Syracuse women’s lacrosse senior Monica Joines stepped on the field at the Carrier Dome, stretched for a brief moment and walked to midfield.

Without being prompted, the rest of the team stopped what it was doing and formed a circle around Joines. She said a few words and took off for a jog around the Carrier Dome. The team followed suit.

When the Orange begins its 2005 season with a scrimmage against Pennsylvania at noon tomorrow in the Carrier Dome, all eyes will be on Joines to lead a team that lost Leigh-Ann Zimmer, the leading point scorer in SU history.

But head coach Lisa Miller insists the pressure is on the whole team and not just Joines. The task of replacing Zimmer’s offensive production will be much easier if divided among the offensive players.

‘The offense has been moving the ball well against our defensive unit,’ Miller said. ‘What we really want is seven kids putting points on the board. Can you replace that many points with one person? No, but I think a lot of people are ready to chip in 25-30 points here and there.’

SU will use the scrimmage to work out the kinks in its system. The Orange also lost many of its defensive players, and Joines, the Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, may see time on the defensive end of the field.

Syracuse might have to look to Joines to bring cohesiveness to a defensive unit with many new faces. While the offense also can rely on seniors Courtney Palladino and Caitlyn Dragon, Miller isn’t sure how the defense will react to certain situations once it gets into a game.

‘We’re still testing out our game,’ Miller said. ‘We’re testing our offensive sets and seeing how our defense does in low-pressure and high-pressure situations. We have no offensive scouting report, so it’ll be interesting to see how we adapt.’

Joines is ready to face whatever comes her way. Whether she needs to use her speed to boost the SU offense or her aggressiveness to shut down the opposing offense, Joines will do what it takes to get her senior season off to a successful start.

Syracuse followed its leader through a strenuous off-season. Now that the season is about to begin, no one is more eager to play than Joines.

‘I really would like to get a win out of (the scrimmage),’ Joines said. ‘All the fall and winter and working out at home and coming here for six weeks – it’s a long road. Finally, you’re awarded a game, and wins hopefully.’

Published on February 9, 2005 at 12:00 pm