Though she carries a serious demeanor on the field, Sarah Holden is something of the team jokester for Syracuse. Whether on the bus or in the locker room, the midfielder always keeps the Orange laughing with her dry sense of humor.

But once she gets on the field, it’s another story.

‘She’s just really funny, but on the field she’s really encouraging,’ SU attack Devon Collins said. ‘She’s a leader on the field. She gets her job done, and she makes sure everyone else gets their job done.’

As the veteran of Syracuse’s offensive unit, Holden has taken on a unique role on the field in addition to being a team leader. Holden began the season as a midfielder, but since Kailah Kempney suffered an injury in the closing minutes of regulation of an 11-9 overtime loss to No. 1 Northwestern on Feb. 29, the senior has been pressed into more minutes at attack. Thanks to her versatility, the offense hasn’t missed a beat with a seasoned veteran stepping in to help the Orange (5-2, 1-0 Big East) rise to the No. 2 ranking in the nation.

Holden never questioned her position change, and the seamless transition is a testament to her willingness to do whatever the team needs.

‘As a senior captain her leadership is key,’ SU head coach Gary Gait said. ‘I think she’s one of those players that leads by example, that goes out there and plays for the team and does whatever the team needs.

‘If it’s playing attack or midfield, she’s willing to do it. If it’s playing on the crease or playing up top, she’ll adapt to anything.’

Though Michelle Tumolo is the attack captain for the Orange, Holden has also taken on responsibilities in leading the young group. Aside from Tumolo and Holden, who have combined for 27 goals, only one other upperclassman has scored a goal for Syracuse this season.

With such a young group on offense, Holden and Tumolo’s veteran presence are invaluable.

‘As a senior leader on the attack, it’s definitely important to try and do my best to make sure that they do establish high confidence,’ Holden said. ‘Whether that’s just saying, ‘Good job’ or ‘You’ve got it next time,’ or staying after and shoot and practice a little more.’

But Holden doesn’t just lead through her voice.

Though her comic relief helps bring the team together, that carefree personality tends to vanish when a more serious tone is needed during games and at practice.

‘In the game it’s definitely important to be more vocal,’ Holden said, ‘but in practice it’s more important to take the backseat and more or less lead by example.’

While the senior helps to bring the freshmen up to speed, she has also turned to a freshman to learn the ropes of playing a new position at attack. Holden has played from a midfielder’s perspective throughout her career, but thanks to Kempney’s advice during practice, she has quickly learned the playbook as an attack.

‘Luckily, Kailah was able to help me out with a couple plays and stuff just being in her position,’ Holden said ‘… I think that’s one thing that this team this year has grown to do. Whether it’s (Alyssa) Murray or (Tumolo) or Amy Cross, if they have something to say they’re going to say it.’

Once Kempney returns, and Holden expects that to be soon, the senior will likely take her place at her natural position again. And that could spark an offensive unit that has scored at least 18 goals twice since the freshman’s injury.

But until then, Holden will continue to be a capable replacement, as she has added a new dimension to the attack. As a true midfielder, the senior understands the value of every possession.

In the past, the Orange has been plagued by a low shooting percentage. Since converting to attack, Holden has focused on taking better shots, which has rubbed off on her younger teammates.

The result is a team that takes better care of the ball and gives the defense more rest -something Holden will appreciate once she gets back to playing defense as a midfielder.

‘Having to play on the defensive end she gets the fact that you turn the ball over, you’re careless with it you’ve got to go back and play ‘D’ and most attack ride and then they wait for the ‘D’ to get it back,’ Gait said. ‘I think she’s got a better understanding of that then the rest of the attack.’

dbwilson@syr.edu