PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Long-stick midfielder Jared Fernandez will miss the rest of the 2018 season, Syracuse head coach John Desko confirmed Sunday afternoon following the Orange’s 14-10 loss to Rutgers.

The freshman dropped to the ground in the final minute of SU’s (3-3, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) win against Virginia on March 4 and tried dragging himself off the field before being attended to by trainers. Though the injury is unknown, Fernandez was seen grabbing at his knee.

Fernandez stepped up into the backup LSM role before his injury, taking over for the then-injured Andrew Helmer. Though expected to be out for a while, Helmer returned to action last week against Johns Hopkins.

Both Army’s and Virginia’s head coaches noted Fernandez’s performance after SU had beaten both teams. Fernandez had given the opposing midfielders problems because of his aggressiveness and quickness, Desko said.

Fernandez has also become a key cog on the faceoff unit as a wing. Before his injury, he was often paired alongside defender Brett Kennedy.

“(Fernandez) gave them a lot of energy as the second pole,” Army head coach Joe Alberici said after SU’s triple-overtime win. “… He got into some people’s gloves, made some plays.”

Fernandez finished the year with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers in four games.

Published on March 18, 2018 at 6:56 pm

Contact Charlie: csdistur@syr.edu | @charliedisturco