Seven years ago, as a member of the freshman girl’s lacrosse team at North Harford High School in Pylesville, Md., Monica Joines enjoyed relative anonymity. She’d played lacrosse for a year or two before that, enough time to learn the intricacies of the game, but no one expected her, or any freshman, to provide much help to the fairly successful varsity team.

But Joines never put much merit in expectations.

When North Harford made the regional playoffs that year, Joines was on the roster. Against nationally-ranked Mount Hebron in the first round of the state tournament, Joines saw significant playing time. North Harford lost, 17-3, but there was still a bright spot in the loss – Joines’ play.

She didn’t score that day, but she did show glimpses of the aggressive play and positive attitude that made Joines a valuable member of every team she’s played on.

Now a senior on the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team, Joines is more valuable than ever. With all-time Syracuse women’s lacrosse point leader Leigh-Ann Zimmer having graduated last spring, the Orange looks to Joines for an offensive spark, mental toughness and her trademark smile.

‘She’s our best player,’ said Syracuse coach Lisa Miller. ‘More than that, she’s a bubbly personality. She goes 100 miles per hour and is not afraid to get dirty. If you had a kid, you’d want Monica. She’s what you want from your best player.’

Since joining the varsity team at North Harford High, Joines has been considered a model player. She is still one of the few freshmen to play varsity in North Harford history. And despite having a solid senior class in 2000, North Harford coach Barbara Waite named Joines captain as a junior. Joines retained the position as a senior.

Waite had no choice but to name Joines the captain. She had everything Waite needed in a lacrosse player. Joines was a good student, a Division I recruiting prospect, a confident person and a loyal friend.

Waite rarely saw a player with such a complete package until Joines came along. Joines still ranks among the best players Waite – who no longer coaches lacrosse – has ever coached.

‘When you’ve got a player like her, she’s the type of person you want to represent you,’ Waite said. ‘It was wonderful for me to coach a true team player. She had a good attitude and the skills to do the job. That’s rare. Monica left and there was nothing else to do.’

Once at Syracuse, Joines was expected to fade into a crowd of more-talented players. And it was true for most of her freshman season.

While she played in all 16 games, she didn’t become a significant contributor until the end of the season. Joines adjusted to a lesser role than what she had in high school, but she continued to practice hard and kept a smile on her face.

And when her chance to excel came with four games left in her freshman season, Joines seized it. She still hasn’t let it go.

‘Although she was a little nervous freshman year, she didn’t show it,’ said Monti Joines, Monica’s father. ‘She had no fear. Monica was never intimidated.’

She shook the butterflies in her stomach and reverted to the gifted player Miller recruited out of North Harford. In those final four games, Joines scored nine points. She finished fifth on the team points list with 16.

Her frantic finish in 2002 cemented Joines as the personality of the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team. She proved she could compete on the Division I level. Now Joines wanted to dominate it.

Teamed with the powerful Zimmer in the midfield, Joines naturally flourished into a leader as a sophomore. While teams focused on Zimmer, Joines used her speed to aggressively attack opposing defenses.

‘She’s very much a leader and always has been,’ Joines’ father said. ‘That comes from her confidence.’

And she showcases that confidence through her smile.

Whether she’s competing, practicing or relaxing with her friends, Joines goes nowhere without a positive attitude. She remains comfortable with herself and others, and never has had a reason to act otherwise.

Spend a minute with Joines and you have no choice but to feel good about yourself.

‘I’m not one to make the worst out of situations,’ Joines said. ‘I try to see the best in things. My family is a very positive group of people. They set a good example for me. If something goes wrong, you just have to make the best out of it.’

Joines’ attitude undoubtedly rubbed off on her teammates. Under her watch, the team became a cohesive unit. Even among the instability of an ever-changing lineup, Joines provides a constant.

Whenever things fall apart on the field, the Orange automatically looks to Joines for support. And while all the feelings around her may be negative, she always looks for the positive in a situation. If SU lost by a goal, Joines, while disappointed in the loss, sees it as a learning experience. If she doesn’t score a point, she’ll study the defense and see what she could do better the next time.

‘There really isn’t much that Monica brings to the field that isn’t positive,’ said Syracuse senior Courtney Palladino. ‘You hardly ever look at her and say, ‘That was bad.’ That never happens. She’s always a positive influence.’

And entering her senior season, Joines has nothing but good intentions. She wants to end Georgetown’s dominance of the Big East and make the NCAA tournament after barely missing a bid last year.

But even if the Orange doesn’t follow through on those plans, Joines will undoubtedly come away with a memorable experience. And even after she’s played her last game in a Syracuse uniform, Joines’ impact on SU women’s lacrosse will be felt for a long time.

‘Monica is a great friend, a great teammate,’ Palladino said. ‘She’s my best friend. She’s so much more than just a great lacrosse player.’

Published on March 7, 2005 at 12:00 pm