Syracuse's defensive stalwart, Riley Figueiras, has been recognized as the co-Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, sharing the honor with North Carolina's faceoff ace, Brady Wambach. This accolade comes on the heels of Figueiras leading Syracuse to back-to-back victories against Big East rivals.
The Orange first took down then-No. 14 Denver in a nail-biting 13-12 road win, followed by a commanding 18-12 triumph over then-No.
13 Georgetown. Figueiras was pivotal against the Hoyas, particularly in neutralizing Rory Connor, who had been the nation’s top scorer with an average of 4.5 goals per game.
Figueiras held him to just two goals, marking the first time all season Connor failed to notch a hat trick.
Georgetown’s head coach, Kevin Warne, had high praise for the Syracuse defense, highlighting the prowess of both Figueiras and his teammate Billy Dwan III. Figueiras even ventured into offensive territory during a transition, assisting Dante Bowen and Michael Leo, which contributed to a decisive 7-0 run in the second quarter, putting Syracuse ahead 9-4.
The Orange defense was particularly stingy, allowing Georgetown just one goal over a 21-minute stretch in the first half, while the Syracuse offense, led by Joey Spallina’s six points and Leo’s five-goal performance, kept the pressure on.
Even when Syracuse faced adversity in the fourth quarter, playing a man down due to Chuck Kuczynski's ejection and Figueiras’ penalties, the defense held strong, conceding only two goals in the final quarter. This defensive resilience was key to securing the victory.
This marks the second time this season Figueiras has been named Player of the Week, adding to Syracuse’s tally of eight such honors. His previous recognition came after a victory over then-No.
1 Maryland. Earlier in the season, teammates Jimmy McCool and John Mullen also received the accolade, underscoring the depth of talent on this Syracuse squad.