HAMILTON – Since the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team was devouring Colgate like it would its pending post-game barbecue, four-year best friends, roommates and midfielders Monica Joines and Courtney Palladino took to their own agenda in their last regular season game.

After Palladino scored her second goal of the contest early in the second half, Joines focused all her efforts to hand Palladino her first career hat trick. Joines kept sweeping through the middle to occupy several defenders, but Palladino either couldn’t handle Joines’ passes or misfired on the ensuing shots. Palladino’s frustration grew with each failed connection, one time she glared at her stick in disbelief.

Finally, with six minutes left, Palladino found the back of net. She looked up at the sky with as much relief as excitement.

Her goal was the capstone to a perfect afternoon for No. 12 Syracuse, which used a ferocious offensive attack to crush Colgate, 17-5, at Tyler’s Field on Saturday. The win should land the Orange (12-4, 4-1 Big East) an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. The field will be announced Sunday night. Nothing is certain, though, especially after No. 11 Johns Hopkins, one of the teams SU is fighting with for a spot, upset No. 5 Georgetown, 14-10, on Saturday.

At least SU knows it took care of its business so well that one player could chase a personal best.

‘I have to give thanks to Monica on (my last goal),’ Palladino said. ‘I scored the first two on my own and then Monica and I were both like, ‘Hey, this is the game to get my hat trick.’ So she helped me out.’

Palladino wasn’t alone in benefiting from an uncharacteristically giving Joines. Entering the game with four assists, Joines matched that amount Saturday. She also found time to score four goals, moving her into second place on SU’s all-time list with 129.

Joines’ eight points tied a career-high set at Colgate in 2003, a game in which she also had four goals and four assists.

‘Something about Colgate I seem to make the most assists I ever make in my career,’ Joines joked. ‘I couldn’t find any other day than (Saturday).’

But it was Joines’ strength – scoring – that got a sluggish SU started. After unranked Colgate (13-6, 6-0 Patriot League) took a stunning 2-0 lead, Joines took matters into her own hands in notching two quick goals to even the score. SU never looked back after its two other seniors, Palladino and attack Caitlyn Dragon, scored to give the Orange a 4-2 lead.

While SU’s seniors set the tone, the future of SU women’s lacrosse initiated the rout. Freshman attack Allison Furstenburg, who plays on the opposite wing of Joines with the same one-on-one style, scored three of SU’s next five goals to send the Orange into halftime with a 9-4 advantage.

‘Just trying to do my part,’ Furstenburg said. ‘Everyone just played awesome today. We knew what we had to do.’

In SU’s previous two wins, SU took similar leads into the break only to coast to victory in the second half. That was not the case Saturday as the Orange scored six goals in 10 minutes to build a 15-4 advantage.

During that stretch, Dragon and junior attack Meghan O’Connell joined Joines and Furstenburg with hat tricks. Dragon finished with three goals and an assist, ensuring that she finished as the surprise team leader in points with 53. O’Connell ended up with four goals.

While all of SU’s rooting interests shifted their attention to Palladino, SU head coach Lisa Miller looked down the other end of the field. Miller worried that SU’s domination in possession time prepared junior goalie Jen Kasel poorly for postseason play. Kasel only faced seven shots.

‘The one negative in these games is that Jen doesn’t see the ball,’ Miller said. ‘It’s hard as a goalie when you don’t see the ball for 8-10 minutes. A goalie will hate (these games).’

For a while in the second half, Palladino may have agreed. But all was well once she finally earned her hat trick. Joines, whose exceptional performance landed her a career-high in goals (43) and points (51), seemed just as happy after the game for her best friend.

Now the roommates must wait to see if they get to play another game together. The Orange appears to have a strong case for the postseason because its only losses came to top 10 opponents. In a switch from last week, Miller said SU would likely play on the road in Thursday’s first round if it makes the field. By Sunday night, all will be revealed.

‘I have a good feeling,’ Palladino said. ‘I’m trying to stay optimistic.’

Published on May 7, 2005 at 12:00 pm