When two Syracuse men’s lacrosse players are having a catch before a preseason practice and they look behind them, it’s usually the basketball team working on the 2-3 zone. At Wednesday’s practice, though, it was the Orange football players working on passing drills.

SU’s men’s lacrosse team was practicing at Wohl Field at the Lampe Athletic Complex, an outdoor facility, rather than the Carrier Dome. The unseasonable weather has been of extra delight to the lacrosse team, allowing it to have fresh air and a full practice field rather than the stale Carrier Dome air and only half of the playing space.

While the weather won’t stay like spring for long – SU reversed its weekend’s plan, deciding to visit Maryland in College Park, Md., at 11 a.m. on Saturday rather than hosting the Terrapins on Coyne Field as originally scheduled – the outside practices have been a welcome surprise for the Orange.

‘It’s really beneficial. In past years, we’re on a half-field a lot more than we are now,’ Syracuse head coach John Desko said. ‘In terms of riding and clearing and fast breaks and getting up and down the field, more of a game situation and scrimmaging, it’s going to put us ahead of where we’ve been in the past.’

When the basketball teams are in season, the hardwood court remains on the Carrier Dome’s field. The bleachers often remain in place, too. Everything beyond it is available for lacrosse practice, but it’s only around 60 yards.

‘Imagine Jim Boeheim trying to break a full court press on a half court,’ Desko said. ‘It’s a similar situation. The weather’s been great and it’s going to help us this spring.’

The players were excited about playing outside. They agreed with Desko that it will aid the Orange, but it also changes the way they practice. Freshman Pat Perritt said the shift to Wohl Field brings intensity to practice and the players’ excitement showed in the walk from the locker rooms in Manley Field House to the field.

The shift allowed the Orange to play in a game-like setting rather than feeling like the unwanted sublet who’s only filling the house because they were looking for a place to stay and there was space available.

‘I feel when you’re in the Dome you can’t do a lot of the things you want to do,’ goalie Peter Coluccini said. ‘It adds time to practice, which is kind of a bad, because you want to get out of here, but we’re able to do a bunch of things so it’s good to be out here.’

For further evidence Mother Nature is wearing orange this winter – or maybe just evidence of the lacrosse team’s roll-with-the-punches attitude – there was a sentiment the weekend’s weather shift will also benefit the Orange. The logic was the last-minute road trip will provide SU with more time together before the season begins against Army in the Dome on Feb. 25.

‘Spending time with the team and the bus trips, I love that stuff,’ Perritt said. ‘Plus, we have a real tough road schedule. … We’re going to have to get used to it going into (Johns) Hopkins and Virginia.’

On a team with a slew of freshmen and transfers continuing to become acclimated with each other, the unexpected weekend together could be as useful as the unexpected weather during the week.

‘It’s a lot different than walking out of your own locker room onto a practice field and going,’ Desko said. ‘As much as the guys hang out together, you get everyone together for a 24-hour period. You’re in the hotel together. You have the meals. You’re spending quite a bit of time together. Them getting to know the coaching staff, them getting to know each other better. It’s just healthy for a team.’

Published on February 16, 2006 at 12:00 pm