Justin Sykes: The man of stability
After being a reliable midfielder for Hofstra for the last half-decade, men’s lacrosse’s Justin Sykes is ready to move on.
In his Hofstra career, Sykes has played multiple crucial roles in the Pride’s most important games and scored clutch goals in the biggest moments. He had the game-winning goal in the 2022 season opener against Merrimack College where Hofstra won 8-7.
What turned into an excellent collegiate career started in doubt. The Oakville, Ontario native wasn’t always so sure he would like being at Hofstra.
“My first fall here I was very homesick, and I still am to some extent,” Sykes said. “Now I live in a house with my best friends. The environment in the locker room makes Hofstra feel like home. I’m not sad about being eight hours away.”
Family was an important selling point to Sykes. His earliest lacrosse memories are of him playing in the driveway with his older brothers, so he knew it would take a lot for him to leave home. But Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney was determined to get Sykes on the squad.
Due to the NCAA's recruiting rule changes, Sykes could not receive scholarship offers until Sept. 1, 2022, in his junior year, and the familial aspect of Hofstra became more prominent.
“I remember that day so clearly,” Sykes said. “I was at a Zach Brown Band concert and as soon as the clock struck midnight I got a call from coach Tierney. It showed me how much he cared about me. After that call my parents and I visited campus and saw all the amazing facilities. It was hard to turn down.”
Sykes was one of Tierney’s top recruits in the class of 2019. Once joining the program, Tierney discovered there was much more to Sykes than just his play on the field.
“He’s a real quiet guy,” Tierney said. “But he leads by example, and he’ll always be an emotional balance for the team.”
Tierney praises Sykes stability and consistency. He is a team-first guy who is willing to blend in with others to get the best results for the program.
“His highs are never too high and his lows are never too low,” Tierney said. “Justin no longer gets upset when he misses a ball he should’ve put away. When he scores a big goal, his teammates are more excited than he is. He’s very even-keeled.”
Goals have come in bunches throughout Sykes’ career. This season, there has yet to be a game where Sykes was held off the scoresheet.
He’s reached new career highs this season in goals and points, 22 and 27, respectively, something that wouldn’t have been possible if he hadn’t decided to take his fifth-year option. For Sykes, it came down to a feeling of unfinished business at Hofstra.
“I wasn’t happy with the way things ended. I was coming off shoulder surgery and had to sit out most of the fall,” Sykes said. “I wanted that no-regrets mentality. This year hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to so far. Right now, we’re just pushing in the pile and working to extend the season.”
This season, Sykes’ approach to the game has changed from his years prior. He is more relaxed and trusting with the rest of the Pride’s top midfield unit including the likes of Rory Jones and Griffin Turner. He credits his increased production to the work of his teammates.
“Coach [Michael] Gongas tells me to let the game come to me. I feel like the guys I’m playing with are just finding me open,” Sykes said. “The chemistry we have on the field is top-notch. I enjoy playing with the guys.”
Tierney has liked what he’s seeing from Sykes from early on, especially as a guy who scored two points a game as a freshman.
“He’s a quiet leader on this team. When playing offense, you need six different instruments in your band,” Tierney said. “He’s the quietest of those instruments, but you’re gonna need to get that consistent sound from him.”
It may come as a surprise to know that he’s had two shoulder surgeries during the offseason. Rather than letting it stop him, he took that in stride, putting together the big plays and the leadership to turn Hofstra into a force. He wanted to make his last year count by playing his best lacrosse for the team, and himself.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs this year. Morale has been a little low sometimes,” Sykes said. “I’ve kept that ‘next man up’ mentality just like you have on the field. We just gotta move on. Win or lose on Saturday, come ready to work on Monday.”
A stand-out point for Sykes in the past two years has been a relationship with fellow Oakville, Ontario native Matt Vilas, as the short-stick defensive midfielder grew up in the same hometown as Sykes playing box lacrosse.
“Matt’s two years younger than me, the same age gap between me and my brother,” Sykes said. “As a hometown guy, he knows what I’m going through. He and I are very close. It’s nice to have someone like that here.
With the end of his collegiate career approaching, lacrosse will very much still be a part of Sykes’ future. Once this season wraps, Sykes’ next season will be in Fort Worth, Texas with Panther City Lacrosse Club in the NLL as part of his second round, where he will play box lacrosse.
“I thought there’d be a chance to play professional lacrosse,” Sykes said. “I put in so much work as a kid and had the chance to be coached by people that played professionally. I feel like the hard work is starting to pay off.”
Before that, Sykes still has two more regular-season games for the Pride. Including his senior day game which will honor all the accomplishments of his storied career at Hofstra.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Lee S. Weissman
