Tonight’s Syracuse-Cornell women’s lacrosse game probably won’t take as long as last year’s game, but with the unpredictable nature of the rivalry, no one knows for sure.

When the Orange met Cornell last April, the teams played the longest game in SU history, a 73-minute quadruple overtime thriller won by the Big Red.

And although CU is a much younger team now with 13 freshmen on the roster, No. 17 Syracuse surely wants to erase the memories of last year’s upset. It also hopes to continue its four-game winning streak when Cornell visits the Carrier Dome tonight at 7.

‘(Cornell’s) pretty consistent,’ said Syracuse head coach Lisa Miller. ‘A lot of teams are young right now. Young or not, everybody plays the game. We would be underestimating them if we said they were young.’

Syracuse (6-2) knows it shouldn’t take the Big Red softly just because the young Cornell team hasn’t played as well as it’s capable. The Orange almost lost to UConn on March 26 and struggled with Brown for most of the first half before a run of six straight goals led the Orange to a 19-6 win.

With its high-powered attack, Syracuse will look to bury Cornell (4-3) before the Big Red can start its offense. The Orange play at quick pace, constantly pushing the ball on attack and hoisting shots at the net. SU is as much a threat close to the net as it is from the midfield position.

Cornell, on the other hand, likes to set the ball up in a half-field offense and use plays to open looks at the net. It is more deliberate on attack and takes its time. Syracuse averages 31 shots on goal this season, while Cornell takes 24.7 shot per game.

The Orange’s quick tempo concerned Cornell head coach Jenny Graap, and while she prepared her team for a faster style of play, she isn’t sure how her young team will react if it gets down early.

‘They take a lot of risks as a team,’ Graap said. ‘We want to focus on not giving them high-quality shots. We know they’ll play a fast tempo and we don’t want to get flustered. We have a lot of respect for the Syracuse program. We need to bring an intense effort to win.’

Syracuse expects the Big Red to use a midfield trap to slow the Orange attack. The trap is similar to one Georgetown used in a 13-6 win over SU on March 12. While Syracuse struggled with the trap in that game, it practiced against pressure to prepare for Cornell.

The series record is tied 4-4, and in the ninth meeting Syracuse should be considered the favorite. But so was last year’s Orange, and both teams know anything could happen when SU and Cornell play.

‘Year in and year out, Cornell is a big game,’ Miller said. ‘As much as I hated losing last year, it was a great game. If you spent $3 to see that game, you definitely got your money’s worth.’

Published on April 3, 2005 at 12:00 pm