Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Season Preview Part 5: Attack Positional Preview
As if the defense and midfield lines for the 2021 season didn't look scary enough...Syracuse MLAX has to add on another layer of fear with their starting attack line. Let's get right to it. Here are your projected starters for the 2021 season.
Griffin Cook, R-So., A, 5'7", 173 LBS
A Syracuse native, Cook moved to the starting attack line last year after spending his freshman year in the second midfield unit. In just one short year,. Cook went from a member of the second midfield line to one of the top riding attackmen in the country. While most attackmen are known for their laser accurate passes or fast shots, Cook is most known for his ability to ride defensive opponents and get the ball back on the offensive end. He started all 5 games of the shortened season and led the nation in caused turnovers by an attacker with 7. These 7 caused turnovers were on pace to break the Syracuse single-season record for an attackmen, and he'll likely get another chance to do it this season. Cook also had 5 goals and 4 assists on the year. In his freshman season, although playing mostly as a reserve attackmen, he had 4 goals and 4 assists, which was the most points of any Orange rookie.
Chase Scanlan, R-So., A, 6'0", 178 LBS
A transfer from Loyola, Scanlan had an impressive first year in the Dome during his 2020 breakout campaign. Not only was he named an Inside Lacrosse All-American and a member of the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, but he also led the team in goals (18) and points (23). His mark of 3.6 goals per game ranked second in the ACC and 16th nationally. He also had the sixth best shooting percentage in the ACC. Before Syracuse, Scanlan played his freshman year at Loyola where he scored 58 points and led all NCAA Division I freshmen midfielders with 43 goals.
Stephen Rehfuss, Red 5th, A, 6'0", 183 LBS
After not being recruited initially by Syracuse, Rehfuss has now become one of the most pivotal players on the team's offensive end. Rehfuss also started his career in the Patriot League as a member of Holy Cross's team. In his freshman year there, he didn't play in a single game. During January 2015, Rehfuss got the call from Syracuse assistant coach Lelan Rogers who said they say Rehfuss' tape from high school and wanted him to tour the campus the next day, according to an article in the Daily Orange. He committed shortly thereafter. Since the start of his career at Syracuse, Rehfuss has played in every single game. He became a starter on Syracuse's attack line during his second year with the Orange and was a member of the starting line ever since. In his sophomore year, he led the team in points with 48. In his junior year, he led the team in assists with 21. In his senior year, he led the ACC and finished third nationally with 3.6 assists per game. He also was the recipient of the Doris Soladay Award, which is Syracuse's highest athletic honor. In short, Rehfuss is the face behind the slogan "never give up." He's the success story that at first, people didn't put their faith in. He has proved the doubters wrong and has shown on a yearly basis how versatile of a player he can be. To Holy Cross, we will happily accept any other players you might like to give to Cuse Nation.
***Rehfuss put himself in the transfer portal a few months back, but it seems unlikely as of now that he will be transferring anywhere else for the 2021 season***