Men's Lacrosse

Desko, SU faceoff specialists adapt comfortably to rule changes

As competition for the starting spot at the faceoff X heats up, the three contenders head coach John Desko has name-dropped are still adjusting to the faceoff rule changes instituted in the fall.

Sophomore transfers Ben Williams and Zach Vehar and sophomore Joe DeMarco all voiced their favor toward the changes, which have brought about some obstacles. There are also manageable changes that they’re all adjusting to in the faceoff X for the season opener against Siena on Feb. 7.

The modifications most notably include not being allowed to pick up the ball with the back of the stick. Desko called it the biggest change because it puts much more emphasis on ground balls and wing play. Using one’s body to initiate contact with an opponent’s stick or one’s own is also forbidden, and to Vehar, it’s like taking away cheating.

“There were some growing pains in the fall with it,” Williams said of the new rules. “… but now coming into the season, it feels really normal and I like it a lot.”

Last year, DeMarco said faceoff specialists would pick the ball up with the back of their stick and just run around with no real intention. Now that the possibility of that is eliminated, the ball will end up rolling out of the faceoff X and out to the wings more, he said.



It’ll not only benefit the more athletic faceoff men who can move quicker to contend for ground balls, but also the wing players who can scoop them up more effectively.

“It’s more about the wings, not just about the two guys fighting it out in the middle,” DeMarco said. “You’ll see more scrums I think and more people fighting for the ball from the wing.”

Vehar said he never really picked the ball up with the back of his stick, so his adjustment was minor. Williams, though, said it was a more significant difference for him, but one that he’s grown to like a lot since it puts the ball on the ground more.

Desko called Williams the most athletic and the best at scooping ground balls of the three faceoff specialists, and said he’d be the one who benefits the most from the change.

With the second rule change, Vehar was a strong advocate for the elimination of body contact with the stick.

“Last year, you could get away with using your body, primarily your elbow or even going over the ball with your body,” Vehar said. “That change I think will help everybody because it’s almost cheating in a way, you’re pushing on your own head (of the stick) with your body and that’s not the way faceoffs should be.”

The sophomore transfer from Quinnipiac said he has a more physical approach at the X, so he’ll have to learn not if to use his body, but how to. It’s not about outmuscling the opponent, he said, but knowing how to athletically use your body without touching either stick.

DeMarco, on the other hand, said the change doesn’t affect him since he mainly relies on the speed of his hands more than his strength.

And while some faceoff men will need to adapt new tendencies more than others, Desko seems comfortable with the rule changes and confident in who he has at his disposal to adjust to them.

“This year you’ve got to get the ball out and turn it into a ground ball,” Desko said. “I think our guys do it pretty well right now.”





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