In a position that typically demands vocal leaders, Scott Firman succeeds as the opposite. The soft-spoken senior murmurs and his on-field manner is much the same: He’s not particularly aggressive or fast, and he does not possess the same athleticism as some of the game’s top defenders.

In many ways, Firman does not fit the mold of lockdown defender. His demeanor and build do not qualify him for such a title. And yet that is what he has shaped up to be during his final season at Syracuse. Firman, who wasn’t even mentioned at SU’s media day in January or on preseason watch lists, has held leading scorers in Albany’s Connor Fields, Johns Hopkins’ Shack Stanwick, Duke’s Justin Guterding and Notre Dame’s Ryder Garnsey to below their season averages.

In the process, he has adjusted seamlessly from long-stick midfielder to close defense. The best defender on the top-ranked Orange (8-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast), rolling on a six-game winning streak, has muted the opposition’s best players. To suppress offenses, Firman has caused a team-high nine turnovers. The former No. 4 defender and No. 17 player overall in the Class of 2013 by Inside Lacrosse has silenced any questions that came when the inexperienced backline took the field for the first time in February.

“When Nick Mellen had his injury and stuff, everyone was like, ‘OK, who’s going to take that No. 1 spot?’” said SU assistant coach and defensive guru Lelan Rogers. “’What’s going to happen to the defense?’ Now we can say OK, we’re going to put our best defensive threat on their best offensive threat. And we can neutralize him.

“I never would have thought a long-pole coming down in one year’s time could progress and become one of the best defensemen in the country.”

Firman’s progression actually started as a freshman in 2014, when he worked as faceoff wing specialist. Over the next year, he bumped to the backup long-stick midfielder, later starting at long-stick midfielder in 2016. His steady development makes this year less of an anomaly. That is, until one sees how he can appear disengaged, baiting the offensive man into thinking he can dodge by.

That’s when his powerful, compact 5-foot-11, 189-pound frame goes to work. He rarely crosses his feet. He knows defensive packages, slides and techniques “like the back of his hand.” He corrals ground balls and limits second chances. He creeps up on top threats off-ball, pounces on skip passes and senses plays before they fully develop. He has a combination of exceptional reflexes, instincts, lacrosse intelligence and lower-body strength, all of which makes him a feared defender.

“He doesn’t fall for anything,” former SU All-American attack Dylan Donahue said. “He just stays put. He was a bruiser to go up against in practice. I never wanted to go up against him.”

Ally Moreo | Photo Editor

Firman’s prowess has pushed SU one win away from matching the program’s best start since 2011. The senior mumbles that it’s thanks to communication and Evan Molloy in goal, when Firman’s the one who’s denied, blocked, shut down, stifled — word it any way — prolific scorers nearly every week. Covering less ground at close defense than he did up top makes the switch slightly more manageable.

At then-No. 1 Notre Dame on April 1, the Fighting Irish star Garnsey dropped a pass darting to the cage and nearly lost the ball. Garnsey recovered to find Firman bodying him up and, as he tried to salvage the situation, tossed a pass over the cage and out of bounds.

In breaking down film, Firman studies technique, footwork and how his feet will match up with the attack. He analyzes which hand the opposition prefers, the moves he resorts to and where he likes to hold his stick. He learns when to turn his hips and run, stay put and feel screens. He predicts when to slide and when to give his man space. Or when to keep the pockets with which the attack has to work air-tight.

“Tiny things that are really detailed,” Firman said. “I’m watching all of that.”

Emma Comtois | Digital Design Editor

His peers said he is one of the smartest and fundamentally sound players at Syracuse. He does not throw checks. Instead, he holds his ground and rarely tries to take the ball away.

His leg strength — he has one of the highest squat weights on the team — allows him to match up, shift to play help defense or compensate if he makes an incorrect read or slips.

A year ago, he played alongside former SU star defenseman Brandon Mullins, another quiet leader on the SU defense. Under his tutelage, Firman accrued knowledge and invaluable experience that’s served him well this year. He leads a Syracuse defense two and a half weeks from a shot at a third consecutive ACC tournament title.

“You look at him and you don’t think he’s very physical or strong until you go against him,” former SU midfielder Tim Barber said. “That’s one thing I learned from day one: don’t try to out-muscle him. It’s just his presence. There’s not really a set move you can make on him.”

Published on April 10, 2017 at 10:10 pm

Contact Matthew: mguti100@syr.edu | @MatthewGut21