In her first two seasons at Syracuse, Sydney Brackett was one of head coach Phil Wheddon’s most reliable players. As a freshman, Brackett started all 19 games. In her second year, she started 17 of 18. The sole game she didn’t start — a 1-0 loss against Wake Forest on Sept. 21, 2017 — was due to sickness.

When Wheddon revealed the starting lineup for SU’s matchup against Northeastern on Sept. 2, Brackett’s name wasn’t listed. Before the game began, the junior approached the 11-year Syracuse head coach for an explanation.

“(We talked about) what’s best for the team in a given game is what’s best for the team in a given game. So no hard feelings,” Brackett said. “The team is the superstar at the end of the day. I’m going to do whatever I can do to adjust things and be on the next roster that’s lining up, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Against Northeastern, Brackett entered the game as a substitute, and, with eight minutes remaining, assisted Georgia Allen’s game-winning goal in a 1-0 win. Four days later, she was back in the starting lineup for a clash against No. 11 Penn State. Brackett is one of 12 players to appear off the bench for Syracuse (3-4). Wheddon rotated 19 pieces in and out of the lineup this season in an effort to find more production.

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Since the Orange’s season opener versus La Salle when Wheddon substituted in three different players, the SU head coach has used at least five reserves in the following six games. In Syracuse’s two biggest losses — 4-0 defeats to Penn State and Harvard — Wheddon used seven and eight substitutes, respectively, SU’s two highest totals of the year.

The Orange implemented “non-negotiables,” redshirt freshman Laurel Ness said, that every player has to follow to stay on the field, including giving maximum effort and maintaining a winning, team-oriented attitude. When Syracuse players don’t follow the “non-negotiables,” they get pulled from the game.

“Some of the most basic things are ones that don’t require technical skill that you can control no matter how bad your touch is or if you’re having an off day,” Ness said. “It’s something I really like that we’ve instilled. No matter what, you have to work your hardest on the field.”

The Orange refer to substitutes as “game changers” to instill the expectation that they will have an impact when they enter the game. Brackett fulfilled the “game changer” role with a game-winning assist against Northeastern, and others have done the same.

“Usually you’re thrown right into it, and you have to be turned on immediately. One minute of not being up to speed can cause a goal,” sophomore Kate Hostage said. “It’s your job when you go in to raise the level of play.”

A substitute appearance is also a chance for a player who has fallen out of the starting lineup to earn their way back in, Hostage said. In her only two appearances off the bench this season, Hostage scored the game-winning goal in wins over Connecticut and St. John’s. She was in the starting lineup in each of the team’s other five games.

While Wheddon’s constant rotations haven’t resulted in an abundance of goals or clean sheets, they have directly played a part in all three of SU’s wins this year. SU’s players are aware that if they do not perform, their opportunities to play will dwindle. If they make an impact, like Brackett and Hostage have done, they may find themselves in the next game’s starting lineup.

“You have to work a little harder because you did come off the bench,” Ness said. “For the coaches, you weren’t their first option so you have to prove yourself to stay on the field.”

Published on September 11, 2018 at 11:27 pm

Contact David: ddschnei@syr.edu