As is the case with most quality teams, there is sometimes a need for a minor tune-up.

The Syracuse field hockey team certainly is not a struggling squad, considering it has won eight of its last nine games. But when Villanova snapped the Orange’s seven-game winning streak last weekend, and certain fundamental skills were not as sharp, SU looked for a fix.

Head coach Kathleen Parker and associate head coach Mary McCracken worked in this week’s practice to hone in on the basics to ensure crisper passes, solid tackles, stronger containment and better communication.

SU hopes to pass the inspection when Providence visits Coyne Field at 7 p.m. for a Big East showdown. Syracuse also hosts Dartmouth on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

‘Without the solid fundamentals, you can’t get anywhere, whether that’s passing, receiving or just the basic competitive drive,’ goalie Betsy Wagner said. ‘This past week they gave us our down time and let us see we’re not untouchable and that we do have flaws, and we exploit it so we can eliminate them.’

In practice the Orange ran numerous drills that emphasized these fundamentals, dividing the team in half and working on stick and passing skills. Then the defensive players came out and put pressure on the ball-handlers, seeing if they could maintain possession.

Later on, Parker lined up a group of six players and dropped a ball. After the whistle was blown players ran for the ball and then played three-on-three.

Parker thought it was the previous matchups with Albany, Villanova and Lafayette that exploited the Orange’s weaknesses. Though the Orange was victorious against the Great Danes and Leopards, SU’s usual intensity dropped a degree against the Wildcats.

‘In the Villanova game, when we went down two goals very quickly, I think we were in shock for a few minutes and then we started playing a little bit better and a little bit quicker,’ Parker said. ‘By then it was too late already. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you score real early without any problem like we did at Lafayette, I think you start to relax too much. I didn’t feel we were sharp against Lafayette.’

‘They were pressuring harder defensively and our skills broke down under pressure,’ McCracken said of Albany and Villanova. ‘We like to counter-attack. When we do get possession of the ball, there are quick transitions on the attack and a numbers advantage.’

When the Orange (9-5, 2-1) gets on the offensive, it can be dangerous. With a number of weapons, including Brittany Carriero, Paige Sullivan and Joanne Lombard each leading the squad with six goals, not one player can be overlooked. Neither can the players who set up the goals.

‘It’s still balanced and I don’t think scoring means who are the better players,’ Carriero said. ‘It’s a team effort to get the ball in the cage. It’s just that somebody touched it last before it went in.’

‘Everyone’s contributing evenly,’ Lombard said. ‘From the defensive end, they’re transferring the ball over and all the way down the goal line. (Defensive back) Lindsay Kocher never gets any credit for being the most consistent, strongest and biggest leader on the team.’

When the Friars (7-8, 0-2) visit Syracuse’s side of the field, they will have to face the defensive backs as well as Wagner in goal. Wagner recently notched her 200th save in the Villanova matchup, and the overall defense has been instrumental in the Orange’s three shutouts this year. So far, SU’s mindset, in which everyone fulfills their roles, has paid dividends.

‘It’s not one person who wants it more or anything like that,’ Wagner said. ‘Everyone wants it equally and is putting an equal amount of effort to get the ball in the cage. I don’t think that anybody’s upset at all when somebody scores. I think the first thing that goes through everybody’s mind is ‘All right, we’re up.”

Published on October 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm