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As Sam DeVito found her role as a sophomore at Princeton in 2022, the Tigers’ roster featured four members named Sam. One went by Sam. Another went by Sammy. The third went by their last name. DeVito was out of options. So, her teammates started calling her Danny, named after the 4-foot-10 actor known for his roles in “Taxi” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

Standing at 5-foot-9, DeVito was distinctly different from the critically-acclaimed comedian.
But she was willing to do anything for her team, adopting the moniker throughout the rest of her career.

Following four years and three seasons with the Tigers, where she earned an All-Ivy League selection in 2023, DeVito transferred to Syracuse for her final collegiate season. She’s become a key veteran presence on the Orange’s largely underclassmen roster. The midfielder has tallied nine points while scooping up 11 ground balls and causing five turnovers, helping No. 7 Syracuse to four ranked victories and a current three-game winning streak as a captain in her first season with the program.

“I’m just trying to give them as much confidence as possible,” DeVito said of SU’s underclassmen. “I’m bringing that on-field experience to bring them along.”

In her final season at Princeton, head coach Jenn Cook relied on DeVito to make long midfield runs during the game’s final 10 minutes. She also became a key cog on the draw control unit, fighting for loose balls. Though quiet by nature, DeVito stepped up as a leader by helping underclassmen study film.

“She doesn’t say much, but when she does, it’s really powerful,” Haven Dora, DeVito’s former Princeton teammate, said.

Sam DeVito poses with her Princeton graduating class following a Syracuse scrimmage during the Fall 2024 season. From left to right: Taylor DeGroff, Sam DeVito, Kari Buonanno, Caroline Burnett, Grace Tauckus and Ellie Mueller. Courtesy of John DeVito

She’s found comfort so far with the Orange, just as she did at Princeton. However, DeVito’s career with the Tigers almost ended abruptly.

Facing Penn in the 2024 Ivy League Tournament Semifinals, DeVito received a red card after incidental contact in transition. Though her teammates and Cook knew the collision was accidental, the suspension stood, forcing her to miss Princeton’s next game.

While DeVito now hopes to put the situation behind her, her father, John, said it was difficult for her to grapple with. Devito’s former coach, Chris Sailer, even spoke with her, reassuring her she did nothing wrong.

The Tigers fell to the Quakers and were on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament, making it a possibility DeVito had played her final game at Princeton. But they snuck into the tournament and needed to defeat Drexel to extend DeVito’s Princeton career.

“Obviously we wanted to win for our team to keep going,” Tigers attacker McKenzie Blake said. “But one of our main factors was ‘we need to get (DeVito) another game in this Princeton uniform.’ That game was really for her.”

DeVito’s career with the Tigers was full of obstacles. Despite the challenges, she became a beloved figure within the squad, according to Blake.

In October of her junior year of high school, DeVito began to receive interest from multiple Division I programs. Her standout performance on the club circuit with ADK Lacrosse, coupled with her athleticism built through basketball and soccer, made her an ideal prospect for then-head coach Sailer’s staff.

Cook, then the associate head coach, along with two other assistants, visited DeVito’s home for an in-house meeting. Three coaches traveling to one recruit’s house was a rarity, Cook said, but they needed to make an impression. After presenting their pitch, DeVito immediately knew which program was her top choice. But her first semester of college was remote and her freshman year of lacrosse was canceled due to COVID-19, putting a wrench in her plans.

DeVito returned to campus for her first real year of lacrosse and found comfort with her new nickname. She eventually became a beloved member of the roster and a focal point in her senior season. So, when the Tigers knew their season and DeVito’s career were on the line, they focused on finding a way to survive.

Tied 6-6 at halftime, the Tigers broke off a 6-0 third quarter. With Blake’s five goals and Dora’s game-high seven points, Princeton escaped victorious. The squad raced to the bleachers as the final buzzer sounded, celebrating with DeVito, who could only watch the contest from the stands.

Cook said much of the coaching staff was in tears watching the moment. John called it “bittersweet.” Blake said DeVito didn’t want any attention, but the team’s gesture clearly showed their love for their senior leader.

“Everyone rallied around her in that moment,” Blake said. “We had just won a big game, and instead of cheering on the field, we were just happy that she would have another game.”

Princeton teammates celebrate the Tigers win over Drexel in the NCAA First Round with Sam DeVito in the stands. DeVito was suspeneded for the contest due to a red card, but the team dedicated the win to her. Courtesy of Haven Dora

The Tigers ultimately fell to the eventual National Champions, Boston College, in their next game. With the Ivy League’s four-year eligibility limit, DeVito needed to find a new home to continue her college career. Having lost her first season to COVID-19, she was determined to use her fifth year.

She didn’t initially hear from Syracuse when she entered the transfer portal and talked to multiple other schools at first, even honing in on Florida with former Syracuse assistant coach Regy Thorpe recruiting her. Though as a Ballston Spa, New York, native, DeVito had followed SU, traveling to the then-Carrier Dome to watch Kayla Treanor and the Orange.

When Treanor, the former Syracuse star and current head coach, eventually expressed interest, DeVito realized her final destination.

“When I got the call, I instantly knew that if I was gonna play a fifth year, it was gonna be at Syracuse,” DeVito said.

With Treanor hailing from Niskayuna and DeVito growing up in Ballston Spa, they were both from the 518 area. DeVito said the proximity made Treanor a “local legend” for her, and she quickly planned a visit to SU after Treanor called.

For DeVito, her connection with Treanor went beyond watching her as a young girl from the Carrier Dome bleachers. As DeVito grew in middle school on the travel circuit, Treanor was growing her coaching experience. They’d crossed paths a few times, even working together at a Syracuse camp in 2016.

With the Orange, she’s now filling a similar role, leading a team as one of its beloved characters. Treanor said DeVito’s mentality makes her a perfect fit for SU’s young core.

While DeVito plays a key role for the Orange, her impact remains at Princeton. Dora said the team often smushes onto a couch in the team facility to watch DeVito play for the Orange. When viewing SU’s overtime win over Stanford, Dora said the team cheered for “Danny,” as they still call her, each time she touched the ball.

“Because of who she was and how much she meant to our program, her playing at Syracuse, they’ve gained 33 Princeton fans just because she’s there,” Blake said.

Published on March 25, 2025 at 10:54 pm
Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky