The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team replenished its leadership Tuesday, naming its captains for the upcoming 2009 season. Seniors Matt Abbott, Kenny Nims, Pat Perritt and Spencer Van Schaack will lead the Orange as it attempts to defend its 2008 National Championship.

Syracuse graduated its trio of captains from last year – Mike Leveille, Evan Brady and Kyle Guadagnolo. The Orange defeated No. 4 Johns Hopkins, 13-10, to capture its 10th national championship, as Leveille earned the Tewaaraton Trophy and final four most outstanding player honors.

Nims, Abbott and Perritt played integral roles last year on the Orange’s offense, which ranked second in NCAA with 13.6 goals per game. A sniper close to the cage, Nims is the team’s leading returning scorer (34 goals, 24 assists). The attack notched at least one point in 17 of Syracuse’s 18 games, and scored two crucial goals in Syracuse’s title win in Foxborough, Mass.

Midfielders Abbott and Perritt often controlled the middle of the field for Syracuse’s high-octane offense. The fleet-footed Abbott was SU’s go-to penalty-killer, leading the team in groundballs (73) and totaling 21 points. Unlike Nims and Abbott, Perritt did not start at all last year. Still, the stocky, 5-foot-9 middie heated up as the season progressed and scored 11 goals, including one tally that tied SU with Johns Hopkins midway through the NCAA championship.

The defensive midfielder Van Schaack played sparsely last season, scooping 13 groundballs in 12 games.

thdunne@syr.edu