Syracuse men’s lacrosse: Joey Spallina’s non-stop journey continues at World Lacrosse Box Championships

Be it field or box, the Orange’s leader can’t stay away as he begins his junior season in red, white and blue.

The last time most Syracuse Orange fans saw Joey Spallina on a lacrosse field, he and the Orange offense were getting shut down in their NCAA Quarterfinal loss to Denver in the spring.

That was almost exactly four months ago, and during the offseason from the collegiate game, Joey has been anything but ‘off’ as his love for the game continues to show with impressive consistency.

It was just seven days after the Orange’s season came to a close on May 19 that he made his way up to Ontario for the home opener of his team, the Orangeville Northmen, on May 26. And just like that, his summer season was off and running.

Over the course of the next three months, Joey played in 29 games in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League plus an additional five in the Minto Cup after leading the Northmen to the OJLL title.

One year ago, Joey’s rookie year ended with him breaking the OJLL season-scoring record by an American player with 148 points. This summer, he vaporized his own record by scoring 202 points to lead the league by an impressive 29 more points than the second-leading scorer (some guy by the name of Finn Thomson).

He also scored an additional 28 points in his five Minto Cup games for a grand total of 230 points across 34 games up in Canada this summer.

His last game of the summer came on August 23, at which point it was time to get himself back to the 315 for the start of classes and fall practice just over a week later on September 1.

While the preparation for the 2025 ‘Cuse lacrosse season is well underway, Joey’s not quite done with the indoor game in 2024 just yet.

And that’s because he’s one of two college players (along with Cornell’s CJ Kirst) to make Team USA’s roster at the World Lacrosse Box Championships, which begin today and run through September 29. Joey and the Americans get things started tonight in a huge matchup with the Haudenosaunee Nationals at 8 PM on ESPN+.

It’s just his latest endeavor in the sport he loves so dearly, a sport he just can’t stay away from for even a little bit.

When you go back and look at Joey’s schedule in 2024, he more or less hasn’t stopped playing since he got back to campus in January for the start of preseason practice. With the exception of a week between the NCAA Tournament and the OJLL season, and maybe a few days off from the Minto Cup to fall practice, it’s been non-stop for one of the most relentlessly enthusiastic players in the sport.

In fact, his voracious lacrosse appetite is what has led to his plate being loaded up even further with this month’s world championships.

The very reason Joey’s been able to make Team USA at all as their youngest member at this tournament is because of all the work he’s put into the last two summers up in the OJLL. He’s fought his way onto this team by saying ‘no’ to the concept of rest and ‘yes’ to lacrosse at every given opportunity. And now, he’s earned the greatest opportunity any young lacrosse player can have: the chance to chase a gold medal while playing for your country.

Joey’s undeniably been a lightning rod of conversation in his two years on the Hill; that comes with the territory when you arrive as the No. 1 ranked player in your class with the No. 22 on your back.

But no one can deny his work ethic, his love for the game or his desire to be great, and that’s exactly the kind of player and person we want leading the Orange as the ascent back up the mountain continues this spring.

But first, it’s time to don the red, white and blue and chase a world championship.