Kelsey Millman had seen enough of Syracuse’s sloppy, unsynchronized press during last Thursday’s practice. The forwards were out of position, and Millman knew it was time to speak up.

She repositioned the players and told them to ‘take ownership’ of their places on the field and apply more pressure on the backs.

‘We were trying to implement a press, and no one knew what was going on,’ junior back Iona Holloway said. ‘And Kelsey just was like, ‘This is what we’re doing. This is where you have to be.”

Millman has taken command of the SU attack along with senior forward Heather Susek this season. The pair has combined for 13 of the team’s 28 goals this season to lead the No. 5 Orange (7-2, 2-0 Big East). They have combined for seven goals in the last four games and look to continue their scoring barrage this weekend against Providence (2-7, 0-1) on Friday and Massachusetts (2-6, 0-0 Atlantic 10) on Sunday.

While Susek was a solid contributor last year and recorded nine goals, Millman was used in a reserve role. She attempted only two shots in 18 appearances, but those two shots were both goals.

Susek has noticed a dramatic difference in her teammate’s play during 2011. She credits Millman’s growth to increased playing time.

‘I think she’s just more comfortable and more confident on the field,’ Susek said. ‘She knows where the spaces are, and she knows what she wants to do with the ball before she moves.’

However, those changes did not occur overnight.

This past spring, the pair of forwards worked regularly with SU assistant coach Steve Simpson. Once a week Simpson drilled Susek and Millman exclusively, preparing them for the fall season.

‘Happy hour with Steve,’ SU head coach Ange Bradley called it.

‘They just worked on adjusting ball positions, getting quicker shots and working on readjusting off the line as a defender,’ Bradley said. ‘I think that they both really have embraced the concepts that Steve has instilled in them.’

And the hard work has paid off.

This season, Millman leads the team in shooting efficiency of players that have taken more than one shot, scoring on 42.9 percent of her attempts. The transformation is a noticeable one, Martina Loncarica said.

‘She likes to score. She wants to score,’ Loncarica said. ‘You can see it in her.’

Millman’s scoring ability is enhanced by her knowledge of the game. Loncarica said Millman knows where everyone should be on the field and understands how plays develop.

She also leads SU’s defensive press on opposing teams’ backs. It’s a key tactic in Syracuse’s game plan that Bradley stresses at each practice.

And Millman knows how important it is to the team’s success. She knew she had to speak up when the team wasn’t running the press effectively, and in doing so she embraced her bigger role on the team.

‘We have a really young group, but the press is an important thing that we have going for us. It’s one of our strengths,’ Millman said. ‘It was just really important that we came together and did it together as one unit instead of individually.’

As Millman anchors the press, Susek has developed into a scoring threat. She is only two goals away from her total of nine all of last season.

The diminutive scorer has flourished by getting behind the defense and finding space, Millman said. A number of her goals have come from finding those openings, often near the back post, and shooting quickly before the defense can react.

Millman and Susek have thrived on the field together, and Bradley has been impressed with their chemistry. The head coach said they can read where the other is going on the field before they even take the first step.

‘They’re like two little twins out there,’ Bradley said. ‘They’re tiny, they’re quick, they’re fast, and they’re feisty. And they really have learned to work off of each other.’

sebail01@syr.edu

Published on September 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1