Gary Gait was known for his finesse. Syracuse’s all-time leading goal scorer dazzled with shots and passes. He attacked tight areas, bodied defenders in one-on-one situations and occasionally used acrobatics to score.

He became a men’s lacrosse legend. But none of Gait’s success would’ve happened without box lacrosse, he said. The British Columbia native played professional box lacrosse for 17 years, starting at four years old, and has become an expert in the game.

Gait, 51, now incorporates the sport that brought him national championships and professional acclaim as a head coach. For the second consecutive year in a row with “having fun with practice,” No. 4 Syracuse (4-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) used box lacrosse — a five-on-five, condensed and fast pace version of the sport — in the final weeks of preparation leading up to 2019’s season. It’s helped enforce nonverbal communication, ease pick-and-roll opportunities, work in tight spaces and open up backdoor chances, Gait said. Three weeks into the season, the results have shown with the Orange scoring 12 or more goals in all five of their games.

“Lacrosse is all about creativity, behind the legs, behind the back, and Gary loves that stuff,” redshirt junior Morgan Alexander said. “Box lacrosse creates it.”

Remnants of the game — which was played twice a week after fall ball this offseason — have slowly trickled into SU’s attack this season. Stuck in a tight space close to the goal against Binghamton, Alexander swung a no-look shot behind her back to score, something that was emphasized to her in box lacrosse, she said.

When Emily Hawryschuk was face-guarded Sunday by Northwestern’s Nell Copeland, she used off-ball screens to create open player-on-goal opportunities for her teammates. And as Hawryschuk and freshman defender Sarah Cooper ran a give-and-go off a Coastal Carolina turnover, their communication during the play set Cooper up for her first collegiate score.

Slowly, Division I’s men’s and women’s lacrosse has tried to incorporate some box skills into it, Gait said. But with frequent obstruction, shooting space and dangerous play penalties, the crossover is limited. That’s why shooting with creativity is so coveted, Gait said.

“It warms you up for the field,” Emily Resnick said. “It gets really physical and prepares you for playing physical defense and tricky offense.”

With only 20 total practices before last season and the cancelation of fall ball, a focus on the field game became more imperative. But with more time heading into this year and a plethora of offensive talent known for its tricks, Gait set aside time for box again.

Box lacrosse features five attack, who are called “runners,” and five defenders. Because the field is played in a hockey box under ice with a goalkeeper in hockey pads, the game requires improvisation because of its tight spaces. But for goalkeeper Asa Goldstock, being inside a four by five foot net is “completely” different than her spot in front of the Carrier Dome’s end zone.

“I’m never going to see shots like that or have my goal like that,” Goldstock said. “(But) Gary’s an attacker, so you know, we do it.”

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Instead of Goldstock keeping her stick next to her helmet, she holds it like a hockey stick — one hand on the stick, another following the ball. With a shorter net, she shifts with her hips. Goldstock gets hit more, but it gives her more repetitions at stopping shots close to the net.

It’s given Goldstock a new approach to goalkeeping, she said. And for her counterparts on the field, it’s made their offense more adaptable. Hawryschuk splits double teams more. Resnick started to play closer to players on the attack. Alexander got tougher near the crease from it. It’s been more than just “fun” for SU, it’s made their offense multidimensional.

“You take what’s good out of the box,” Gait said, “take it to the field when you can, and it can make a perfect team.”

Published on February 27, 2019 at 12:33 am

Contact KJ: kjedelma@syr.edu | @KJEdelman