Erin Simon will never forget her first goal for Syracuse.

“It was pretty awesome; it was pretty cool to be a header,” Simon said. “I mean you don’t really score headers a lot.”

Simon is one of eight freshmen on the Orange. The ability of the group to adjust to the higher level of play is critical to the team’s success. Through 14 games, the freshmen have risen to the occasion.

The Orange (8-4-2, 5-1-1 Big East) is second in the American division of the Big East conference and is looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2001. The playoffs wouldn’t have been on the team’s radar if it weren’t for the contributions of so many first-year players.

Simon and fellow freshman Jackie Firenze are two of the team’s top-three goal scorers this season, and both are in the top four in points.

“The speed of play and level of play, it’s a lot different than high school or anything like that, so I guess I’ve just had to adapt to the speed,” Firenze said.

Though she started every game this season, Firenze did not get a point in her first five games. But she then went on to score four goals in the next nine games, tying her with senior Alyscha Mottershead on goals.

“In the beginning of the season, I kind of struggled with finishing so that Long Island goal definitely helped my confidence,” she said.

Simon’s first goal was also in the game against Long Island. Since then, she has started all but one game, and now is tied for third on the team in points.

While the game against LIU was a pivotal moment for Simon, she said it was important for the team in general.

“It was just a turning point for the whole team because I really think we started to improve from there, and step up our game as a whole,” she said.

Head coach Phil Wheddon agreed.

“When we played Long Island and Army, those were games that we really should’ve had more of an impact in overall and I think we challenged the players at that point,” Wheddon said.

Simon and Firenze scored the only goals in the Orange’s most recent game against Pittsburgh, the team’s fourth win in a row.

But it’s not just Simon and Firenze who are contributing. Six of the eight freshmen have received playing time this season, and five have had either a goal or an assist.

“I think everyone has become more tactically aware, everyone’s clued in to what we’re trying to do and our style of play, which is a little bit different than what they’ve done in the past,” Wheddon said. “They’ve bought into what we’re trying to do, they’ve bought into the system and they’re making an impact, so that’s all I can ask as the coach.”

Simon said it has been a group effort.

“Our work and effort have definitely stepped up a lot,” she said. “The older girls push us to be better players and we make them work harder to make them better players.”

Their closeness off the field has translated to success on it.

The freshmen were already connected going into the season, having used Facebook and other social media to get in touch before the start of preseason practice.

The group’s chemistry has proven to be beneficial so far this season for the Orange. Wheddon said he sees the effect the freshmen have had on the team.

“They’re a close-knit group; they work well together,” Wheddon said. “They’re all going to have an impact in the program as they move forward.”

Published on October 10, 2012 at 12:31 am

Contact Jack: jstruitt@syr.edu