Before Syracuse’s game Saturday against Rutgers, SU women’s lacrosse coach Lisa Miller described the likely pace as a ‘war of attrition.’ That’s because the Scarlet Knights are notorious for playing possession-stalling, low-scoring games.

The action didn’t so much resemble a war of attrition as it did a game of keep-away.

The Orangewomen (8-2, 5-1 Big East) defeated Rutgers, 8-6, in a defensive struggle in the Carrier Dome. If the snail’s pace surprised Syracuse, it’s not because it wasn’t warned.

Saturday, No. 8 Syracuse took 20 first half shots against the Scarlet Knights — the same number Rutgers (6-3, 0-2) took all game.

Syracuse built a 5-0 lead in the first eight minutes. A goal by Jessica Bell five minutes into the game highlighted the run. With the score 1-0, Leigh-Ann Zimmer took the ball behind the crease on a set play. After a missed shot, senior Kim Wayne came away with the ground ball. Wayne fired to Bell, who, in one fluid motion, stuck the ball in the back of the cage.

In what seems to be a weekly tradition for the Orangewomen, their opponents made an almost equalizing run. Rutgers midfielder Melissa Mosey scored three goals in a four-goal span. Two late Orangewomen scores by Zimmer and senior Jessica Trombley made the score 7-5 at halftime.

While Syracuse held the Scarlet Knights to only seven first-half shots, Rutgers scored on five of them.

‘In the first half, I wasn’t seeing the ball,’ senior goalkeeper Carla Gigon said. ‘That was my fault.’

All production shut down in the second half. Each team traded a goal in the first five minutes of the second half. For the next 25 minutes, the teams played to a stalemate.

‘Maybe we got tired,’ said Miller, whose team is notorious for running off goals at will. ‘Do we want to put more points on the board? Yeah. But ultimately, if we can grab a lead like that, we’re going to win.’

The Orangewomen, who outshot Rutgers 29-20, improved to 6-0 when outshooting their opponent. But for Miller, shooting more than the opponent doesn’t guarantee a win.

‘I don’t think it is the number of shots as much as the quality of shots,’ Miller said. ‘It’s nice if we can shoot 40 shots, but if we’re taking 40 shots at the (goalie’s) chest, it’s not as productive.’

Offensively, the Orangewomen gave Big East Defensive Player of the Week goalkeeper Lyndsey Feldman a lot of easy opportunities. With Feldman’s 13 saves, Syracuse may have given Rutgers’ goalie the award for next week, too.

Wayne led Syracuse with one goal and two assists. Zimmer scored two goals and an assist.

Gigon struggled in net for the Orangewomen. She only registered one save in the first half but finished with 10 for the game. Against Notre Dame last Wednesday, Gigon ventured out of her crease several times to escape Irish attackers.

Saturday, her signature move burned her. After dodging Rutgers pressure, Gigon ran back to her cage and tripped on the Carrier Dome turf, taking a nosedive at the 10-yard line.

Rutgers stole the ball and Claire Grooms calmly tucked it into the empty net.

‘That’s going to happen,’ Gigon said. ‘That’s part of my game. I have to live with the mistakes.’

Published on April 6, 2003 at 12:00 pm