Dan Hardy doesn’t like to lift weights. The Syracuse attackman wouldn’t do it if he didn’t feel it was necessary.

He felt he was able to rely solely on his natural physical makeup when he scored 258 goals for Tully (N.Y.) High School. Though he adjusted quickly to the college ranks by posting 11 goals and 10 assists his freshman year, Hardy felt physically overwhelmed.

Hardy devoted the summer to agility exercises and working out, increasing his weight from 210 pounds to 230 pounds. He’s seen the payoff. In Syracuse’s 12-8 victory over Navy in a scrimmage Saturday, Hardy scored a hat trick and dished an assist.

‘In high school, everything came easier for me,’ Hardy said. ‘I didn’t really need to (lift). But last year I was just getting pushed around a lot more. So I wanted to get bigger.’

SU head coach John Desko noticed Hardy using his physical bulk to position himself inside the crease. But Desko hesitated to evaluate improvement given Hardy played at midfield last year and is now at attack. He found it logical to believe Hardy is becoming more comfortable in attacking the cage given his increased strength.

The attack position is designed to go toward the goal as a feeder or dodger. There are fewer opportunities to do that at midfield as the scoring opportunities rely on more long-range shots.

Desko, however, did not have the impression that Hardy’s lack of weight training inhibited his play last season.

‘Any team, in the scouting report, they look and see freshmen,’ Desko said. ‘Those guys are going to get tested. The people will try to be physical. When you play a big guy, you have to be physical. But I didn’t see him getting pushed around.’

Sophomore attackman Kenny Nims said Hardy went through the team’s routine workouts last year, but never went to the gym on his own until this summer. Nims has noticed after Hardy establishes his physical presences inside, defensemen have stepped off so Hardy doesn’t push them around.

Hardy thought he played passively on the offensive end in 2006. He said sometimes he would give his opponent some space because, although not in the best position to make a play, still possessing the ball was a better tradeoff than losing it. He feels much better with the reversed role.

‘It’s really hard to cover him because he is so big,’ SU attackman Mike Leveille said of Hardy. ‘I’m excited about that because it is hard for one single person to cover him. Teams are going to have to look to slide early. That’s going to open up a lot of things.’

He opened up a lot on the field on Saturday. The Orange jumped out to a comfortable 8-0 lead in the second period. Hardy and Leveille scored two goals each in the first quarter. Hardy, Leveille and Nims combined for 10 points.

Hardy’s play doesn’t rely strictly on his physical frame to score goals. Desko thinks Hardy possesses equal ability in scoring from inside and outside the crease. With the multiple options, Hardy has stretched defenses and has been able to look over top of them. Attackman Greg Niewieroski often sees Hardy mixing up his physical size and quick presence to throw off defenders. That creates more opportunities outside.

‘His shot is real hard and he has long range,’ Niewieroski said of Hardy. ‘The 20 pounds (he put on) probably helps a lot when he’s dodging. He leans into his defender and owns them a little bit. He pushes in and when he’s at an angle that he wants to shoot, he can push in, step out and then chuck it.’

Aside from his physical play and field vision, Hardy feels more comfortable at attack. It’s his natural position and he’s playing alongside Nims and Niewieroski like when they did in the Empire State Games in 2003. Since Niewieroski plays the second line, Hardy is becoming acquainted with Leveille’s experience. Hardy sees the familiarity quickly developing.

‘We know each other’s moves and what type of cuts we’re going to make,’ Hardy said. ‘It’s like we’re inside each other’s heads.’

Published on February 12, 2007 at 12:00 pm