Mark Brode knew it was a bad decision. The Syracuse team doctors told him he needed a few weeks for his fractured finger to heal, and that meant no weightlifting.

He did it anyway. The throbbing pain that the senior midfielder felt after each lift was worth the risk as he tried to get ready for the season opener of his senior year.

“It swelled up pretty badly,” Brode said. “I couldn’t sleep for a few nights because it hurt so bad, but in my head I kept thinking that I needed to push myself to get back.”

In spite of that setback, the debut that Brode lost sleep over is likely coming soon. He will still sport a cast, but he said the swelling has receded enough to warrant some minutes this Friday when Syracuse takes on Niagara at SU Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

The Orange (2-0) has thrived despite the absence of its most experienced player through its first two games. After clinching another close win over Binghamton on Tuesday night, the team is off to its best start since 2006. And the team has taken 15 more shots on goal than its opponents.

But at times, head coach Ian McIntyre has noticed his team can sink into an offensive lull. Against Albany, SU didn’t score its first goal until the 73rd minute of play. It scored faster against Binghamton, but only netted one goal and left the door open for a Bearcats comeback.

That’s where Brode can help. Scorers like Louis Clark and Jordan Vale won’t have to work as hard to create their own shot. Brode is a skilled distributor and a goal scorer who has 15 career points.

His presence gives opponents another player to focus on. Clark said that Brode’s return could improve the offense from a group that has potential to a group that capitalizes on more shots and pulls away in games.

“He can do wonders for us as far as finishing,” Clark said. “We’ve missed him out there.”

Clark and others have missed him on the field for nearly two weeks. Brode was injured when a seemingly harmless game of keep-away turned ugly for the Setauket, N.Y., native.

Midfielder Jordan Vale collided with Brode in a one-on-two drill, where two players are charged with keeping possession away from another. Brode hit the ground and heard a snap, and thought the injury he suffered would be a serious one.

“Right there I knew it was broken,” said Brode. “And you automatically assume surgery when you think about that.”

He was half right. Brode had fractured his middle finger, but no surgery was necessary. Doctors recommended a cast and rest.

His decision to lift weights delayed his recovery, but it also gave players like Vale the chance to step in and make plays. And Brode was sure to give his younger teammates advice when they came to the sidelines during the first two games.

“He’s sick to not be out there, but he’s been the best guy for those younger players,” said senior midfielder Ted Cribley. “There have been a number of times that he’s taken a younger player aside and told them what to do to play a ball better.”

Cribley said that Brode has helped on set pieces the most. Syracuse struggled to score on free kicks and corners in 2011, so Brode has focused on those areas during his sideline pep talks.

His teammates have listened. On Tuesday night at Binghamton, sophomore defender Jordan Murrell sent a high-arching corner kick into the box that found the head of the freshman Vale. And in the 59th minute of the game, the Orange scored the game-winning goal off a set piece.

“It’s such an intense game,” said Cribley. “He can be a cool head out there for us on a number of levels.”

Soon, the calm and collected veteran will get his chance back on the field. McIntyre said the team is “looking to integrate” him into upcoming games.

Brode has been a valuable asset as a senior mentor, but he’s looking forward to getting back on the field in his final season.

“Obviously, it hurt a lot,” Brode said. “But I just tried to do what I could to help the team out while I’m out, and I’ll keep doing that when I get my shot to return.”

Published on August 30, 2012 at 2:52 am

Contact Nick: nctoney@syr.edu | @nicktoneytweets