put his hands on his hips and stared.

“I just went to the middle and was lucky to hold onto the ball and finish it,” Cook said.

In both of Syracuse’s scrimmages this fall, Cook has tallied a hat trick. After tallying only four goals in 14 games last year, he’s poised to contribute more to an Orange attack that graduated Bradley Voigt and Nate Solomon.

“Last year, as a freshman, he let some of the older guys take charge,” Desko said. “Now, I think it’s his turn.”

Dordevic’s return from injury

As a freshman midfielder, Tucker Dordevic tallied a goal per game for the Orange and carved out a large piece in SU’s offense. But a foot injury forced him to miss all of 2018’s season. Saturday, Dordevic continued his return by notching a pair of goals in his second game-action back.

“Very explosive, very good dodger, very good shooter,” Desko said.

Early in the first period, those three meshed. Dordevic received the ball on the left side before jab-stepping into a face dodge. His third step meshed with bringing his stick back, and his shot angled toward the right corner found net.

Against the Pioneers two weeks ago, Dordevic scored the first goal of the scrimmage after a nifty cut to the middle of Denver’s defense. Leading White’s attack along with Cook, Dordevic attempted two reverse shots over-the-shoulder that narrowly missed.

“He got his looks, he’s just got to work on burying them,” Cook said.

Filling the graduation gaps 

Despite only graduating nine seniors from last year’s roster — the Orange’s second-lowest total since 2015 — Syracuse still has major holes to fill, especially on its defense. Both Marcus Cunningham and Tyson Bomberry, four-year starters, are gone. So are midfield reserves Pat Carlin, Austin Fusco and Luke Schwasnick.

In both of their early season scrimmages, the Orange backbone has been redshirt junior Nick Mellen. The Syracuse native, responsible for 19 caused turnovers last year, knocked aside sticks and fought off dodges as his Syracuse teammates neared a lane. Younger defenders though, like Logan Dieball in the second, couldn’t fight off plunges on attacks. Max Rosa broke through Dieball’s bear-hug and launched a goal into the right corner.

“I think the communication could definitely improve, especially when some of the younger guys are out there things tend to get quiet,” Desko said. 

Rosa, a true freshman, had a pair of second-period goals, including one where he sprinted toward the net before swinging a shot past Klan. Only minutes later, he found the back of the net again.  

And with goaltender Drake Porter named to the Team Canada’s roster for US Lacrosse’s Fall Classic, the incumbent in net was unavailable for Saturday’s scrimmage. That led to increased time for Strang and redshirt sophomore Willie Klan III, who anchored play for the first two quarters.

Klan, a former All-American and No. 24 recruit in his class from Pennfield, New York, struggled early as Orange scored five straight goals, but notched key saves late in the first half to feed a White comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.

Published on October 19, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Contact Andrew: arcrane@syr.edu | @CraneAndrew