Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDePetris dominates grounders
By Anthony Mague
Posted: 3/23/04, 1:47 AM EST Section: Sports
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 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.
