Joey Spallina sole SU player named to Tewaaraton Award Top 25
Attack Joey Spallina was the sole Syracuse player on the Tewaaraton Award 25-man Shortlist, ESPNU announced Saturday. Jacob Halsema | Staff Photographer
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Joey Spallina has once again been listed for an honor that isn’t his No. 1 priority.
The Syracuse attack was the sole Orange player included on the Tewaaraton Award 25-man Shortlist, ESPNU announced Saturday. Spallina has repeatedly stated his top priority is to win a national championship.
The Tewaaraton Award is annually given to the best player in men’s and women’s collegiate lacrosse.
Spallina ranks second on the Orange with 25 goals this season and first with 35 assists. He also sits 14th in Division I with 4.62 points per game and fifth in the country with 2.69 assists per contest.
The senior is two points away from setting SU’s program points record. He could do it as soon as Syracuse’s game against Colgate at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Tewaaraton recognition continues Spallina’s eventful week. On Tuesday, he was selected No. 3 overall in the Premier Lacrosse League Draft by the Maryland Whipsnakes. His father, Joe, is the general manager of the PLL’s California Redwoods, who had the No. 6 pick, and tried to trade up to pick his son but couldn’t reach a deal.
“It was just a complete dream come true,” Spallina said of his selection Thursday at Syracuse’s media availability. “Just growing up around the league and then, finally getting to see your name in it, it’s just awesome.”
With the Whipsnakes, Spallina will play alongside 2013 Tewaaraton winner Rob Pannell. Pannell, also an attack, played for the New York Lizards while Joe was the head coach and Spallina roamed the sidelines growing up.
“Growing up and being around guys like Rob and getting to watch almost all these guys play and now (to) be on the same team as them, it’s just crazy,” Spallina said. “Just thinking about when Rob first came to New York, I was 11 years old, and that’s the time where you either really love it, or you just play. And I always think of just being around those guys and growing up with Rob is why I love the game.”
The last Syracuse player to win the Tewaaraton was Mike Leveille in 2008.
