DePetris dominates grounders

By: Anthony Mague

Posted: 3/23/04

Syracuse women's lacrosse team midfielder Jill DePetris plays as if she has a Hoover vacuum for a stick.

The only difference is that her stick doesn't suck.

DePetris leads Syracuse this season with 12 groundballs in only four games for the Orangewomen.

DePetris, only a freshman, has started every game for Syracuse (2-2 overall, 0-1 Big East) and will lead the No. 10 Orangewomen tonight at 7 against California in the Carrier Dome.

"She does all the little things that are not flashy," said Syracuse head coach Lisa Miller. "She plays solid defense and has great field vision."

An All-American as a senior in high school, DePetris immediately started for Syracuse, even though SU began its season against three teams ranked in the top five. Miller said she knew DePetris would make an impact right away.

"She jumped right in there as a freshman," Miller said. "We recruited her because we were lacking in the things she does best. (DePetris) will only get better and better as she matures."

DePetris said a lot of her groundballs this season were just a result of being in the right place at the right time. Then again, she sums up her lacrosse game with one word: desire.

"I like to show a lot of heart and never give up on the ball," DePetris said. "It's good to be making impressions early at the start of the season like getting draw controls and getting ground balls. It's just simple things like that that's really going to put us up at the top later in the season."

Miller thinks the contributions from underclassmen like DePetris will only continue to grow. Miller has started three freshmen and four sophomores this season, making up more than half of SU's starting lineup.

Freshmen Melissa Pearsall and Ashley Pike have seven and six groundballs, respectively. Sophomore Jennifer Kasel has made 41 saves starting in the net for the Orangewomen this season, while sophomore Melody Agnew has five points.

DePetris said the underclassmen are able to make such an influence because of the capabilities of senior Leigh-Ann Zimmer and junior Monica Joines.

"The entire team gets open," DePetris said. "(Zimmer) is a really good passer, so she can really feed anybody on the field anywhere. It's everyone working together that's really making an impact."

Everyone will have to work together, Miller said, against a 4-4 California team that beat then-No. 9 Ohio State earlier in the year. Syracuse, which is now ranked No. 9, has never played California before, but Miller knows all too well how much of a threat an underdog poses.

Just three days ago, Syracuse barely beat Massachusetts, scoring two goals in the final minute to win the game. UMass is now 1-4 on the season.

"Nothing is taken for granted in women's or men's lacrosse now," Miller said. "You have upsets left and right. You look at California, and you see they have the potential to be disruptive."

Miller said it was important Syracuse celebrated its victory over Massachusetts quickly and focused on the Golden Bears. A win over California would earn Syracuse important Rating Percentage Index points.

Syracuse has already lost to Big East favorite and No. 2 Georgetown this season, hurting the Orangewomen's chances of earning the Big East's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas haven't lost a conference game in three years.

Miller said she'd like Syracuse to be more consistent. In Saturday's game against Massachusetts, the Orangewomen led by four goals in the first half, but squandered the lead and eventually trailed 10-7 with nine minutes to play in the game.

"Right now we're only really playing a 40-minute game," Miller said. "I'm looking for us to play a complete 60-minute game. We're spurty, but I'd like a few more spurts."