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Nobody on the field was taller than Billy Dwan III. Hence, nobody expected him to be anything other than a defender. But his official listed position doesn’t limit what Dwan can do.

There he is, crossing the 20-yard restraining line as the Orange carry the ball up the field against Johns Hopkins — the same field he grew up playing on, arguably the most hallowed field in the sport.

So, yes, Dwan knows Homewood Field well. The Lutherville, Maryland, native, 20 minutes away, grew up on this turf. His father, Bill Dwan, a former Johns Hopkins close defender, graced the sidelines for over two decades as a coach.

Meanwhile, Dwan was just a young boy, watching from afar. As he crosses midfield, nobody bats an eye. Dwan wanted to find the back iron on a goal he’s stared at for his entire childhood.

But as Dwan sprints past the second restraining line, it’s just like it was when he was playing by himself in practice sessions as a kid. Nobody defending him. Dwan and the goal. He rips twine, etching his name into the historic rivalry he grew up watching from the other side.

In No. 10 Syracuse’s (5-2, Atlantic Coast) 12-8 victory over No. 11 Johns Hopkins (4-2, Big Ten) Saturday, Dwan scored twice to propel the Orange to their second straight win on the field he visited countless times as a kid.

He didn’t even cause a turnover. Not even a ground ball. That’s what close defenders are supposed to do. They’re restricted to staying in their own territory. Instead, the Orange pushed the pace.

“I feel like Syracuse is known for pushing transition,” Dwan said. “That fits my play style pretty directly. I just try to push the ball, have some fun with it.”

It was his offensive prestige, something he’s only flashed a few times. His lone multi-goal game was nearly two years ago. But with early flashes this year, including a tally at Penn, he was bound to make a mark.

Gary Gait gave the Blue Jays an early glimpse. In the first quarter, Jimmy McCool poached outside his crease as the Orange flooded JHU’s side of the field, pushing all nine of his other teammates upfield.

Crossing the midfield stripe, Dwan screamed for the ball. His wish was McCool’s demand, and Dwan received the rock. He bolted like a cheetah downfield, faster than any 6-foot-4 lacrosse player should move. As he neared the Johns Hopkins crease, Carson Brown and David Disque clotheslined Dwan with their sticks as he collapsed to the ground, his shot falling wide.

“The game definitely started out pretty sloppy,” Gait said. “Clearing the ball was tough for both. A bunch of offsides.”

With a Johns Hopkins fault with 12:15 to go in the second quarter, Dwan’s partner in crime, Riley Figueiras, stayed back. But look north, because passing Jake Spallina in his short-stick defensive midfield spot is Dwan. He crossed the beak of the Blue Jay at the center circle, with his eyes locked on the prize.

JHU points leader Matt Collison is screaming rampantly, pointing to Dwan behind him.

Who’s going to guard him?

Quintan Kilrain finally picked Dwan up, but the ball was moving swiftly behind them. When Kilrain bit on an inside pass to Joey Spallina, Dwan solemnly stood to his right. SU’s points leader located the long pole, who ripped a sinistral shot for a 4-2 lead past the flabbergasted Oran Gelinas. On the sidelines, so was JHU coach Peter Milliman.

“(Dwan) had a great day,” Milliman said. “He’s a big, physical defender. He makes some plays. Opportunistic in transition. We know he gets over the midline; he wasn’t afraid to shoot it. He made some big plays.”

The senior wasn’t done.

Early in the second half, the Orange opted for the exact same play from the first quarter, which didn’t go to plan. Surely, the Blue Jays wouldn’t expect it. McCool motioned for everyone to clear out, running the risk of an open cage with no protection.

But galloping downfield was the kid who’s watched action unfold from afar on this field too many times. He planted his back foot, caressing it in his stick at midfield. Jolting upfield, there was nothing Charlie Hazard could do to halt the inevitable.

From near the 28-yard line, marked by the football field, Dwan pelted a lefty strike behind Gelinas for his second tally, giving the Orange a comfortable 7-4 lead they’d never squander, marking a moment he’d never forget, embracing at midfield.

“I was telling my teammates last night, me being at Syracuse, and me rocking the orange and blue, that’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Dwan said.

Dwan got what he wanted on the side he wanted. SU never had fear. It never trailed all game. But that wouldn’t have been possible without its senior making a statement on Johns Hopkins’ campus, a place where he sat down in his father’s office, breaking down film at a young age. Now, Dwan can look back at his own film at a storied place.

“For me, growing up on that field, pretty cool to play on it,” Dwan said. “Super happy that I got to play on that field in my college career.”

Published on March 7, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Contact Jason: jaglick@syr.edu | @jason_glick