MLAX | Behind the scenes: SU has a 7-game win streak with the help of 3 unheralded players

By: Tyler Dunne, Andy McCullough and Kyle Austin

Posted: 4/11/08

John Carrozza

Senior midfielder

John Carrozza doesn't stuff the stat sheet, but he's often the quiet catalyst to Syracuse's high-powered offense.

At the beginning of the second quarter Tuesday, Cornell slashed into Orange territory, only trailing 5-3 when SU's defense swarmed the Big Red immediately. SU's defensive midfielders, led by the senior Carrozza, extended outward, allowing only a yard or two of breathing room, flailing their sticks. The Big Red was forced to backpedal and make multiple off-balance passes from 30 yards away, before finally turning it over. On the ensuing Orange possession, Mike Leveille scored, and Syracuse had a three-goal cushion.

Defensive plays like that aren't tangible and go unnoticed by most. But like a center in basketball affecting (if not blocking) a shot, such subtle pestering has been a big reason for Syracuse's defensive turnaround. Carrozza, who has seen his minutes increase as the season progresses, is often at the core of the Orange's defensive midfield lineup.

"John's played well within the system," SU head coach John Desko said. "He's very athletic, and he's a strong kid, so he matches up well on an individual basis."

-Tyler Dunne, asst. copy editor

Matt Abbott

Junior midfielder

The only thing preventing Matt Abbott from getting more time on the first offensive midfield line is, well, Matt Abbott.

See, the junior midfielder starts on that first unit - the team's "blue" line - with seniors Steven Brooks and Brendan Loftus. But Syracuse still needs him in transition on defense. And on the wing for faceoffs. And on the man-down unit.

"We ask so much of him, he's not always able go on the blue midfield," said Orange head coach John Desko. "Sometimes he needs a blow on the sidelines."

That rest has his kept his scoring down to only five goals and six assists from the wiry 6-foot-2, 177-pound middie. Still, Abbott finds his way onto the stat sheet.

He has scooped 46 groundballs, tied with senior faceoff specialist Danny Brennan for the team lead. Abbott and fellow wing Joel White team with Brennan on the Orange's elite faceoff unit.

"The game starts with the faceoff and he's gotten a bunch of groundballs on the wing on the faceoff," Desko said. "And if we aren't winning the faceoff, he's out there, and he's a good, solid player defensively."

-Andy McCullough, managing editor

Sid Smith

Junior defenseman

Sid Smith doesn't make the highlight tapes as a close defender. But for head coach John Desko, that means he's doing his job.

"It's the nature of the beast in a sport like lacrosse, especially at a Syracuse program known more for offense," Desko said. "Any time you see a highlight film, you're going to see more goals being scored than good stops and good saves."

The soft-spoken Smith, in his first season with Syracuse after transferring from Onondaga Community College and playing for the Iroquois Nationals, has been in the background of the SU defense, even though he's started all 10 games. Senior captain Evan Brady does the talking. John Galloway has drawn attention as the young hotshot goalie.

But Smith has quietly been the workhorse of a much-improved defensive unit. He leads all defenders in ground balls, leading to an 81.7 team clear percentage, up from last year. As Smith has harassed opposing attack as they charge the goal, the SU defense is allowing nearly 10 fewer shots per game than it did last year.

It's all kept Smith off the evening news, for all the right reasons.

-Kyle Austin, asst. sports editor