So far, the rankings have featured mostly athletes from the last 20 years. Today, two of our five athletes bring a little blast from the past.
#85: Tim O’Hara
Before Tim O’Hara came to Syracuse, SU lacrosse and coach Roy Simmons Jr. had had one winning season in the past four years. But from 1977-1980, O’Hara helped to turn the program into the powerhouse it is today. He was a prolific finisher, graduating as SU’s leading scorer with 282 career goals, and also a three time All-American, making the first team his senior season. Many great attackers have come through the program since the late ‘70s, bumping O’Hara down to fourth all-time on the scoring list, but number 14 will be remembered for changing the culture of Syracuse lacrosse.
#84: Emily Hawryschuk
Speaking of goal scorers, Emily Hawryschuk is a lethal one in her own right. In 2018, her junior season, she scored 75 goals in 21 games, the second-best output in SU women’s lax history. Last year she was on pace to beat that record, netting 27 in just five games before the season was canceled. Hawryschuk has also received All-Northeast Region honors all four years of her college career, been named an all American twice, and would’ve won the Tewaaraton award for the best player in college lacrosse in 2020. The best part of all this? Hawryschuk will be back in Orange for a fifth year of lacrosse in 2021.
#83: Joel White
To finish off this lacrosse trio, we couldn’t forget the best defensive midfielder in Syracuse history. Joel White. White gave opposing middies and attackers fits in his four years in the Dome. He graduated from SU in 2011 with the records for most ground balls (238) and most goals by a defensive player (18). White also won two national championships in 2008 and 2009, and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in the latter. He is the only long stick to win  Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin Jr. Award, given to the best midfielder in the nation. White has played for multiple U.S. national teams as well, and now is a midfielder for Chrome Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League.
#82: Jim Collins
Linebacker Jim Collins competed during some tumultuous seasons on the Hill, as former players and fans turned against head coach Frank Maloney in 1979, Collins’ junior year. However, Collins did not let the off-field drama deter his play on the gridiron. He was an honorable mention All-American his senior year, and left Syracuse after recording 624 tackles, an Orange record. Picked by the LA Rams in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft, Collins had a successful seven-year career with the Rams and Chargers. He was a Pro Bowler in 1985.
#81: Malachi Richardson
And finally wrapping up the last group of five, a one and done talent from Syracuse’s 2016 Final Four run. An enigmatic talent who could take over games when SU needed it most. Richardson will be remembered best for his performances in the NCAA Tournament, where he scored in double digits every single game, and dropped 21 in the second half of an epic comeback over Virginia (then flashed the three point goggles pictured above). Richardson scored 496 points over the course of his freshman season, and started every single game for Jim Boeheim. Unfortunately, his NBA career has not exactly worked out the way Orange Nation though it would.
