After losing just two players from last year’s team, the Syracuse field hockey team, you’d think, shouldn’t be a lot different.

But despite the familiar faces and personalities, SU in 2004 has been nothing close to the year before. And winning certainly helps matters.

After a 7-11 record a year ago and missing the Big East tournament for the first time, SU has already eclipsed its win total from 2003 with an 8-4 record and seven regular season games still remaining.

After Tuesday’s 6-0 win over Albany, SU is tied for first place in the conference. Picked to finish fourth in the conference in the Big East media guide, and surely less talented than national powers Boston College and Connecticut, the Orange is in the national spotlight with those teams and has beaten the Eagles already.

A year ago, Syracuse was hoping to hang with the top teams.

‘This year we are a top team,’ junior forward Paige Sullivan said. ‘We don’t play down to other teams. We stay on one level and that’s the best that Syracuse field hockey is.’

‘I see the team paying attention to more details,’ associate head coach Mary McCracken said. ‘They’re making more adjustments than they did last year. Our focus seems to be wider.’

Syracuse could have easily called this season a victory with a .500 record and a trip to the Big East tournament. But now it’s playing for a national ranking and wins against NCAA tournament teams.

‘We’re much more confident in our play,’ McCracken said. ‘Confidence is a big difference. Winning always helps that.’

‘This year we complement each other instead of playing for ourselves,’ Sullivan said. ‘We’re playing with confidence and heart every night. It seems to be working because we have a nice streak going.’

It’s a streak that dates back to Sept. 17 with a win at Rutgers. The Orange will try to notch its eighth consecutive win when it travels to Villanova on Friday.

With all-conference defender Michelle Sola back in uniform and sophomore Meg Ricker back from an ankle injury, Syracuse continues to add depth.

‘This team is positive in most aspects,’ McCracken said. ‘It’s really fun right now. They’re enjoying it.’

Quite a difference a year makes.

Published on October 5, 2004 at 12:00 pm