Axe: Syracuse lacrosse humbled in return to Final Four but has the core to get back and win

Syracuse midfielder Michael Leo (7) defended by Maryland defender AJ Larkin (26) during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

Foxborough, Mass. — Syracuse lacrosse needs to forgive but not forget its performance against Maryland in the 2025 Final Four if it wants to return there in 2026.

Syracuse midfielder Sam English (15) defended by Maryland defender George Stamos (54) during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

Syracuse was certainly humbled by Maryland in a 14-8 loss at Gillette Stadium on Saturday and that should fuel the Orange well into the offseason just as last year’s loss to Denver in the NCAA quarterfinals fueled this year’s team.

But as Syracuse coach Gary Gait pointed out after the game, you have to be in the Final Four to lose in the Final Four.

“The fact is, we were here,” Gait said.

Now how do you make the next step to play on Memorial Day once again?

Gait’s team was certainly grappling with that following its loss to Maryland.

“I can tell you if you go in that locker room, the guys aren’t happy just getting here,” Gait said. “They wanted a chance to play on Memorial Day. They believe they can do it. Only one team moves on and it wasn’t us.”

Syracuse attack Finn Thomson (23) takes some extra time on the field after the Orange fell to Maryland in the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

Syracuse has made steady progress since Gait took over as head coach from a losing season in 2022 (4-10) to just above .500 in 2023 (8-7) to a loss in the NCAA quarterfinals last season culminating with a return to the Final Four this year.

The next step on the ladder is playing on Memorial Day, and Syracuse has the talent and experience to get there in 2026 barring any unexpected departures in the transfer portal.

Joey Spallina returns for his senior season fresh off becoming just the fourth player in Orange history with a 90-point season.

Syracuse midfielder Wyatt Hottle (19) is denied from close range by Maryland goalie Logan McNaney (1) during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

Midfielders Michael Leo (44 points) and Luke Rhoa (33 points) along with attack Finn Thomson (30 points) all come back, too.

A Syracuse fan contemplates the Orange falling to Maryland in the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

SU’s core defense of Riley Figueiras, Billy Dwan III, and ACC goaltender of the year Jimmy McCool are back.

Spallina, Leo, Rhoa, Thomson, Figueiras, Dwan and McCool will all be seniors.

Payton Anderson and Trey Deere qualify as rising stars on attack to complement the veterans.

John Mullen will return as a junior to defend his status as the best face-off specialist in the country, fresh off a season in which he set new single-season Syracuse records for face-off attempts (429) and ground balls (175), broke Bill Dirrigl’s 36-year old program record for face-off wins (283), led the country in face-off wins and was fifth with a 64% win rate.

Syracuse attack Owen Hiltz (77) stands on the field postgame after the Orange fell to Maryland in the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

“It’s a special group of guys that return,” departing graduate senior midfielder Sam English said. “You got a handful of leaders on that team that are killers. All those guys are animals in that dressing room.

Syracuse attack Owen Hiltz (77) is crushed by Maryland defender Jackson Canfield (50) during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

“They’ve had a chance to taste it a little bit and be here and experience championship weekend. They are going to be back here. I’m excited to watch those guys play.”

Key losses include English, a dynamic two-way midfielder who provided leadership and a versatile skillset.

Redshirt senior attack Owen Hiltz finished with 239 career points (137 goals, 101 assists), recording at least a point in 64 consecutive games and surpassing John Zulberti’s record of 61 games.

Syracuse fo John Mullen (27) defended by Maryland long stick midfielder Trevor Owens (52) during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

Four-year defender Nick Caccamo and senior short-stick defender Carter Rice will also be big roster spots to fill.

Gait needs to pursue impact short-stick defensive midfielders, a true shutdown defender and offensive midfield depth in the transfer portal.

Is 2026 a championship or bust season?

The vast experience and level of talent Syracuse returns combined with the talent Gait is able to wrangle out of the portal should set a higher expectation in 2026 than what SU’s No. 2 preseason ranking and Final Four or bust feeling brought this year.

Gait recognized Syracuse fans “as the best in lacrosse” but knows the feeling of expecting championships is in the air again.

“They also put a lot of pressure on these guys because they only expect championships,” Gait said. “It’s tough to put on that Orange jersey and play on Memorial Day.

Syracuse attack Owen Hiltz (77) celebrates an early goal against Maryland during the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]

“We’re not this year, but we’ll be back.”

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Syracuse head coach Gary Gait talks a timeout with a loss immanent against Maryland in the NCAA Division I mens lacrosse final four at Gillette Stadium Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Foxborough, MA. Scott Schild | [email protected]