Amy Kee, Jordan Page and Iona Holloway passed in a triangle at the start of Wednesday’s practice. A Holloway pass bounced over Kee’s stick. Moments later Page’s push slowed short of Holloway. And soon after, Kee’s sweep scooted left of Holloway’s outstretched stick and sailed off the field. Kee slammed her stick to the ground in frustration.

In the team’s second day of practicing on field turf, it was clear the Orange had yet to fully adjust to the change of surface.

‘With field turf, it’s a little bit more bouncy and the ball dies a lot faster,’ Kee said. ‘So balls that would normally roll of the side of the field, they obviously slow down. … We’ve got to always meet the ball, as opposed to letting the ball come toward you.’

No. 5 Syracuse (14-3, 4-1 Big East) is preparing for what will be its first game on field turf all season Friday, when it travels to Villanova Stadium for a matchup with the Wildcats (7-9. 3-2) at 4 p.m. SU’s final conference game will also be a preview of the first round of the conference’s postseason tournament. Friday’s winner will earn the No. 2 seed in the four-team tournament while the loser will take the third spot, and both teams will play each other again.

SU also hosts Bucknell (6-10, 2-2 Patriot League) Sunday at 2 p.m. in the team’s regular-season finale.

Orange head coach Ange Bradley shifted this week’s practices to the field inside the Vielbig Outdoor Track Stadium to prepare her players for the change in playing surface. The goal is for the team to become familiarized with the changes in game play the taller, rougher sod creates.

Bradley compared it to playing on grass, which most American players did while competing in high school. However, the international players on the team have very little experience playing on similar surfaces.

‘It just changes the game completely,’ Bradley said. ‘ … None of the international kids had played on field turf prior to coming to the states. Some may have played on sand turf, which is a turf like ours, but they put sand in.’

But in the team’s first practice on the field turf Tuesday, the players adapted surprisingly quickly, senior midfielder Martina Loncarica said.

The session emphasized moving to the ball when receiving a pass, as well as being aware of long balls that would typically run off the end of the field on short turf, but often times remain in play on field turf.

The Orange is working to combat this problem, as it is an area the players admitted Villanova could potentially exploit.

‘We definitely have to make sure we’re in layers on defense, so if it gets through someone we have backup behind us,’ senior midfielder Nicole Nelson said. ‘Or if it goes shorter than it’s supposed to, then there’s another layer coming to get it.’

The Wildcats’ familiarity with the surface will also give them an edge on penalty corners. When struck, the ball bounces more wildly on field turf. The stick-stopper, who traditionally kneels and sets the ball for a shooter, has a much harder time if the ball hops up at any second.

SU’s stopper will operate from a standing position on Friday, Bradley said.

‘You can’t be down on the ground because of the bounce, and the precision is not there,’ Bradley said. ‘It’s unpredictable the surface, whereas a nylon-knit (turf) is very predictable.’

Though the change in surface will alter game play, it will be the last thing on the SU players’ minds. The only noticeable difference will be some players potentially wearing what Kee called ‘dry turf’ shoes while others will stick with the regular ‘wet turfs.’

After a weeklong adjustment period, Syracuse will be focused on the game itself. Loncarica said the team will be taking the same approach it has taken each game this season.

‘We just have to go out there and play as hard as we can, like we normally do,’ Loncarica said. ‘So it shouldn’t be a negative for us. We just don’t have to think about it.’

sebail01@syr.edu

Published on October 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1