Syracuse junior Melody Agnew knew exactly what to do.

As a Monica Joines’ shot flew over the crossbar of Albany’s goal in the first half of Sunday’s women’s lacrosse game at the Carrier Dome, Agnew snagged the ball out of the air behind the goal and tossed it over the goalie’s head.

Out of nowhere, senior Caitlyn Dragon caught the ball and, in one motion, hurled it toward the goal. The shot went in the net, though Albany goalie Jen Daly didn’t seem to notice.

Led by Agnew, Dragon and Joines, the Syracuse attack made scoring look routine. With its most experienced unit on the same page, the No. 12 Orange easily defeated Albany, 17-4, in front of 331 fans at the Carrier Dome.

‘It’s good to get out there for the first game and play as a team,’ Agnew said. ‘We’re all really good friends, so that helps our chemistry. We know how each other plays. Our attack played together and helped each other out.’

The Orange attack spent its off-season practices working on recognizing different playing styles among the team. Agnew, Dragon and Joines would study each other’s games to make playing as a unit easier.

That work came to fruition yesterday, as Syracuse (1-0) fired 42 shots. Whenever it seemed like an offensive series ended, one of the Orange attackers circled out and found a wide-open teammate.

Agnew led the Orange with four goals and two assists. Joines and Dragon had three goals each, and Joines added two assists.

‘We started to see in practice what people are good at,’ Joines said. ‘We know if we hit them in the right spot, they’re gonna finish. We’ve definitely learned what each other’s good at. As the season goes on, we’ve got to capitalize on those strengths.’

With Agnew and Dragon swarming around the crease and Joines on the top of the Orange attack, SU created multiple scoring options.

When the Great Danes (1-2) closed in on the crease, Syracuse passed the ball to Joines and isolated her defender so she could use her speed and agility to break toward the net. Once Albany pulled its defenders off the goal, Joines could dump the ball in toward the net, allowing Agnew and Dragon to take clearer shots.

SU’s plan worked to perfection, as it piled on an 11-1 lead at halftime.

‘Anytime the attack can get off close to 45 shots, they’re playing well,’ said Syracuse head coach Lisa Miller. ‘Mel and Caitlyn had wonderful games. They did exactly what they’re supposed to do. The middies found them and they finished. They asserted themselves and had a very good game.’

Miller especially was pleased with the attack and midfield’s ability to regain possession after a missed shot. With multiple shots on goal in every possession, Syracuse rarely left Albany’s end of the field without a goal.

And with the Orange controlling the ball for most of the game, it gave the attack plenty of time to further solidify as a unit.

‘They’re beginning to trust each other,’ Miller said. ‘Caitlyn and Mel can be dangerous around the crease. Mel has the quickest hands on the team. If I needed to draft someone as a goalkeeper, I would draft Mel. She’s been working really hard, and it paid off today. She had a great game.’

Published on February 26, 2005 at 12:00 pm