yracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse lacrosse recruit Joey Spallina, the No. 1 prospect in his Class of 2022, can add another accolade to his large list of accomplishments.
USA Lacrosse Magazine named Spallina its National Player of the year on Monday.
Spallina, an attackman, broke the Long Island career points record this month previously held by Nicky Galasso, who spent his final two seasons at SU. Spallina set a new record despite missing the entire 2020 season because of Covid-19.
Spallina will wear SU’s coveted and consequential No. 22 when he arrives on campus. His younger brothers Brett, a long-stick midfielder, and Jake, a faceoff specialist, have also committed to play for the Orange when they graduate in 2024.
Spallina is part of an acclaimed 2022 Syracuse recruiting class and should help ease the loss of prolific Orange scorer Tucker Dordevic to the transfer portal (Georgetown). SU, too, is scheduled to return Owen Hiltz next season; Hiltz, who recorded 48 points (19 goals) his freshman year at SU, missed the entire 2022 season with an undisclosed injury.
Spallina will play in the National Senior All-Star game next month in Annapolis, Md., with six other Class of 2022 teammates bound for Syracuse.
Spallina and midfielder Luke Rhoa (St. John’s, D.C.) will serve as captains in that game. Other SU recruits scheduled to participate: Carter Kempney (Carthage, NY), Michael Leo (St. Anthony’s, NY), Riley Figueiras (St. John’s, D.C.), Dylan Sageder (Mount Sinai, NY) and Jimmy McCool (New Hampton School, N.H.)
Syracuse finished its 2022 season 4-10 under first-year coach Gary Gait.
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