Syracuse, N.Y. — The waiting will be the hardest part.

Both John Desko and Gary Gait’s Syracuse University lacrosse teams would be on track for trophies in 2020 if not for, well, you know, a pandemic.

The men’s team was 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country when the sports world shut down. Inside Lacrosse put nine SU players on its honorary squad, more than any team in the country.

Goaltender Drake Porter and faceoff specialist Danny Varello recently announced they will be back in 2021. Porter led the ACC in save percentage this season, stopping 57.7 percent of the shots he faced.

“My teammates and I will do whatever it takes to bring a national championship back to ‘Cuse. Hartford or bust,'’' Porter wrote on his Instagram account, referring to the site of the 2021 Final Four.

Varello ranked 12th nationally with a faceoff win percentage of .631 this season. That mark that was second in the ACC, trailing only teammate Jakob Phaup (.679).

If Jaime Trimboli, who has said he is leaning toward coming back, returns, he comes back to the only school that placed its entire first midfield unit in the All-American group. Trimboli, Brendan Curry and Tucker Dordevic were on pace to be the third-most productive midfield line by points-per-game in Syracuse history.

It only gets better if Stephen Rehfuss also chooses to return to a talented attack that includes Griffin Cook, electric transfer Chase Scanlan and solid fourth option Owen Seebold.

Did I mention Syracuse has one of the top recruits in the country in Owen Hiltz, a midfielder/attack, from the Culver Academy in Indiana?

The SU women’s team was 7-1 and No. 4 in the country when the season hit the coronavirus pause button.

Gait’s Orange had defeated traditional powers Maryland and Northwestern and had the best player in the country on its roster in Emily Hawryschuk, who finished the shortened season with 46 points on 39 goals and seven assists.

Emily Hawryschuk, arguably the best player in women's college lacrosse in 2020, announced recently she will come back to Syracuse in 2021.Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Hawryschuk and goaltender Asa Goldstock, who had an NCAA-leading 7.07 goals-against average in 2020, know what is at stake in choosing to return for the 2021 season.

A title run or bust.

“We’re already brainstorming and planning what the next year’s going to look like. It’s constantly in the back of our minds,” Hawryschuk said.

“It’s not like we even needed a redo because we were on path to have probably one of the best seasons Syracuse lacrosse has ever had," Goldstock said. "We have this greater bond with our teammates, now, too, We don’t have to start over. We’re just picking up where we left off.”

When Gait called his star player last week, he led with "Hi, is this Emily Hawryschuk, member of the 2021 national championship team?” Hawryschuk recounted last week.

Four other SU players were named All-Americans. Redshirt junior Kerry Defliese and sophomore Sarah Cooper were voted to the second team, while sophomores Megan Carney and Meaghan Tyrrell earned honorable mention accolades.

Defliese and Cooper helped the Syracuse defense lead the nation with a 7.00 goals-against average. Cooper led the Orange with 12 caused turnovers, while Defliese tied for second with eight.

Carney led the Orange in assists (11) and ranked second in goals (21) and points (32). Tyrrell ranked third on the team in points (28) goals (19) and assists (nine).

Waiting months to watch these two teams play again is cruel and unusual punishment, but they also say good things come to those who wait, right?

When Syracuse wins two lacrosse titles in 2021, that prolonged absence will only make the heart grow fonder.

Contact Brent Axe: Email | Twitter