Sports are not about following scripts, but the No. 13 Syracuse women’s lacrosse team’s season couldn’t have been more predictable. All four of SU’s losses came against current top 10 teams. Its two one-goal wins came against teams currently ranked 11th – 20th. And the Orange beat all but one of its unranked opponents by at least five goals.

That plan should be enough to earn a postseason berth. There is one final chapter yet to be completed, though. In the regular season finale for both teams, Syracuse visits Colgate at Tyler’s Field in Hamilton at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

A victory would give Syracuse (11-4, 4-1 Big East) a program record-tying 12th win. Though as Patriot League champions, Colgate (13-5, 6-0 Patriot) appears to present a superior challenge, the Raiders are unranked.

In the past, a 12-4 record, and even an 11-5 mark, from a Big East Conference team would guarantee an NCAA tournament at-large berth, according to SU head coach Lisa Miller. But the depth of women’s lacrosse this season means the Orange isn’t taking anything for granted.

Before not qualifying last year, SU made the tournament four straight years from 2000-2003, losing in the first round each time. The last three years of that stretch, when SU was in the Big East, the Orange qualified with 10-4, 10-5 and 10-5 records.

Miller did not say the popularity of women’s lacrosse is growing in general. She attributed the increase in teams with five or fewer losses to surprisingly easy schedules for some and overachieving for others. Still, Miller likes the Orange’s chances for a berth.

‘We haven’t done anything all season long to hurt ourselves,’ Miller said. ‘I think a lot of other teams have dropped games along the way that they shouldn’t have.’

One unexpected hurdle presented itself yesterday. Syracuse remained ranked 13th in the new poll even though the two teams ahead of it – Johns Hopkins and Hofstra – lost over the weekend. Rankings aren’t everything, but they are the most obvious indicator of postseason selection.

‘I just don’t think the coaches are paying attention,’ Miller said.

The 16-team field, announced on May 8, is made up of eight conference winners and eight at-large bids. (SU finished second to Georgetown in the Big East). According to Miller, since normally four of the conference winners aren’t ranked, the tournament essentially becomes a 12-team field.

A committee determines the top four teams and gives them home games against the bottom four. But the rest of the match-ups are determined solely on locations that are accessible to the teams. That means there is an outside chance SU will host its first- and even second-round game if it makes the field. Due to graduation, Coyne Field would host the first-round game on May 12. Despite the morning’s ceremonies, the Carrier Dome would be available in the afternoon for the second round game on May 15.

SU didn’t bid to host a home postseason game in its four previous appearances. Despite the fact that the Orange would receive one of the last at-large bids, Miller seemed curiously optimistic SU would play at home.

Of course, any postseason discussion is likely predicated on a victory over Colgate on Saturday. The Orange has never lost to the Raiders in seven meetings.

‘We definitely can’t look past Colgate,’ junior attack Melody Agnew said. ‘We’re focused on that game first and then we’ll see what happens with the tournament.’

As she does with every opponent, ranked or unranked, Miller spoke glowingly about the Raiders yesterday. But if the script of SU’s season stays true to form, the Orange will finish with its best season since joining the Big East in 2001. And even then, SU’s return to the NCAA tournament isn’t a lock.

‘All I can do is control what’s in front of me,’ Miller said. ‘Ultimately, it’s in the committee’s hands, so we’ll have to see.’

Published on May 2, 2005 at 12:00 pm