Hometown Neighbors

Syracuse lacrosse players Mike Leveille and Katie Rowan often joke no one in the Syracuse area grew up together.

"We were always saying there's not a lot of attention brought to it at Syracuse," Leveille says.

It's surprising considering Leveille and Rowan are key cogs for Syracuse. Leveille leads the Orange with 12 points and Rowan leads the SU women with 14 points. Leveille was recently placed on the Tewaaraton Watch list, which is college lacrosse's version of the Heisman Trophy. Inside Lacrosse magazine ranks Rowan as the fifth best player in college lacrosse.

The accolades for Rowan wouldn't have happened were it not for Leveille. They grew up in Delmar, N.Y. in Albany and often played lacrosse with each other. When it came to choosing a college, Rowan wanted Leveille's advice.

"When I was making my decision about Syracuse, I asked him for advice on how he liked Syracuse and everything," Rowan says.

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Her presence has been invaluable. Rowan led the Orange with six goals in its season-opening win against Canisius. Although she scored two goals against Dartmouth last Sunday, she took on a feeding role and provided three assists. Rowan moved into third place among Syracuse's all-time points leaders.

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" What can you say?," SU women's coach Gary Gait says. "Katie Rowan scores goals. She makes things happen. "That's what you look for out of your offensive stars, players thatknow when to go and when not to go and what shot to take."

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Leveille plays the same way. Syracuse attackmen

Kenny Nims and SU midfielder Dan Hardy think he understands each player's tendencies. That's why Leveille is the team's leading feeder with six assists.

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SU head coach John Desko finds Leveille valuable for more important reasons. Police arrested Syracuse midfielder Sean McGonigle in connection with an off-campus assault last February. SU midfielders Pat Perritt and John Carrozza faced disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges when police arrested them in downtown Syracuse last March. Desko thinks Leveille's leadership has helped prevent any similar incidents so far this year.

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"I think he's always been there," Desko says. "He's done the right things and said the right things. He understands the offense very well and the rides.He's a bit of a quarterback with him out there. He's doing a good job off the field too with our guys keeping everyone in line and doing the right thing."

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Rowan and Leveille have their friendship to thank for helping their dream to play at Syracuse possible.

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"She's a phenomenal player and a great person," Leveille says. "I'm so glad she's doing well here."