Lord Jeffrey Amherst was a general that helped lead the British forces to victory in the French and Indian War. His leadership struck again last weekend, as he aided the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team in culminating a triumphant road trip.

Okay, maybe he wasn’t there in the flesh, per se. But his legacy lives.

Staying the last two nights of a five-day Massachusetts swing at the Lord Jeffrey Inn, SU parlayed the comforts of the cozy bed and breakfast overlooking Amherst Common into success on the field. SU head coach Lisa Miller and several players enjoyed the warm treatment they received at the lodge noted for its huge central fireplace.

Good ‘ol Jeff even gave the team a surprisingly low rate on its rooms.

Its accommodations snug, the No. 13 Orange soundly defeated Massachusetts, 17-8, on Saturday. That victory came three days after SU upended Harvard, 10-4, leaving the team noticeably upbeat after regaining the winning ways that had eluded it during a two-game losing streak.

SU opened Spring Break with a 13-6 loss at No. 3 Georgetown on March 12. But that was a separate road trip.

Caitlyn Dragon took over as the team’s leading scorer after posting consecutive four-goal, two-assist performances in the two wins. Her six points were a career high.

‘When you have your whole team around you playing well, it makes me play well,’ Dragon said. ‘We’re just trying to get our momentum going.’

A balanced scoring approach returned and SU corrected its two glaring weaknesses in losses against Virginia and GU – transition defense and turnovers.

A fresh face helped spark life back into the offense. Sparingly used before Spring Break, highly-touted freshman midfielder Allison Furstenburg started the first three games of her career and scored in each of them.

‘It was great to be able to go out there and play,’ Furstenburg said. ‘My first game, against Georgetown, I was trembling the night before the game.’

Miller said Furstenburg set the tempo of the UMass contest. With the Minutewomen showing her little respect, the freshman blew by several defenders in posting two early goals. With her earning more attention, the rest of the attack found more space to maneuver as the Orange rolled up a large lead in the second half.

Furstenburg finished with a hat trick.

Her secure presence on the field may have been attributed to the comfort level she and her teammates worked to achieve during their longest road trip of the season.

Sauntering around Harvard Square and going out for meals allowed the players a chance to get to know one another better.

‘When we were at the hotels, we would all just pile into one room,’ Furstenburg said. ‘It was a good bonding experience.’

Team unity was not only the credo in Boston, but to and from Beantown as well. Miller instituted a new rule this season involving bus travel: no cell phones.

‘I can’t stand them,’ Miller said. ‘(This) generation of kids, it’s like nobody likes you if you don’t have a phone attached to your ear. The last couple of years everybody would have their own separate little conversations going on.

‘(Now) you actually have to communicate with someone. It was enjoyable – retro, like ten years ago.’

Published on March 21, 2005 at 12:00 pm