Not much about the two goalies is similar.

Dominic Lamolinara is an athlete in the net while Bobby Wardwell’s a natural ball stopper. Lamolinara’s a vocal leader while Wardwell is much more reserved.

On two occasions now, Lamolinara has spoken candidly about the competition that the two find themselves in, while Wardwell — in one shot after SU’s scrimmages against Hofstra and Le Moyne last Saturday — combatted competition talk by generally keeping to himself.

“I feel like Bob and I play well enough where we can both get on the field,” Lamolinara said. “If that doesn’t happen obviously, were both going to support each other like we’ve been.”

At the root of the competition is the friendship of two goalies that say they’ll do anything for a national championship. If that means sitting, sure. Starting, even better. Splitting time, why not? As of now, all options are up in the air.

On Saturday No. 2 Syracuse travels to Towson, Md., for its final preseason tune-up against Towson at 11 a.m. It’s the last time the Orange will take the field before its season and home opener against Siena on Feb. 10, and John Desko’s final chance to see each netminder before ironing out his plans for the season.

“It’s going to be coach Desko’s decision to make,” assistant coach Kevin Donahue said. “They both have their strengths and weaknesses but are both good stoppers.”

And for Desko, no timeframe would be long enough.

“We want to play the best goalie,” Desko said. “There are a number of factors in that. We’ve got some competition there, it’s healthy and they support one another and it’s nice to have two guys going at it and producing like that.”

The possibility of Lamolinara and Wardwell splitting time has been kicked around.

Lamolinara first mentioned it last weekend but has seen two-goalie systems and isn’t convinced that would be the best option for the team.

Two years ago he and Matt Lerman split time in net, and Lamolinara said that Lerman’s psychological approach was negatively altered.

Last year, he watched from the opposing net in the Final Four as Denver switched goalies at the half. Denver held a 5-2 lead but followed its routine of pulling Jamie LaPlante for Jamie Faus — who gave up seven second-half goals in an eventual 9-8 Syracuse win.

“It’s different, and if it’s something the coaches think we should do we’ll give it a go,” Lamolinara said. “But I think traditionally one goalie going out there knowing he’s going to play the whole game is easier to prepare for.

“It’s what Bob and I have done throughout high school, throughout middle school, so it’s just what we’re used to.”

Desko also said that the team wants to use the next 10 days to sift out its best option. The head coach said he planned to give both goalies an equal opportunity against Hofstra and Le Moyne, and will do the same at Towson.

In the scrimmages last weekend, both Lamolinara and Wardwell’s styles stood out. As advertised, Lamolinara was active moving away from the cage and Wardwell clogged the net.

With the Orange’s potent offensive attack it seems that both goalies are capable of succeeding on the back end. But Desko did hint that Lamolinara might hold an edge.

“I mentioned earlier what a great job Dom does in the communication aspect of the game,” Desko said. “That’s one thing we’re kind of lacking on with the unit so to have him out there is very important.”

With one scrimmage left they are going to become even harder to choose from in the coming weeks. The two talk during every timeout and in practice, are helping each other catch up in the skill areas where they’re behind.

It’s a competition that is hardly a competition at all.

There are more important opponents to Lamolinara and Wardwell than each other.

Said Lamolinara: “We want to both leave here with rings on our fingers. That’s what matters.”

Published on January 31, 2014 at 7:27 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse